By Mitesh Zaveri & Shrawan Raja
The Volvo EX30 is the smallest electric car from Gothenburg. The Swedish urban runabout looks fresh, takes off like a banshee, and feels premium inside despite its size. After several days with the top-end North American-spec 2025 ‘Ultra’ model, I found it fun, efficient, and bold in design, though a few choices in its minimalist layout can be frustrating.
Design
The EX30’s design feels refreshingly new for a Volvo, adding variety to the current lineup. It carries the brand’s styling touches but in a compact and sporty package. The Thor’s Hammer LED headlights remain, but their detailing is sharper.
The main cluster sits low, while the upper edges double as DRLs and turn signals. The grille is sealed since it was designed as an EV from the ground up, with a small vent below for the air-conditioning system and battery.
A camera for adaptive cruise and driver-assist functions is located behind the windshield. Under the hood is a 7-liter (0.25 cu.ft) frunk, large enough for safely storing the charging cables. The lid features an embossed art pattern that coordinates with other small design details I spotted throughout the car.
The side profile is clean, with stylish 20-inch dual-tone wheels on this Ultra variant. Lower trims get 19-inch units. The gloss-black mirrors include blind-spot indicators, turn signals, and one of the four cameras for the 360-degree view. The black roof contrasts well with the light blue body, and the fixed panoramic glass roof is designed to blend smoothly with the rear spoiler.
At the rear, a light bar connects tall LED taillights. The small glass area looks sleek, but it limits rear visibility, especially with passengers in back. The bumper has a simple design with black plastic and a covered underbody for aerodynamic advantage.
The boot holds 11.2 cubic feet with the seats up and 31.9 cubic feet when folded. The 60:40 split seatbacks fold manually to create a flat floor. A compartment below the floor stores the 11 kW AC cable. The diagram on the inside of the tailgate showing which household items can fit, is a useful touch.
Interior
Most surfaces on the EX30’s interior use recycled plastics. The upper dash feels textured like granite, while the lower section is plain but solid.
The door handles with the metallic accents look cool, and the floating armrests use soft blue fabric. Window switches sit on the center console rather than each door, requiring an extra button press to toggle between front and rear windows. This saves cost and reduces materials, but it isn’t the most intuitive design.
There’s no traditional gauge cluster. Instead, a small strip above the infotainment screen shows speed, gear, and driver warnings. The camera above the screen tracks eye movement to detect drowsiness, but it can be overly sensitive. Even quick glances sideways trigger “Pay Attention” alerts.
Seating & Comfort
At 5’11”, I fit comfortably in the front seats. Entry is easy due to the raised ride height. The seats combine leather-like premium texture and fabric, with firm bolstering and long cushions that offer good thigh support.
Seat adjustment is through an on-screen menu using a single physical dial. It allows fine control for seatback angle, height, and lumbar. The system feels futuristic but takes longer than physical switches to settle into a comfortable position.
Both front seats are heated, with three-level control on the touchscreen. Ventilation isn’t offered. The steering wheel adjusts manually for reach and rake and includes adaptive cruise and media buttons. A separate button toggles side mirror adjustment. The flat-bottomed wheel feels solid but picks up fingerprint smudges quickly on either of the piano black surfaces that have the haptic buttons.
Visibility is good forward, though the rear window is small. The panoramic roof floods the space with light but can heat the cabin in direct sun. Volvo sells an optional manual shade, which is a must if summers get hot where you live.
Infotainment
The 12.3-inch touchscreen controls nearly everything from headlights to glovebox release. It runs Google’s Android-based system with Maps, Assistant, and the Play Store. Wireless Apple CarPlay is supported, and the Snapdragon-powered interface feels fast, though some menus are buried many layers deep.
The screen is divided into three areas: top for drive data, middle for maps and apps, and bottom for climate. Dual-zone climate control is adjusted by sliding virtual bars for temperature and fan speed. Another issue of not having physical knobs is that you need to look away from the road more often.
All lighting, mirror, and safety settings reside within the menu drawers. I’d imagine that if the screen ever fails, many functions, including the headlights, would become inaccessible. This over-reliance on a single interface is the biggest drawback in the EX30. That said, the Harman Kardon sound system with nine speakers delivers amazing clarity.
Keyless entry is available only on the driver’s door. The Ultra variant comes both a key card and a rechargeable fob, but the fob needs periodic charging and occasionally stops responding if left unused. The door unlock area also works only on one side, which takes time to get used to.
Storage & Practicality
Storage space in the EX30 is more than reasonable for a compact SUV. The glovebox is small and electronically released through the screen. Two flexible cupholders feature under a sliding cover. The center console has a magnetic lid with storage beneath and more space under the floating armrest.
The door bins can hold large bottles. Low battery isn’t ever going to be an issue in the EX30, as a wireless charging pad and two USB-C ports are located under the center stack, with two more ports for rear passengers.
Rear Seats
The rear seats look and feel premium but are tight on space. With the front seat adjusted for my height, knee room is about two fingers across, and headroom is limited under the roofline. The low seating position reduces thigh support. The bench can take two adults comfortably, but a third is a squeeze.
Map pockets behind the front seats are provided. Rear door trim mirrors the front, using the same recycled materials and blue inserts.
Performance
The Ultra AWD features two motors producing 422 hp and 400 lb-ft. of torque. Power comes from a 69 kWh battery (65 kWh usable). With a peak charging power of 153 kW DC, reaching 80 percent in about 27 minutes, or to full in around 8 hours using 11 kW AC.
Acceleration feels instant, and 0-62 mph takes just 3.6 seconds. The throttle feels sharp, and the small size leads to a strong sense of speed. In usual driving, the EX30 keeps the powertrain rear-biased, switching to AWD only when needed.
A one-pedal mode is available, though it doesn’t bring the car to a complete stop. The brake pedal feels soft with long travel, requiring a deliberate press for quick stops.
The suspension setup is on the firmer side. It handles corners with confidence but sends bumps into the cabin over rough roads. The steering is light in Soft mode and tighter in Firm, with decent accuracy but limited feedback. The short turning radius makes it easy to maneuver in the city and through parking lots.
During mixed driving, I averaged 14.0-14.5 kWh per 100 kilometers, equating to about 420-430 kilometers (260-267 miles) of real range, bettering Volvo’s claimed figure. Range improves in city driving, where regen braking is most effective.
NVH
Road and wind noise are low for a vehicle this size. Tire noise rises above 65 mph, and some wind hum appears near the windshield. Build quality feels solid with no interior rattles.
Safety
The EX30 includes 11 airbags, including a center airbag between front passengers. Systems include adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and emergency braking.
The rear automatic braking can intervene abruptly when backing near obstacles but works reliably. The brilliant 360-degree camera offers clear resolution and multiple views.
Pricing
In Canada, the EX30 starts at CAD 57,289 for the Core trim with a single-motor powertrain. The top-spec Ultra tested here costs CAD 67,189 with optional 20-inch wheels (prices excluding taxes and fees). U.S. pricing for the 2026 model year begins at USD 40,425 (MSRP).
TopElectricSUV says
After spending a few days with it, I found the EX30 Ultra AWD a refreshing and modern urban SUV that’s quick, and feels both luxurious and confident out on the road. It’s the touchscreen-heavy interface, which I hope Volvo designers rethink in the facelift, and limited rear space for tall occupants, which hold it back slightly.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
