2024 Volvo EX30 review: Bargain prestige small SUV shines across the board as a genuine rival for Tesla Model Y and BYD Atto 3

Volvo’s EX30 is the fastest vehicle the marque’s ever produced, yet somehow doubles as a sensible, economical small SUV costing a smidge over $70,000 in its highest spec.

Small wonder it arrives in Australia with a confident swagger – a compelling, striking-looking offering armed with solid figures on range, charging, equipment and safety fronts, while remaining affordable.

That it will launch itself to 100km/h in 3.6-seconds – shattering the dreams of we ’80s kids by out-sprinting a Ferrari F40 – is pub ammo icing on the cake.

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A single motor entry-level EX30’s priced from $59,990 plus on-roads, opening the Volvo to a broad church of buyers. Shoppers considering a BYD Atto 3, Cupra Born, Hyundai Kona Electric or even Tesla Model Y would be wise to first sample this little Volvo.

2024 Volvo EX30 price and equipment

The EX30’s built in China on parent company Geely’s SEA platform, and slots in beneath the XC40 and C40 in Volvo’s full electric range.

Size-wise it’s a stubby holder shorter than a Hyundai Kona EV small SUV, and it’s indeed a compact looking thing in the metal. Spy the rear seat and boot space and you’ll note it’s better suited to cashed-up young couples and empty nesters than families.

Three models are available from launch, each using the same 400V 69kW battery – there’s no shorter range small battery version as available in other markets. Volvo claims the EX30 charges from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes using a DC fast charger.

The EX30 Single Motor Extended Plus price leader ($59,990) comes with 200kW/343Nm fed through its rear wheels, a 462km range and ample acceleration of 5.3 seconds to 100km/h. Economy’s a fair 17.5kWh/100km.

A Single Motor Extended Ultra ($66,290) boosts the luxury spec with no change to the powertrain, while headline-making Twin Performance Ultra ($71,290) is the one for the drag strip thanks to the 315kW/543Nm produced by its brace of motors, all-wheel-drive, 445km range and impressive 18kWh/100km economy.

Styling includes updated ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED signature headlights and two-section rear LEDs sitting flush to the car’s body. It’s unmistakably Volvo, but there’s a cuter, more urbane look than its larger SUVs.

Colours are blue, grey, white, black and hero yellow, with contrasting black metallic roof.

Cabin’s fashionably leather-free and boasts an abundance of recycled and renewable materials – flax, wool, waste denim, plastic waste and discarded fishing nets included. Buyers are entitled to feel a warm glow of eco wholesomeness.

All grades score a 12.3-inch portrait touchscreen, OTA updates, digital key, wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, 5G capability, four USB-C ports, Harman Kardon sound system with windscreen-length soundbar, power tailgate, parking sensors, home charging cable, dual-zone climate control and Google Built-in for five years (Play Store, Maps and Assistant).

Ultra grades add a fixed panoramic roof (with no shade, annoyingly), excellent 360-degree camera with 3D view, power and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and tinted rear windows. The Twin Motor also gets 20-inch alloys rather than Single Motor 19-inchers.

Safety’s covered with lane keep assist, blind spot monitor, intersection auto brake, AEB with cyclist and pedestrian detection, rear collision warning and mitigation, front and rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, road sign information, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane change assist and rear view and door opening alert.

2024 Volvo EX30: What we think

I’ll not bury the headline. The EX30’s a seriously good all-rounder.

It looks superb – the sort of neatly-proportioned little SUV you want to hop in and punt around town, then proudly look upon as you sup your piccolo at some trendy urban cafe.

But the cabin layout and materials won’t be for everyone.

Without question, there’s too much reliance on the (excellent, crisp) centre screen in providing your driving data and climate control. Ahead of the squircle (squared-off circle) steering wheel there’s no driver instrument cluster, nor a head-up display.

Much like a Tesla, all this vital info is housed in the screen. Some may love this minimalism, but old traditionalists like me do not, and find the glance leftwards an annoying distraction.

And adjusting mirrors through a touchscreen? It’s a step too far.

I’m more on board with the cabin materials, feel and general interstingness of it all.

Our test Single Motor’s dash and door trim was an eco warrior’s fantasy, the recycled goodness resembling a worn tyre’s exposed canvas, while lower down trim had strong yoga mat vibes, albeit feeling a bit too thin and plasticky.

Denim seat trim is available in blue, pine green, and classy mist grey (Ultra only) and the chairs have a well-sculpted armchair-like feel. But they do look rather prone to stains.

Intricate metal door handles add serious class, while there’s a shapely Swedish design to the soft arm rests, pop-out extending centre console cup holders and barn doors for low-down storage.

But it’s crying out for some rubberising. Place phones or keys in this centre storage and they noisily swish around, and while the upright phone storage (with single wireless charging) looks lovely, your smartphone goes walkabout through the cabin as soon as you start exploiting the EX30’s performance.

Another quirk is having electric window switches in the centre rather than the doors. Plus they give you only two up front – you need to press another button to have them operating rear windows. That’s a faff.

It’s pretty cramped in the back, plus you must do without air vents here. Headroom’s fine, but leg and toe room’s tight, and skinny rear windows show it’s far from ideal if you regularly have back seat passengers.

The boot’s also no whopper at 318L, but there’s a neat two-tiered setup if you remove the boot floor. A handy 71L frunk adds greater practicality.

The drive experience is a mixed bag, but overwhelmingly positive.

The EX30’s light of steering, beautiful to manoeuvre in town, neatly balanced and feels solid on the road with impressive sound-deadening. Crank up the pumpin’ sound system – why don’t more cars have TV-like soundbars up front? – and it’s an EV you’d happily while the hours away in.

It cruises without fuss on decent roads, but it’s a harsh little thing on bumps and choppy surfaces. A combination of low-profile tyres, firm suspension and it not being the trimmest of Swedes – the single motor’s 1810kg and dual motor’s 1920kg – means the ride’s never what you’d describe as plush.

But good grief, what a little weapon.

The single motor has all the performance you need. Really. Hitting 100km/h in a blink over five seconds is absolutely fast enough. The EX30 is a long way from a performance car in terms of its shape, mass, suspension and intentions, so despite its numbers, this isn’t to be confused with a fun corner-carver.

Torque’s delivered in a sensibly linear manner, there’s no vulgar wheelspin, yet you’re shifted along at quite a clip. There’s fun enough to be had, and you’re licence feels slightly safer in the entry level.

Not so the dual motor.

Look, I love forward thrust as much as the next petrolhead/electronhead, but this is supercar performance. In a city SUV.

It just feels a bit wrong. And very much like you’ll not notice you’ve gone 40km/h over the speed limit in the time it takes to say ‘Sorry, officer’.

There are three different steering feel settings, but none offers the engaging, connected feel you’d want in a car going this damn fast. Handling and body control aren’t bad, but again, don’t confuse supercar acceleration with a supercar’s fit-for-purpose chassis. It’s a bit of a mind-scrambler, and you soon leave all that performance alone for safety and comfort’s sake.

With that said, it’s just a $5000 leap over the same Ultra grade EX30 to get an extra motor and acceleration to smoke an M3. A street sleeper Scandi SUV for $72k hitting 100km/h well under four seconds? Good grief that’s serious performance for the coin.

Our mix of city, highway and twisty roads returned just under 20kWh/100km in both EX30 versions, making the range claims look reasonable. Real-world over 400km would be no drama for these Volvos.

There are regen settings, but nothing terribly strong to feel like you’d really boost range. But positively, it means the drive experience remains smooth and pleasant. Well, until you’re told off by the rather nannying driver monitor forever spying on you behind the steering wheel.

2024 Volvo EX30: Verdict

Lots to like here. The EX30 has obvious kerbside appeal, interestingly eco interior, strong features and – no matter the model – serious performance.

The flagship batshit-crazy-fast twin motor version feels a bit too novelty for my liking.

It’s that quick just because it can be, rather than to make it a better car. The smart money’s on the single; its chassis and steering’s a much better match to the ample shove offered from the sole rear motor.

Families needing half decent space should shop elsewhere, but for everyone else, this character-filled little Volvo is a proper contender. And looks good value too.

SCORE: 4/5

2024 Volvo EX30 Single Motor specifications
Price: $59,990 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, RWD
Range: 462km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 69kWh
Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 17.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Motor: 1 rear, 200kW/343Nm
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 153kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 5.3 seconds

2024 Volvo EX30 Twin Performance Ultra specifications

Price: $71,290 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 445km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 69kWh
Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 18kWh/100km (WLTP)
Motors: 1 front 115kW/200Nm and 1 rear 200kW/343Nm, combined outputs 315kW/543Nm
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 153kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 3.6 seconds