Volvo grabbed quite a bit of attention when it revealed its EX30 electric SUV earlier this year. A combination of compact city-friendly dimensions, decent driving range, sharp looks and equally sharp pricing helped put it on a few shopping lists.
But soon there will be a number of rivals that might steal attention away from the Chinese-built EV, from Jeep, Alfa Romeo and new brands from China.
The EX30 stands out with its design and it’s packed with tech and quirky convenience features, but what’s it like to live with day to day?
I spent a week with the mid-grade Single Motor Extended Range Ultra to find out.
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10
8 / 10
Volvo already has a pair of EVs in its line-up - the mechanically related C40 and XC40 (soon to change name to EX40) small SUVs. They compete with the likes of the BMW iX1, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Mini Countryman and more.
The EX30 sits under its stablemates when it comes to size and positioning. It’s diminutive at 4.2m long and 1.8m wide so its rivals are more like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Peugeot E-2008, and its Stellantis cousins, the soon-to-launch Jeep Avenger and Alfa Romeo Junior that lands in 2025.

Volvo priced the EX30 sharply from launch, with the entry-grade Single Motor Extended Plus kicking things off at $59,990, before on-road costs. The range tops out with a potent Twin Motor Performance Ultra at $71,290.
But I spent a solid week with what might be the sweet spot of the range - a Single Motor Extended Ultra from $66,290.

That pricing puts it in line with the Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range N Line ($62,000), the top-spec Jeep Avenger Summit ($63,990) and the Mini Countryman E Core FWD ($64,990).
But it’s a lot more affordable than a BMW iX2 (from $82,900) or Lexus UX300e (from $80,720).

For this coin you get a 12.3-inch central screen, Google Services featuring Assistant, Maps and Play (more on this later), four USB-C ports, 5G capability, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a panoramic sunroof, retractable exterior mirrors, hands-free tailgate, heated steering wheel and front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, a smart card key, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, digital radio, in-car apps and sat nav.
There’s not a lot missing from this list. There is one glaring omission, however. Apple CarPlay is not currently available. However, an over-the-air update is coming before the end of 2024 that will fix that.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
8 / 10
The EX30 looks a little like a jacked-up hatchback, although it looks bigger in the metal compared with the press images.
It’s boxy, but there’s a long line of boxy Volvos and I think that’s a positive. The front-end styling features Volvo’s ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights, and there’s a distinct lack of grille.
Unsurprising given it’s an EV and doesn’t require one. That does mean there’s a lot of metal covering the face of the little Volvo, save for the brand’s 'Iron Mark' identifier.
The 'Moss Yellow' paint and contrasting black roof is a bold choice. It’s not something I thought I’d like but the colour somehow fits this car like a glove.
The rear end is the EX30’s best angle. The vertical split LED tail-lights are a Volvo signature, but a modern interpretation. Gorgeous.
The black cladding wrapping the lower part of the car elevates it from hatch to SUV and the funky alloy wheels top the whole look off.
The interior is an exercise in interesting minimalism. Take note Tesla. Losing buttons doesn’t mean it has to look cheap and drab.
The appealing light grey wool blend seats catch the eye and there’s a fabric-look panel surrounding the driver on the doors and dash, but it’s hard plastic.
The placement of said panelling under the base of the windscreen gives the entire dash the appearance that it is floating, a theme that repeats with the door armrests.
A soundbar for the primo sound system, integrated between the top of the dash and the windscreen, stretches the width of the dash. Very clever.
An interior ambient lighting suite adds some razzle dazzle at night, but the most striking design feature is the thin, chrome interior door handles. A delightfully modernist touch.
But this minimalist aesthetic does come with some challenges.

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 7/10
7 / 10
Volvo has packed the EX30 with some quirky convenience features and a few of them straddle the line between clever and annoying.
It will pay to have the dealer staff run you through some of the key interior features if you buy an EX30, otherwise you’ll spend some time consulting the driver's manual, which is accessible via the touchscreen. More on that in a bit.
You can lock and unlock the EX30 a few ways. Either by using the dedicated EX30 app, (which lagged a little when I used it), by tapping a smart card on the sensor embedded in the B-pillar, or by activating the proximity key in settings. The key fob is devoid of any buttons, which is a shame as that would make it much easier to lock or unlock the car.
The proximity key is nowhere near as accurate as the system from Peugeot and Citroen models. Sometimes it’s too sensitive, and then other times the vehicle’s system wouldn’t recognise the key when standing next to the car. At least you can dig into settings and turn off the piercing sound it makes when locking.
The front seats are supportive, well cushioned and very comfortable. Volvo knows how to do a high quality seat.
This particular EX30 comes standard with a panoramic glass roof, without a sunshade, which has proven to be a terrible idea in a country like Australia that has blisteringly hot summers and a giant hole in the ozone layer right above our heads.
Thankfully, you can buy a sunshade as an accessory for about $250. I would recommend this.
Other storage and convenience features include an upright phone charger, which works well, but the phone slides when cornering due to the larger space. Under the centre console is a sizeable tray with dual lids that open for more secure storage as well as a pair of USB-C ports.
Up front you’ll find cupholders. Well, you’ll eventually find them. I had to consult the vehicle manual to work this out. To operate, you need to push in the front of the high-set central front armrest and it slides out. To retract it, it’s a two-step motion back.
Is it a clever use of space? Yes. Is it annoying? Yes. Cupholders shouldn’t be complicated.
The door storage bins are long but there’s no bottle holder so smaller bottles slide and slosh around.
The only way to open the glove box is via the central screen. The box is positioned in the centre of the dash rather than in front of the passenger. It’s a small space and only fits a few items. That positioning is unusual but being accessible by both the driver and front passenger makes sense.
Volvo’s steering wheel controls are not the easiest to identify. They are symbols rather than words and take some familiarisation.
To activate the cruise control, rather than a button on the wheel, the driver must tap the steering wheel-mounted gear shifter down past the ‘D’. The shifter location is excellent.
I used to complain about this location from other manufacturers but it’s incredibly convenient and saves space in the centre console.
Another EX30 quirk is that the heated steering wheel activates when the outside temperature gets below a certain point. It’s a cute feature - and welcome in Melbourne winter - but I could not for the life of me work out how to turn this off.
Finally, to the screen. As mentioned the 12.3-inch central screen houses most functions. The top half of the screen shows vehicle info like battery range, gears, odometer and the speedometer.
The lack of a head-up display is disappointing because, much like a Tesla Model 3, you have to look slightly to your left to clock the speed you’re doing. Not great.
Playing with the screen and digging into menus like 'Vehicle Functions', 'Controls' and more is the only way to get used to how this car works. And once familiar, the menu structure is well executed. My main complaint is that there is nothing wrong with having buttons for some functions - like air conditioning.
Without Apple CarPlay, I logged into my own Google account via the screen (easily done with a QR code) for maps and more. It is super intuitive and captures your favourites. I can’t fault the Google Maps nav in this car.
In the rear seating row, you’ll find ample headroom even with the panoramic sunroof, but legroom behind my 183cm driving position is limited. Hardly surprising for a compact car like this.
The rear row is slightly flatter and firmer than the lovely front seats, but still comfortable.
Amenities include map pockets on both sides, while the two USB-C ports and the power window controls are housed on the rear of the front centre armrest.
Under that is a handy removable storage tray. There are no rear air vents or centre armrest, and there’s limited room for bottles in the doors.
The boot can swallow 318 litres of cargo, which is decent but not as much as the dimensionally smaller Alfa Romeo Junior that can take 400L. The 60/40 split fold seats fold flat which is great for loading long items.
Under-floor storage is secure but there’s no spare wheel, only a tyre repair kit. A 7.0-litre front trunk can house the charging cable.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its motor? 8/10
8 / 10
As the name suggests the all-electric EX30 Single Motor Extended Range Ultra comes with a single motor that drives the rear wheels only, and it delivers power and torque of 200kW and 343Nm, respectively. These are healthy numbers and higher than several key rivals.

Volvo says this EX30 grade can complete the 0-100km/h dash in just 5.3 seconds.
Efficiency – What is its driving range? What is its charging time? 8/10
8 / 10
The EX30 uses a 69kWh lithium-ion battery allowing for a driving range on the WLTP cycle of up to 465km. That’s a solid figure for a car of this size. The Peugeot E-2008 is 328km but the Renault Megane E-Tech is closer with 454km.
Volvo claims energy consumption of 17.5kWh/100km, and over a week of mixed city, freeway and some regional driving, we saw a figure of 18.3kWh. Not bad.
It has regenerative braking and a one-pedal drive mode but you can’t adjust the sensitivity of the regen braking. It does, however, come to a complete stop.

The EX30 is fitted with a type 2 port for AC and a CCS port for DC charging.
It can charge from depleted to 100 per cent battery in about eight hours using a home wallbox, while using a DC fast charger to get from 10 to 80 per cent should take 28 minutes.
Charging overnight, using a household plug and the charging cable that’s included, can take up to 38 hours, but I did a 30 to 80 per cent charge that took 16 hours.
Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10
8 / 10
As much as there are some frustrating features in this EX30, most of these are forgotten when you hit the road. With the exception of things like the positioning of the speedo, and screen-focussed functionality.
That 0-100km/h time feels accurate when accelerating from a standing start. The EX30 is quick, but the acceleration is smooth and doesn’t feel overdone for the type of car this is.
It weighs just over 1800kg and doesn’t feel hefty on the road. It only occasionally displays the floaty bottom-heavy characteristic of many an EV, but largely avoided it. Thankfully.
Steering, via the unnecessarily squared-off wheel, is precise, changing direction crisply. You can adjust the feel of the steering, too.
The EX30 has MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension and the taut chassis ensures an engaging enough experience on winding roads, but the focus is on comfort.
As a result, ride quality is well sorted, with the EX30 remaining settled over bumps.
As a side note, the press vehicle I tested was fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels, but all EX30 Single Motor Extended Ultras come with 19-inch wheels so the ride should be even more comfortable with the standard rims.
Outside noise is just a whisper inside the EX30’s cabin, with road noise only occasionally creeping in.
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10
9 / 10
The EX30 is yet to be crash tested by Euro NCAP or ANCAP, but, being a Volvo, it comes with a long list of standard safety gear.
You get auto emergency braking (with pedestrian, vehicle and cyclist detection), as well as intersection and oncoming collision mitigation, low speed rear auto braking, driver attention alert, lane keeping aid, blind-spot information with cross-traffic alert, run off road mitigation, an adjustable speed limiter, front centre airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and more.
Another driver assist feature is the lane change assistant that changes lanes for you if the conditions are met. The system works well, as does the responsive adaptive cruise and excellent lane keep assist.
You can alter the responsiveness of some of the safety features in settings, including the timing of the lane departure warning from early to medium or late intervention.
Then, there’s a ‘Whiplash injury protection system’ (WIPS) and there are three top tether points for baby capsules/child seat and ISOFIX anchors on the outer rear seat positions.
You would expect Volvo to get safety gear right and it absolutely has with the EX30.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 9/10
9 / 10
The EX30 is covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, and the battery is covered for eight years. These are standard terms for this category. Roadside assist also covers you for eight years.
The servicing schedule is solid at every two years or 30,000km, and in even better news, service costs are built into the price of the vehicle, so no service costs to speak of.
Verdict
The Volvo EX30 is an intriguing car. It is a quick, stylish, efficient value-packed EV that is the right size for comfortable and fun city commuting, but some of the convenience and tech features can be frustrating and take time to get used to.
But if you put in the time and effort to get to know the Volvo you will be rewarded. It’s an appealing addition to the growing compact electric car brigade and deserves to be on shopping lists.
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