When it comes to the most respected brands within the luxury segment, Volvo has continued to build up a reputation for reliability and being able to offer high levels of modern opulence for an affordable price. Volvo is also a brand that stays up to date with all the latest industry trends, with the Swedish brand expanding its all-electric fleet in recent years.
The full switch to electrification came with the XC40 Recharge back in 2020. But, this compact crossover is garnering all the attention right now. Following suit to the existing Volvo electric cars by entering the ever-growing crossover SUV segment, the 2025 Volvo EX30 offers excellent power for the most affordable price. Managing to comfortably surpass the 400-horsepower mark, here’s a closer look at everything the all-new Volvo EX30 has to offer.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver.
2025 Volvo EX30 First Drive : A Refreshing Minimalist Approach In The EV Space
Volvo makes a big deal about the EX30’s small size. Its “less is more” philosophy could spawn a whole new approach for EVs.
The 2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Beats Out All Competition
*Orders for the 2025 Volvo EX30 were made available in the Fall of 2023, allowing buyers to choose from the extensive options available for the all-new electric crossover SUV. The major choice to make for the EX30 is the two different powertrains. With the model expected to be delivered to customers in the summer of 2024, the long-term differences between the two options will become much clearer.
The first of the EX30’s powertrains is the Single Motor Extended Range rear-wheel-drive trim, which produces 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. The more expensive Twin Motor Performance all-wheel-drive trim, however, is where the serious gains are made against the competition.
Offering Up to 421 Horsepower
While the Single Motor Extended Range powertrain still offers solid power, the Twin Motor Performance version of the 2025 EX30 pumps out 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. In Top Speed’s first drive test conducted by William Clavey, when set in Performance mode, the EX30’s performance was seriously impressive for the smallest SUV Volvo has ever produced. In Normal mode, the EX30 focuses power to the rear wheels to maximize efficiency, subsequently leading to a slight delay when putting down the power.
Keeping on topic with the EX30’s blistering speeds, the Twin Motor Performance powertrain has a claimed 0 to 60 miles per hour time of just 3.4 seconds, which is good enough to beat some of today’s electric sports cars. For reference, the base-level 2025 Porsche Taycan reaches 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds, making the EX30’s specs even more hair-raising. During the first drive test, however, the Twin Motor’s weight negatively affected the driving experience when pushing on twistier roads.
Starting At $44,900
As expected, the Twin Motor Performance version of the 2025 Volvo EX30 is more expensive than the base Single Motor trim, but not by as much as you might’ve expected. As for the Single Motor Extended Range trim, pricing starts at $34,950. The Twin Motor Performance raises the starting price to $44,900, which keeps the 154 horsepower bonus well within the affordable price range for a new EV.
With no other electric vehicle able to match the EX30’s maximum performance specs for an equally affordable price, Volvo has truly cemented itself as a real performance EV competitor. It must also be noted that the starting prices exclude the $1,295 destination charge upon delivery. The base single-motor trim, however, starts at $34,999, making it one of the cheapest EVs currently on sale.
Performance Specifications
|
Layout |
Twin Electric Motors with 69 kWh Battey |
|
Transmission |
Single-Speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
422 HP |
|
Torque |
400 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
AWD |
|
EPA-Estimated Range |
N/A |
|
0-60 MPH |
3.4 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
112 MPH |
(Data was collected from Volvo)
10 Fast Facts About The Volvo EX30
Uncover 10 game-changing facts about the Volvo EX30, a stylish urban disruptor reshaping the landscape of electric vehicles.
A Brand New Model In Volvo’s Expanding Fleet
In Volvo’s current fleet, the brand offers three other fully electric models besides the EX30, with the full-size EX90 released in early 2024. The two other Volvo EVs, the C30 Recharge and C40 Recharge have been on the market for some time now, receiving solid reviews all around for performance and efficiency.
With the EX30 being the next model to expand Volvo’s range, the crossover SUV follows up with equally impressive specifications on all fronts. As for the C30 Recharge and CX30 Recharge, these modes will be renamed to the EC40 and EX40 respectively, bringing each model together.
Impressive Range For The Performance-Focused Trim
Despite being the performance-oriented version of the 2025 EX30, the Twin Motor Performance still manages to offer a solid overall range in comparison to the rest of the crossover EV range. This is thanks to the Twin Motor Performance trim carrying over the same 69 kWh battery from the Single Motor Extended Range Trim. The latter receives an EPA-estimated combined range of 275 miles, although this number is expected to be slightly lower due to the increase in weight.
Pricing And Specs Compared To Volvo’s EVs
When compared to the rest of Volvo’s all-electric range, the overall specifications for the Twin Motor trims are considerably different due to the pricing and size of each model. The closest model to the EX30 price-wise is the XC40 Recharge, which starts at $55,495 for the Twin Motor version.
Regarding power output, the XC40 Recharge produces a lesser 402 horsepower but sees a big increase in torque, rated at 494 pound-feet of torque. Due to being a larger EV, however, the XC40 Recharge manages a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of 4.6 seconds (still mightily impressive). The larger SUV also has less overall range, with its 78 kWh battery good for 252 miles, as per EPA. The C40 Recharge features the same performance specifications as the XC40 Recharge, with the difference between the two models being the exterior dimensions.
Moving up to the largest and most expensive electric vehicle in Volvo’s 2024 range, the 2025 EX90 starts at $76,695. Both trims are twin motors as standard. The base model produces slightly less horsepower than the EX30 at 402 horsepower, but delivers a mighty 568 pound-feet of torque. As for range, Volvo claims the 2025 CX90 is good for 300 miles, competing with some of the very best in the EV segment.
The Volvo EX30’s Most Practical Easter Egg
Volvo’s newest electric vehicle, the EX30, comes with perks that ensure packing is practical and time-effective.
The EX30 Doesn’t Forget About Luxury And Functionality
Alongside the 2025 EX30’s impressive 450+ horsepower output at the most affordable price, Volvo most definitely hasn’t forgotten to include the latest and very best technology the Swedish brand has to offer. The EX30 not only continues with the top levels of luxury inside the cabin but delivers on the practicality and functionality that all SUVs need to succeed.
Equipped With Cutting-Edge Technology
It’s not only the interior that comes with cutting-edge, driver-focused tech; the EX30 also comes with ample driver assistance features to make the overall experience considerably more relaxing. As for the interior tech, the 12.3-inch vertical tablet takes center stage, featuring all the information and infotainment settings you’ll need.
These features include driver display settings, smart shortcuts at the bottom of the display, and Google apps and services. The center display also shows the birds-eye view provided by the 360° camera. As well as the overhead camera, the 2025 EX30 comes with safety features including:
- Pilot/Park Pilot Assist (automatic steering, braking and accelerating)
- Door Opening Alert
- Collision Avoidance Systems
- Driver Alert System
As for the overall design of the EX30’s interior, the compact SUV follows the same modern, sleek exterior design style inside the cabin. There are four different upholstery options to choose from, including Breeze, Mist, Pine, and Indigo. A potential negative aspect is that there are very few buttons in the cabin, with most features requiring the use of a digital display to use. The square-shaped sports steering wheel still lets you control aspects such as volume, for example.
Impressive Amounts Of Space Inside
Although the 2025 Volvo EX30 is a crossover SUV, it still manages to provide a decent amount of cargo space, beating out some of its key rivals. In total, the EV30 offers up to 27.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which reduces to 11.2 cubic inches with the rear seats folded up. As well as extra space below the load floor, the EX30 also has a central multi-storage unit within the cabin.
10 Unique Features Of The Volvo EX30
Volvo’s latest electric vehicle may be small, but it’s a full-on package deal.
What Electric SUVs Compete With The Volvo EX30?
Due to the crossover SUV segment becoming one of the most popular segments throughout the industry, it comes as no surprise that the Volvo EX30 will be met with stiff competition for the foreseeable future. A direct rival to the EX30 is the 2024 Kia Niro EV, which starts at $39,600 in 2024. Despite being $5,300 less, the Kia Niro EV can’t get close to the EX30’s power output, producing 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque.
Another key competitor that the EV30 will be up against is the 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron, which is one of the more established models in the segment. The Q4 e-tron starts at a higher price of $55,200 but still quite matches up to the Volvo’s power output, with the Audi maxing out at 335 horsepower. Despite being priced ultra-competitively against its key rivals, the 2025 Volvo EX30 offers substantially more horsepower, making it a genuine, exciting option if you’re looking to buy an all-new electric crossover SUV.
