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Pros: Premium design, upmarket road manners, competitive range.
Cons: Small boot and rear seat, frustrating touchscreen.
Volvo EX30 Design
The EX30 is Volvo’s first compact car in years and is a delightful piece of design. It rivals small crossovers like the Smart #1, Jeep Avenger, Peugeot 2008 and Hyundai Kona but exudes a cool Scandi minimalist style that helps it stand out. Distinguishing features include futuristic pixel LED ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights and rear lighting split over two levels, reminiscent of some Volvos of old. There’s a simple colour palette of just five colours, while the contrast black roof comes as standard. Alloy wheel sizes vary from 18- to 20-inch and come with an attractive aerodynamic design.
In Ireland the EX30 is available at launch in two trim lines Pure and Ultra, with the Ultra's spec adding 20-inch wheels, rear privacy glass and a fixed panoramic glass roof.
Volvo EX30 Interior
The EX30 has a very minimalist interior that won’t immediately feel like home – even if you’ve come from one of the brand’s other models. The cabin has been pared back to the bare minimum of buttons (windows and hazard lights essentially) and much of the car’s functionality is controlled via the large portrait-style touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. Even adjusting the door mirrors or putting on the lights requires a detour into the screen. There’s not even a traditional speedometer behind the steering wheel or head-up display – you’ll need to glance to your left to read it off the central screen. The built-in Google operating system with apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant does at least make the car pretty smart to interact with, for example finding the nearest EV charger and estimating how much battery charge you will have when you get to your destination.
There’s also been a heavy focus on using sustainable materials and recycled plastics, with a few different coloured interiors available. The seats in our test car were nicely upholstered in a denim-style fabric and synthetic leather, which added a premium feel. But some of the harder materials in the dashboard and doors do look and feel more industrial. Still, it's a well equipped car. Even Pure models come with features like heated front seats, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, premium sound system and a powered tailgate.
While the EX30 feels reasonably spacious up front, it’s more compact in the rear which may limit its appeal as a family car. Legroom will be tight for tall adults though headroom is good overall. The boot is on the small side at 318 litres but if offers some underfloor storage. There’s also a small 19-litre storage compartment under the bonnet.
Volvo EX30 Performance & Drive
The EX30 is available with a standard or extended range battery and there is the choice of single motor or twin motor versions. The best for range is the single motor, extended range model, which uses a 69kWh battery and offers up to 480 kilometres of range (WLTP). It’s a quick car with 272hp sent to the rear wheels and 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds. The top of the range twin motor model compromises a little range for staggeringly quick performance. It’s got 428hp (frankly bonkers in a small SUV!) and is the fastest accelerating Volvo ever – 0 to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds! The official range figure is 460 kilometres (WLTP) but we returned closer to 350 kilometres in real world driving.
Truly, most buyers will be served well by the single motor extended range because the EX30 is not really dynamic enough to warrant all that power. It’s a car far more enjoyable to drive at a relaxed pace where you can experience the excellent comfort and refinement it offers for such a compact vehicle. Steering is smooth and fluid, and its compact dimensions and one-pedal driving option make it a brilliant car for busy town and city streets. However, the over reliance on the touchscreen for basic controls and driver information is a frustrating aspect of driving this car.
When it comes to charging, 11kW AC comes as standard with Ultra models upping that to 22kW. At a fast charger, the EX30 standard range can charge up to 134kW and the extended range up to 153kW. That translates to a 10-80% charge for both in about 26 minutes.
Volvo EX30 Pricing
The Volvo EX30 starts from €38,596 with the standard range battery offering a range up to 344 kilometres (WLTP). The extended range model is available from €44,502, or from €48,883 for the Twin Motor Performance model. The EX30 Ultra starts from €54,595, with more features like 20-inch wheels, rear privacy glass, panoramic roof, power adjustment for front seats, 360 camera and Park Pilot Assist.
Carzone Verdict
The Volvo EX30 is surely one of the most stylish and desirable small electric crossovers on sale for its cool Scandi design alone. It’s brilliant to drive and offers good range for the money in what is undoubtedly a premium offering. However, some rivals feel more spacious and the minimalist cabin won’t be for everyone.