Volvo EX30 review

Is the Volvo EX30 a good car?

The Volvo EX30 has impressed us on numerous occasions. It manages to be good to drive, has a minimalist interior that feels special, offers plenty of standard safety features and equipment despite a reasonable price, and tops it all off with eye-opening performance and a competitive electric driving range.

The Performance model is an intriguing hot hatch alternative for those who prefer to fly under the radar. The EX30 package would be even better if Volvo could iron out some ergonomic question marks around that touchscreen, though.

How much does the Volvo EX30 cost?

Volvo is pitching the EX30 as a premium small electric offering, although a quick look at its starting price of just under £33,000 for its entry-level Core trim suggests otherwise: that’s less than the entry-level Vauxhall Mokka Electric. Our preferred Plus trim comes in at around £34,500 in Single Motor form, or a little over £39,000 if you want the Extended Range version of this trim with greater electric driving range. The priciest Ultra trim clocks in at closer to £42,500 with rear-wheel drive, or just shy of £45,000 in Twin Motor Performance guise.

Three trim levels are available. The entry-level Core gets a 12.3-inch central touchscreen display with sat-nav, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, blind spot monitoring, LED headlights with auto high beam, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Upgrade to our recommended Plus trim for heated front seats and steering wheel, front parking sensors, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, and an electric tailgate.

The top-spec Ultra trim adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree parking camera, a fixed panoramic sunroof, a self-parking system, electric front seats and a 22kW on-board charger.

You can choose between two different battery sizes, with the greater capacity battery pack gaining a more energy-efficient heat pump. There’s also the choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The latter is reserved for the high-performance model, so don’t expect any off-roading potential. 

The least expensive EX30 has a single-motor driving the rear wheels with 268bhp, and a 51kWh (49kWh useable) battery pack. Those after more range can go for the Single Motor Extended Range, which provides the most driving range in an EX30. It uses the same electric motor as the cheaper model, but adds a fairly sizeable 69kWh (64kWh usable) battery for just under 300 miles of range.

On, then, to the Performance version. It feels like we have explored this slightly hair-raising road before with the Smart #1 Brabus, with which the hottest EX30 has a lot in common. Both offer sub-four-second 0-62mph times, 69kWh batteries, and 422bhp power outputs, although the EX30 gets from 0-62mph a fraction quicker than its Smart sibling.

Volvo EX30 alternatives

The Volvo EX30 is an appealing small electric SUV for those who need a smart-looking, premium small SUV that’s zippy enough to nip into traffic in the city, yet still has the range and swift charging speeds that make the occasional long trip a possibility. It hits the market at a busy period for small EVs, with rivals on all fronts, including established competitors like the Hyundai Kona Electric – a rival already in its second generation and has been voted our Small Company Car of the Year in 2024. There are numerous other small electric SUV rivals out there, such as the DS 3 E-Tense, Jeep Avenger, Kia Niro EV and Peugeot E-2008, as well as similarly priced electric hatchbacks including the Cupra Born, Renault Megane E-Tech and Volkswagen ID.3, to name but a few.

The EX30 makes a good case for itself with a high list of standard safety features and equipment, plus a premium feel inside beyond its reasonable asking price. It’s also remarkably quick in Twin Motor Performance form, and even the standard model has more than enough power compared with its similarly priced and much slower rivals.

However, that extra performance will cost you because of its higher insurance group ratings, plus it isn’t as practical as our favourite small SUV, the Hyundai Kona Electric, which will be much more suitable for families. The Kona Electric remains our choice because it is more spacious, its interior is straightforward to use, and its excellent efficiency yields even greater range – despite having a smaller battery than the Volvo.