Volvo EX30 electric all-wheel drive: prices, specifications and ride review
The all-new Volvo EX30 was unveiled a few months ago, instantly shocking the motoring world with its starting price of just under £34,000. On sale now, that number means it undercuts not only similarly sized electric cars, but also a handful of small gasoline-powered SUVs as well.
The first cars won’t arrive in the UK until early 2024, but to get a sense of what’s in store, we took a trip to Volvo’s Hallered Proving Ground (about an hour outside of Gothenburg) to ride shotgun alongside vehicle dynamics expert, Egbert Bakker. You can read all about our experiences at the bottom of this page.
The EX30 is in a somewhat strange position in the electric car market as at 4.23 meters long, it is slightly smaller than Volvo’s second-largest electric SUV, the XC40 Recharge. It’s a rival to the Smart #1, Lexus UX 300e and DS 3 E-Tense, while also serving as a more premium alternative to the likes of the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Jeep Avenger.
Customers will be able to choose from three different battery and electric motor configurations, as well as two trim levels, with a more affordable ‘Core’ model due to launch at a later date, which could cut the car’s starting price by up to £2,000.
Volvo EX30 battery, range and charging
Single-motor cars, as their names indicate, feature a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle that produces 268 horsepower. This is available in two battery sizes: the smaller comes with 49kWh (usable) and offers a range of 212 miles and a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds. A 10-80% charge takes up to 26 minutes thanks to standard 150 kW DC ultra-fast charging.
Opting for the larger 64 kWh (usable) battery in the Extended Range model boosts range to a maximum of 298 miles – more than is possible in the Kia Niro EV. Despite not getting a more powerful electric motor, the EX30 Extended Range model also reaches the 62 mph benchmark about half a second faster than its Standard Range counterpart. Faster 175kW DC charging means a 10-80% charge takes just 28 minutes – despite the larger battery.
Finally, the Twin Motor Performance model gets two motors but is only available with the two larger batteries, offering a range of up to 286 miles. 422bhp means the Volvo SUV will accelerate from 0 to 62mph faster than the Porsche Taycan GTS, at 3.6 seconds.
Design and technology
The exterior of the Volvo EX30 looks like a scaled-down version of the recently announced flagship EX90. The Swedish marque’s “Thor’s Hammer” headlights now have an 8-bit design, while the sloping roofline helps improve aerodynamic efficiency.
Inside, Volvo has taken a copy of the Tesla Model Y and the new MINI Cooper Electric by deleting the dedicated instrument cluster, relegating that information to a small section of a large central touchscreen. This screen, standard on all models, is 12.3 inches and runs a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included if you prefer to use your phone’s software.
There are five exterior colors to choose from – all complimentary – as well as five interior “rooms” all featuring sustainable and recycled materials. The cabin itself is full of cubbies, including a removable storage bin in the center console. The 318-litre boot is a bit larger than what you’ll get in the equivalent Mokka Electric; This can be increased to 622 liters by folding the second row of seats down. Although it is not currently confirmed, we expect this number to be measured only on the window line, and not on the ceiling as usual. A small box under the hood provides storage space for charging cables.
Prices and specifications
As mentioned, the Volvo EX30 is now on sale in the UK, with prices starting from £33,795 for the single-engine car in ‘Plus’ form, to £44,495 for the dual-engine performance in ‘Ultra’ form. The former gets a 12.3-inch central screen with a parking camera, plus heated seats, LED lights and 18-inch pneumatic wheels, while the Ultra benefits from a panoramic glass sunroof, 20-inch wheels, electrically adjustable seats and 22 kW of power. On-board AC charger, plus a heat pump to maintain the range in extreme weather conditions.
Volvo says all EX30 models at launch will come with a three-year, 60,000-mile ‘care package’ which includes the cost of the servicing.
Volvo EX30 Ride Review – Richard Ingram
The EX30 is a very important car for Volvo. Bosses expect big things for the entry-level electric SUV, not only adding an extra string to the brand’s bow, but opening up the manufacturer into a whole new area of the market.
To get an early taste of the car, we were invited to Volvo’s Hallered Proving Ground near Gothenburg in Sweden to tour a late-stage prototype of the car, alongside Vehicle Dynamics Technical Lead, Egbert Bakker.
It’s an amazing half hour for sure. The first thing it tells us is that the EX30 “isn’t meant to be a sports car” – and that’s immediately clear from the way this new electric SUV drives over the harrowing lumps and bumps found on Volvo’s “English road”. This is clearly an exact match for part of the broken Essex tarmac that the Swedes copied to identify our unique road surfaces.
The EX30 is comfortable and compliant, with even the worst shocks kept from appearing inside the cabin. The compromise is a bit of roll and body movement through corners, but the engineers seem to have struck a good balance overall – even on the larger 20-inch wheels.
It’s quiet inside too. Even at highway speeds, the car remains silent, except for a little wind noise around the door mirrors when the packer actually opens the taps. This certainly doesn’t feel like a car that would be limited to short urban commutes or trips to the shops; The high-speed optimization is easily a match for competitors in this category.
Then there is the acceleration. Granted, we only tested the range-topping Twin Performance model, but the 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds is certainly faster than any sane human would need to travel in a car like this. Joachim Hermansson, EX30 product head, assures us that there is a safety benefit to this kind of amazing performance: “With power, you can overtake in a much safer way.”
It’s less noisy than a Tesla Model Y in a straight line, with more linear power delivery helping passengers feel less nauseous in stop-and-go traffic, or when making quick cross-country progress. But it picks up instantly at any speed; The grip from the custom Goodyear tires is very good.
Bakker tells us that they had a very strict mission when building and designing a new Volvo: “To drive, a Volvo had to be predictable, controllable and comfortable,” and from the passenger seat, at least, it looks like they hit the nail on the head. .
Given the competitive pricing and good driving experience, this new Volvo EX30 is the car to watch for 2024.
