Is the 2025 Volvo EX30 a Good Electric SUV?
- It’s certainly a quick one. For fans of Scandinavian minimalism, the EX30’s eco-friendly, upscale interior will be a hit — assuming those fans can fit inside the cramped cabin. An increased starting price over what was initially announced, however, makes the EX30 a less appealing choice in today’s market.
How Does the 2025 Volvo EX30 Compare With Other Electric SUVs?
- Few electric vehicles match the drama of the EX30’s exterior or the simplicity of its interior, but many do a better job being a relatively affordable second car or city runabout, often at a lower price. Given our test vehicle’s price — which approached $50,000 — the list of alternatives is long and diverse.
The 2025 Volvo EX30 had a lot going for it when it was first announced: a sub-$40,000 starting price, a driving range close enough to 300 miles that many buyers would consider it, daring exterior styling and more. That was back in 2023, however, and the world is a bit different today. Contrary to what was initially planned, the U.S. will be getting only the priciest Twin-Motor Performance version, at least for now; a more affordable single-motor variant has been relegated to the back burner. A dual-motor Cross Country version is on the way for the 2026 model year.
Related: When Trends Collide: Electric 2026 Volvo EX30 Gains Cross Country Derivative
We tested an Ultra trim level that arrived in a glowing coat of paint, dubbed Moss Yellow; it’s named for “the yellow reindeer lichen, or polar moss, that grows on the rocks” in Swedish forests. The color grew on me (pun intended), and I really enjoyed the EX30’s sharp and futuristic exterior aesthetics. The sole option on our test car was a $500 Climate Package, which added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. All in, the EX30 we drove was priced about as far away as possible from the affordable starting price Volvo had previously announced: It had an as-tested price of $48,395 (all prices include destination).
Once we got past the initial shock of its paint and styling, would the EX30 impress?
How Much Does the 2025 Volvo EX30 Cost?
- Plus: $46,195
- Ultra: $47,895
Those prices are before any options, though once you add a heated steering wheel and heated seats to the Ultra, the remaining options are mostly accessories. The EX30’s near-$50,000 starting price puts this commuter-oriented small SUV in the territory of several decently sized (and longer-range) electric SUVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and refreshed 2026 Subaru Solterra.
How Does the 2025 Volvo EX30 Twin-Motor Performance Drive?
Quickly. It drives very quickly. Volvo quotes a 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds for the 422-horsepower Twin-Motor Performance version, which would make this little EV the quickest Volvo ever made. Unfortunately, it lacks the tires to put that power to the ground in everyday situations; I found it incredibly easy to spin the tires under hard acceleration. While the EX30 may approach the 0-60 time of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Volvo didn’t bother to add anything to rival the (significantly more expensive, to be fair) Ioniq 5 N’s performance in any way but a straight line.
Was forgoing tire grip and handling performance worth it just to eke out an EPA-estimated 253 miles of range while maintaining significant straight-line speed? I’m not so sure. The EX30 is more efficient than a similarly equipped Mustang Mach-E, Ioniq 5 or ID.4, but, for my money, I’d rather have normal EV acceleration — which is still very quick — and more range. Winning stoplight drag races when I’m the only one knowingly participating gets old pretty quickly, and little else about the EX30’s driving experience makes it worth recommending. Its steering feels numb even by EV standards, with only vague feedback, and its ride is painfully firm.
On top of that, this Volvo’s driver aids can be annoying and intrusive. The driver attention monitor kept alerting me that I was tired and needed a break. Thank you, Volvo, for reminding me I have a 1.5-year-old. Other aids were similarly tuned to an aggravating level of intrusiveness. On one hand, these issues can be solved by turning off these features; on the other hand, it’s not much of an active-safety feature if it compels owners to turn it off to escape its annoying habits.
How Good Is the Volvo EX30’s Interior and Technology?
This is very much a love-it-or-hate-it situation, and I came down on the hate-it side. The EX30’s cabin is meant to be extremely minimal, with nice materials but not a square inch of leather in sight. The result is an interior I’ve never seen before, with upscale fabric and a single 12.3-inch display serving double duty as both touchscreen and instrument panel. Borrowing from Tesla, nearly every vehicle control is centralized in this display, which is capable of over-the-air updates. Unlike Tesla, the EX30 uses Google Built-In technology rather than bespoke infotainment software, and it includes wireless Apple CarPlay.
I don’t mind the minimalism, but the interior’s practicality is nearly absent. For some reason, Volvo gave the EX30 just two switches to raise and lower all four windows, so I always had to take my eye off the road briefly to make sure I was rolling down the desired window. Some of the central screen’s numerous choices are buried within multiple layers of menus. Just changing the drive mode took me several “button” presses on the screen. Volvo also borrows from Tesla’s playbook for actions like side mirror adjustments; rather than simple, dedicated controls on or near the driver’s door, you must select the function in the touchscreen, then use the steering-wheel buttons to adjust the mirrors’ positions.
The EX30’s backseat is also frustratingly cramped. My wife and I barely had room to install a rear-facing child safety seat; to get it in place, the front passenger seat had to be shifted so far forward, my 5-foot-8-inch wife didn’t have enough legroom to fit in the front seat — and she barely fit in the backseat behind my driving position. The backseat is cramped for adults in every direction but up; headroom, at least, is decent.
Rather than a sunroof, a moonroof or even an opaque roof, the EX30 uses a panoramic piece of glass with no standard shade or electrochromic darkening and lightening feature. The glass roof makes the cabin feel slightly airier, but with no shade the interior just bakes in the summer heat (a removable accessory sunshade costs $200). Maybe that’s a feature that works better in Sweden than in the U.S.?
More Volvo News From Cars.com:
- One Small EV for the US, One Giant Leap in Price: 2025 Volvo EX30 Now Starts at $46,195
- Volvo Announces Tech Updates for Full 2026 Lineup
- How Much Is the 2025 Volvo EX40?
- 2025 Volvo XC90 Plug-in Hybrid Review: Luxury With a Plug
- Polestar and Volvo EV Drivers Can Now Use Tesla Superchargers
Should You Buy a 2025 Volvo EX30 Twin-Motor Performance?
On the grounds of both practicality and price, there are better alternatives to the EX30. A host of compact EV SUVs — the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ and VW ID.4, just to name a few — offer trim levels with more range and more interior space for lower prices. (The more affordable, rear-wheel-drive single-motor EX30 will change this calculation if it ever goes on sale in the U.S.) If you’re considering the EX30 as a secondary commuter car, there are cheaper alternatives to fill that role, like the redesigned 2026 Nissan Leaf.
The EX30 will be much more of an aesthetic or emotional choice for buyers, with good-looking, futuristic exterior styling, a minimalist Scandinavian interior that will absolutely appeal to some shoppers, and all that power. There may be more sensible options, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
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