Volvo EX30 in the test: Really a premium car at a volume price?

It starts at 36,590 euros, but how good is the small SUV?

The EX30 is Volvo’s designated bestseller: you can order the small car for just 36,590 euros. This makes the car cheaper than the significantly weaker Jeep Avenger. We were very curious to see how the car drove and whether the new “minion” didn’t have a few quirks and tested it around Barcelona.

The EX30 has almost the same external dimensions as the VW ID.3, and so we recently classified the car as a rival to the popular Wolfsburg model . “This is an SUV,” product manager Akhil Krishnan contradicted me. The car has greater ground clearance, a higher seating position and larger wheels than if one had had a compact car in mind. That’s plausible, but of course everyone has their own definition in their head. In any case, the car doesn’t look particularly martial or suitable for off-roading to us.

Operating Concept

For the test drive, Volvo gave us a credit card-sized NFC card instead of a key. A better solution is to unlock using your cell phone: Thanks to UWB technology, the smartphone can remain in your pocket and the settings for the seats and mirrors are made automatically – practical if the car is used by several people.

For us newbies, the first thing we have to do after getting in is adjust the seats and exterior mirrors. There are no usual buttons for the mirrors; you have to use the touchscreen. If you forget this, you have to stop or delve deep into the menus, which is hugely distracting. Also not so practical: There are only three buttons for the four window regulators and they are housed in the middle armrest.

What’s really neat, however, is the Google Earth representation of the map. The infotainment system is generally based on Google technology (including voice control) and is therefore familiar and practical. What’s also very good is that the system creates a complete charging strategy for long distances. It specifies exactly which charging stations you should go to and how long you have to charge there. The expected travel time including charging time is also displayed

To drive off, you just need to press the brake pedal and pull the right steering column lever down to “D”. If you pull the lever all the way down, the adaptive cruise control is activated. This is a good solution that saves space in the center console. There is a pull-out compartment with cup holders and for storing small items.

When driving you have to keep looking down to the right to check the speed you are driving; Because there is no driver display or head-up display in the Volvo EX30. Overall, we think the operating concept in the even cheaper Citroen e-C3 is better: There is a small display in front of the driver’s seat that shows the speed.

Driving impressions

As is well known, the EX30 is available in three motor-battery combinations: the 200 kW rear-wheel drive car is available with a smaller and a larger battery, and the 315 kW all-wheel drive car is only available with the large battery. 

First I drove the 200 kW rear-wheel drive car with the large battery. The performance is significantly higher than usual in this class, and with a sprint time of 5.3 seconds it is clear that the power is completely sufficient; But the car doesn’t really feel sporty.

The recuperation is set via the touchscreen. But you only have the choice between one-pedal driving and the normal setting. One pedal driving here means that the crawl gear is deactivated, so you can come to a standstill just by releasing the accelerator pedal. Otherwise, the recuperation is pretty weak.

As far as the chassis is concerned, my colleague who was traveling with me was really impressed by the ride comfort, especially over speed bumps. I’m less critical when it comes to suspension; But for me it’s important that a car doesn’t shake. In this respect, the EX30 (like most electric cars, which are stabilized by the heavy battery in the ground) has no problem.

All-wheel drive with mechanical clutch

We later switched to the 315 kW all-wheel drive vehicle. The power should actually take your breath away, but this effect didn’t happen. At Volvo it was said that you only have full power up to around 80 percent SoC; Since other journalists drove ahead of us, that is probably the correct explanation.

Regarding the technology, I learned that the all-wheel drive version (which also has a permanent magnet machine at the front) has a mechanical clutch. This allows the front axle to be decoupled if not all of the power is needed. Hyundai/Kia/Genesis and Mercedes also choose a similar solution for their all-wheel drive vehicles. Volvo, on the other hand, is now using an asynchronous motor at the front of the XC40, which is switched off without power.

Features and quality

The EX30 is available in three versions: Core, Plus and Ultra. The basic equipment is already completely sufficient; These include, among other things, automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot assistant, rear parking beeper, front and rear view camera, 18-inch rims, LED lights, an audio system with two USB-C interfaces at the front and the 12.3-inch touchscreen. Plus and Ultra have slightly better features, with the 22 kW charger standing out on the Ultra.

The interior has the “Indigo” design as standard with a denim-like “Denim” panel on the dashboard. There are also the Pine, Misty and Breeze interior designs, which are subject to an additional charge. Volvo gave us two Ultra versions (surcharge: 7,200 euros) to drive in the versions Misty (1,250 euros surcharge) and Breeze (1,050 euros surcharge).

The light gray, woolen seat covering is super chic. As far as the materials are concerned, the Breeze version we first drove surprised us: It has a plastic panel on the dashboard that looks like a cheap Ikea kitchen. The material comes from recycled window frames, and that’s obviously something you should notice: the colorful sprinkles stand out when you run your fingernail over them, and I was afraid of making holes in the material.

The “Misty” variant that was driven later had integrated “cords” on the dashboard; this panel seemed less vulnerable, but not really as you would expect from a premium car. The settings of the air nozzles also seemed flabby and of little “value”.

A heat pump is standard on the versions with a large battery, but not on the basic version.

Prices, competitors and market launch

The EX30 can already be ordered, it should be available from dealers from calendar week 48, but the car will probably not be available to customers until the beginning of 2024, it was said at the driving event. As mentioned, prices start at 36,590 euros; In return you get a car with a whopping 200 KW drive power and a range of 344 km. The Jeep Avenger for 37,000 euros is significantly weaker with 115 kW, but can cover 408 km.

The Extended Range variant with rear-wheel drive goes even further at 476 km. But it is only available from 41,790 euros. Here (despite the smaller ground clearance) the VW ID.3 Pro (up to 575 km) and the Hyundai Kona Elektro with 160 kW (up to 514 km) could be mentioned as competitors. However, both are significantly more expensive: VW charges 47,595 euros for the ID.3 with a 77 kWh battery, and the Kona costs 47,190 euros. An alternative would be the VW ID.3 in the basic version for 39,995 euros. However, it only has a range of 435 km.

Conclusion

The Volvo EX30 is a great car with a stylish design inside and out. The engines are much more powerful than usual in the class. Only a few people are likely to buy the 315 kW all-wheel drive vehicle; If you’re looking for a sporty car like this, you probably won’t buy a (subtly designed) Volvo.

The range of the basic version is sufficient for the city; The 344 km would not be enough for us. We would therefore choose the Single Motor Extended Range version with a range of 476 km for 41,790 euros. The closest competitor here is the VW ID.3 with the 58 kWh battery. Although it has 50 kW less power and only manages 435 km, it only costs 39,995 euros.

The EX30 is stylish and uniquely designed inside and out; However, some interior materials raise doubts about the premium character. But the real drawback of the new entry-level Volvo is the operating concept: the lack of an instrument display and the inconvenient adjustment of the exterior mirrors would be a reason for us not to buy the car. So we’re a little disappointed with the car.