The Volvo EX30 is the most emotional model the Swedes have ever created. It delights with its technology, sophistication, and impresses with its comprehensive approach to a truly sustainable future.
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the benefits of electric vehicles for the environment. We can argue about this for years until humanity goes back to using horses — that would be true environmental friendliness. But there is no way we are going to give up the comfort that many years of research and development have put into the car. Only Volvo seems to have invented an effective way and has been following this path for years, reducing its carbon footprint more and more.
I’ve always believed that you have to mature to buy a Volvo. It’s not about boredom, but rather about peace of mind, security, a balanced life and confidence. Have you ever seen a Swedish brand car brazenly breaking traffic rules? It happens, of course, but very rarely. First, Volvo — is about reliability. Secondly, it is about safe driving and care. And now it is also about environmental friendliness.
The Swedes started investing in electric mobility not so long ago, only after realizing the trends and thanks to Chinese investments. Therefore, the collaboration with Geely was supposed to pay dividends: it provided access to technology, batteries, and platforms. After the release of several electric models based on a fresh electrified modular platform, it was possible to go even further and recall the forgotten segment of compacts. So EX30 is a continuation of the C30 story, which was once quite popular among young people.
It’s also about emotions and drive. After all, with the new electric car, Volvo has decided to break through again to a younger segment of the audience. Of course, it is designed and drawn with this in mind. And what is trending now? Large monitors, minimalism, and advanced technology. And we got a really modern, fashionable electric car that will compete with the VW ID3 in the European market, and maybe even encroach on the customers of the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y. After all, this is Volvo.
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Environmental friendliness in every detail
The Volvo EX30 looks really cool: restrained design, smooth outlines, clear minimum gaps between body parts, a minimum of unnecessary elements and pretentiousness. Nobility is instantly readable here, as is quality. The main branded features have been preserved: T-shaped headlights «Thor’s Hammer» in front and C-shaped — in the rear, as well as the overall body shape.
The small crossover is not that small. It has a wheelbase of 2650 mm, a total length of 4233 mm, a width of 1837 mm and a height of 1555 mm. The curb weight is up to 1600 kg, which is excellent for an electric vehicle with two engines.
Looking at the Volvo EX30, it all seems so simple, but every detail is thoughtful and deliberate and works for performance and efficiency. The bumpers have a «air curtain» that distributes the flow and directs it to the wheel arches and under the bottom for greater efficiency and cooling. Indeed, this baby with its 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h definitely needs it. Even the wheels (18, 19 or 20 inches) with black plastic covers help to ensure better airflow around them. These covers can be removed to refresh the overall look.
One thing you won’t get tired of is the Moss Yellow color. Such brightness is not typical for the Scandinavian brand. It’s so nice to see it on gray, gloomy streets that people smile and follow it with a glance. It’s unusual to see a small compact that is also so emotionally appealing. It puts you in a good mood in the morning and keeps you going until the evening.
And if some people say that the car is green instead of yellow, it’s because natural colors inspired the designers. Where did they see it? Somewhere in the mountains, there is yellow-green moss on a rock. That’s where they got it from. And I can see that even the burnt grass now has about this color. So call it green if you like.
The Volvo EX30 is available in six colors that are completely natural: yellow, blue, white, gray, and black. Although, I want even more brightness and choice. Especially since only the gray Vapour Gray with the same black and gray interior will be free. For all the others, you will have to pay extra from 37,000 hryvnias.
The central torpedo — a whole soundbar dedicated to speakers. The sound in Volvo is truly unsurpassed thanks to the Harman Kardon sound system and excellent noise insulation. Only here is it worth listening to sophisticated classical music and you can hear every halftone. It’s worth it to get the Core as a starter, and the second Plus, which will have this system.
But getting acquainted with the new layout and architecture of the Volvo EX30 interior is a lot of discoveries, from the unusual space in front, which is not loaded with unnecessary elements, the absence of a dashboard as such, and the strange location of all the buttons and controls.
Many buttons have a dual function. Thus, to adjust the driver’s seat with electronic settings, you need to intuitively feel and press the center key on the side of the seat several times, changing its purpose. Double-pressing the window opening keys located in the center of the armrest changes the front windows to the rear windows. Although there is a duplicate of these keys behind the armrest.
In Volvo, the interior is called rooms. And no wonder. It is cozy, calm, soft, and beautiful. It’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel and customize the steering wheel and seat, there are many places to hide small things and not make a mess. Even the cupholders can be pulled out or hidden as needed. If you don’t need them, you can leave a separate space. Under the comfortable monolithic armrest there is a plastic box that can be easily removed and used for different purposes. And under the main monitor there is a glove compartment that opens with a button on the monitor.
Each room, and there are four of them, has its peculiarities in materials and colors. In our case, they offer light gray upholstery to yellow, which again refers to the moss on the gray stones. Here, too, 30% wool and 70% recycled polyester are used in the upholstery. In general, most Volvo cars use artificial materials and recycled materials. For example, the Indigo’s interior is made from jeans, and the Breeze has a pixelated upholstery made from 100% fiber made from recycled plastic bottles.
There is one more detail in our Meest that catches the eye — the decorative inserts on the torpedo and doors. It turns out that these are not only 30% recycled bottles, but also a top layer of woven linen.
So many things have been redesigned that you won’t even remember. More importantly, though, the thoughtfulness is evident from the very first kilometers. Like other Volvos, this baby watches you, prompts you, reminds you and protects you. It may not be convenient to constantly pay attention to the center panel, but I still missed the projection on the glass. They say it’s coming, but so far, I don’t see it in any configuration. And keeping track of the speed by constantly looking away is not very convenient, as for me.
You can customize the atmosphere with a sound effect and by changing the color of the interior lighting. It’s an interesting toy that can be used to entertain friends and children. But it’s not very useful. It’s not very convenient to enjoy this atmosphere while driving. You’re more likely to immerse yourself in it while charging or waiting in traffic.
While the compactness of the torpedo in front creates an incredible sense of space, in the rear of the Volvo EX30 you will immediately feel the compactness of the crossover. There is enough legroom for a child or an adult of average height. But the seat backs are soft, and it doesn’t hurt to rest your knees. The rear seats in this class are never adjusted, so this is not surprising here either. There is no access to the luggage compartment from the cabin, which is usually very convenient when traveling.
The EX30 has plenty of storage space. There are even hints as to what can fit in the trunk, which is up to 318 liters in size, including a 7-liter glove compartment under the hood. The luggage compartment floor is two-level and can be expanded, or all cables, brushes and tools can be hidden below. Of course, there will be no spare tire here — there is a large battery everywhere under the bottom.
I’m still amazed at how Vovo knows how to make the cabin comfortable and convenient. There’s always a place to put your phone, and in our case, it fits perfectly under the monitor on the rubberized wireless charger. And you need to push it a little lower to make everything work and keep the smartphone in place. A drawer opens below, where two Type-Cs are hidden, and there are two more behinds for passengers.
Volvo EX30 technology and safety
An integral part of the brand’s charm has been preserved here, along with all the technology, security systems, and integration with Google. You may not like it, or vice versa, but there is definitely a benefit. For example, I am simply amazed by the convenience of keyless entry and keyless start that I forget about the key and the need to carry it everywhere in my pocket or purse.
Although, you can open the Volvo EX30 with your smartphone. Yes, most manufacturers are coming to this. And here they already offer an NFC card and an app that works in Ukraine Зand using the app, you can open and close the car, control some functions, and monitor charging. Is it convenient? I think so. I didn’t download the app because with test cars, it always leaves a bunch of tails that have to be cleaned up later.
Another super feature that is available here in the maximum configuration is the latest generation Park Pilot Assist. The electric car will park itself in the chosen spot, and you just have to watch. It’s a scary thing that I won’t get used to soon. I don’t trust all these security systems and active assistants that much. Only the proprietary Pilot Assist makes me happy and allows me to enjoy myself even in traffic jams. After all, it monitors the surrounding vehicles, the situation on the road and moves in the flow. Plus, it has been given the function of automatic braking at an intersection, so it will notice an unexpected «ghost» that usually appears out of nowhere.
The Volvo EX30 keeps an eye on you, too. This happens every 13 seconds. And if you start yawning, it will offer to go for a coffee or rest, and if you look at the monitor in the center, it will emphasize keeping your attention on the road. But you need to keep an eye on your speed and have time to read the notifications. It’s a bit of a paradox. There is definitely a lack of projection here.
Environmental drive
The Volvo EX30 is so impressive in terms of organization and technology that it doesn’t seem to matter how it drives. And it’s fun to drive. Especially since we finally got all-wheel drive versions of the compact with a 69 kWh battery, which according to the figures provides 460 km of range. Of course, given the reality, about 100 km less is available, depending on how you drive. I managed no more than 320 km in the winter, but with the climate on all the time.
But there are two electric motors on each axle, which provide a total power of 428 hp (315 kW) and 503 Nm of torque. This allows you to accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. This is quite a dynamic figure, which does not fit in with a kind of compact electric car with crossover outlines. Maybe it doesn’t need so much, but it will definitely be fun for young people.
The Volvo EX30 is not designed for off-road driving, even with all-wheel drive. It’s more about safety and dynamics. Because with such a torque, it will bury itself faster than you can drive, at least 10 meters in the mud. And there is no slippage mode, but on the contrary, it is written that it is not recommended to pull at all, but to transport it only partially loaded. So don’t take any chances and try to overcome Ukrainian trails off-road.
The compact crossover steers differently from a Porsche or even a BMW. It seems that even in the VW ID3 the steering wheel is clearer than here. I noticed that the all-wheel drive version of the EX30 is a little better with this, and it is easier to keep the car on the road, as well as to feel it. More information, and more controllability. In the mono-drive, the absence of «zero» is felt strongly and there is no desire to accelerate at all.
The suspension is much better here. It’s not typical for this class, but in accordance with the — status, the Volvo EX30 has multi-link suspension on both axles. The chassis feels resilient, works well over potholes and bumps and does not cause discomfort to passengers. There is sway in sharp turns, but not critical and predictable. With such a mass and center of gravity — it works very well and comfortably.
And if you don’t press the accelerator, drive in «one pedal» using regeneration, you get pleasure from driving. Even with energy consumption, you can get close to the declared figures, though not in winter. On average, the Volvo EX30 consumes approximately 25-27 kWh per 100 km, which is the average for the electric vehicle segment.
The Volvo EX30 is based on the SEA 2 platform from Geely. This is the first Volvo on a purely electric platform. This is a modern 400-volt architecture and allows for mighty versions with one or two electric motors, as well as the ability to quickly replenish the energy supply.
If we consider the possibility of recharging the car from 10% to 80% from a powerful 153 kW network in 26 minutes, then it can drive all of Europe. If the network allowed such charging. Because in our country, as well as in Europe, the power supply is still not as good as we would like. Usually, you get about 50 kW of power at a charging station, which extends the time to 40-60 minutes, or even 1.5 hours.
It’s worth noting that the 69 kWh version is equipped with a 22 kW inverter, which hasn’t been the case before. Therefore, charging from AC on a three-phase network can take only 4-6 hours and be cheaper than high-powered current. Today, at the end of 2024, the cost of fast charging is about UAH 14-17 per kilowatt, both AC and DC, so you will have to pay about UAH 350 for 100 km of driving.
Charging from an ordinary outlet in a private house, or in a garage, or in a parking lot, will be much cheaper. Consuming 2.2 kW of power from the network, the car will be charged for about 25-26 hours in total. Charging for 14 hours at today’s rates cost me 85 UAH, including the nightly rate. So the benefits are obvious. However, no one cancels the constant anxiety and thoughts about sockets or stations that may not work due to a power outage or be occupied.
Conclusions and positioning
Volvo has made a very confident step towards increasing its audience by launching such an unusual model of a compact crossover with such an emotional component. It is full of energy in the literal and figurative sense. It is a worthy competitor even to the snooty Chinese with the Zeekr 001 or BYD, not to mention the European VW ID3 or MINI Countryman EV, which has a price tag of 45,000 euros.
Moreover, the Volvo EX30 is the most affordable model of the brand ever. The cost of an electric vehicle starts at 1,446,219 hryvnias (33,254 euros) for a fairly rich Core package, which will be enough in most cases. But who buys a Volvo in the basic version?
Throw in a few options, add a 50 kWh battery instead of a 69 kWh battery, choose a bright color, and the price will already reach 1,555,874 hryvnias (35,700 euros). Our test electric car, the brightest, most dynamic and powerful, will cost 1,817,993 UAH (41,716 EUR). This is a rather pleasant price tag compared to competitors and corresponds more to the level of cars with an internal combustion engine.
Given the reputation of the Swedish brand, build quality and expensive appearance, warranty and technical support, the consumer is offered an interesting car. And all this with a warranty for three years or 100,000 miles and eight years for the battery. In addition, the main battery can be restored not only partially, but also partially by modules, which greatly simplifies the procedure and guarantees a quick and environmentally friendly return to the road.
In addition, «subscription» is already available in Ukraine, where you get a car for full use for 36 months with a fixed monthly rental payment, and then you can buy it back or replace it with another new car. It’s a cool offer that works well in the US, but is not yet familiar to our consumers. For just a thousand dollars, you can pick up a car from the dealership without any loans and drive it until you want something new.
Even with all the disadvantages of electric cars, it’s hard for me personally to part with the EX30 baby. You quickly get used to the comfort and convenience, and there are not many cars on our market that offer so much confidence and peace of mind while driving. And it is not surprising that these electric trains are sold like hot cakes.
PROS: bright stylish exterior, comfortable technological and modern interior, environmental friendliness, dynamics, chassis.
CONS: there is a lack of information in front of the driver, energy consumption could be better.
Technical characteristics of the Volvo EX30 BEV
| Body, type | SUV |
| Dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 4233/1837/1555 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2650 |
| Declared ground clearance, mm | — |
| Trunk volume, liters. | 318 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1600 |
| Battery capacity, kWh | 69 |
| Power, hp (kW) | 428 (315) |
| Max. torque, Nm | 503 |
| Power reserve, km | 460 |
| Type of drive | Full |
| Pendant | Indoor/outdoor. |
| Transmission | Single-stage automatic |
| Dynamics 0-100, s | 3,6 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 180 |
| Energy consumption, kWh/100 km | 17,5 |
| Starting price, UAH | 1 446 219 |
| The cost of the test car, UAH | 1 880 225 |
| Competitors | VW iD3 |
| Tesla Model 3 | |
| Zeekr 001 | |
| Mini Countryman SE ALL4 |
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