The Volvo EX30 has been revealed today ahead of hitting UK roads at the beginning of next year. The all-electric EX30 will become Volvo’s smallest ever SUV.
Update: Since this guide was published we have driven the all-new Volvo EX30. Click here to read our full Volvo EX30 Review
The company claims that the new car will have the smallest lifecycle CO2 footprint of any Volvo to date, and features vast amounts of recycled material within its structure: 25% recycled aluminium, 17% recycled steel and 17% recycled plastic, plus many more recycled and renewable element in the interior.
Three powertrains – known as Single-Motor, Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin Motor Performance - will be available, while two trim levels – Plus and Ultra – will be offered.
2024 Volvo EX30:
- 2024 Volvo EX30: exterior design and dimensions
- 2024 Volvo EX30: interior design, infotainment and practicality
- 2024 Volvo EX30: specifications, technology and equipment
- 2024 Volvo EX30: power, performance, range and charging
- 2024 Volvo EX30: price and on-sale date
2024 Volvo EX30: exterior design and dimensions
The grille-less front end features a more digitised interpretation of the company’s trademark ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlight design, while down the sides, you’ll notice that all four wheels are pushed out to the extreme corners of the car, leaving very short overhangs. A strong crease can be seen running through the bottom of the doors, and at the back, the tapering roofline sits on top of split-level tail lights for a very distinctive look.
There are five paint colours to choose from and all versions come with a contrasting roof and mirror caps. The entry-level Single-Motor sits on 18-inch alloys, while Plus versions of the other two powertrains sit on 19s, and Ultra versions on 20s. Ultra cars also have darkened rear windows.
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Size-wise, the EX30 is 4233mm in length, 1555mm in height and 2032mm in width, including mirrors, while the wheelbase stands at 2650mm. That makes it appreciably smaller than Volvo’s current entry-level SUV, the XC40, and puts it on a par with cars such as the Hyundai Kona and Peugeot 2008.
2024 Volvo EX30: interior design, infotainment and practicality
As Volvo’s smallest SUV, you’d expect some compromises in practicality, and sure enough, the 318 litres you get is fairly modest. It’s not too far behing that of the Hyundai Kona Electric, but it’s some way behind that of the Peugeot. It does come with a flexible load floor, however, and the 60/40 split rears seats fold down to free up more space. A powered tailgate comes as standard on all trim levels and there’s also a 19-litre storage area up front which could be used to store your charging cables.
There are some novel storage solutions inside the cabin, too. The glovebox is centrally mounted, giving easier access to the driver as well as the front passenger, and the stereo speakers are set within a home audio-inspired ‘sound bar’ within the dashboard, removing the need for speakers in the doors and freeing up more storage space.
As a company famed for its chic interior design, all eyes will be on that aspect of Volvo’s new offering. Buyers choose from four distinct interior design themes – or ‘rooms’ – each of which uses a different combination of materials and finishes, many of them recycled or renewable.
The biggest news for technophiles will be the infotainment system, which uses Google Automotive Services. This means navigation with google maps, voice recognition with Google Assistant, compatibility with Google Play store and various other enabled entertainment apps. The system also supports over-the-air software updates, and includes Bluetooth, DAB, wireless Apple Carplay and a 1040W Harman Kardon surround sound system.
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The 12.3-inch portrait touchscreen mounted in the centre of the dashboard not only cuts down the amount of physical switchgear in the cabin to almost zero, but it also doubles as your instrument readout: unusually, there’s no separate screen behind the steering wheel. We have misgivings about this approach on both counts, but we’ll have to see how it works in practice before making a judgment.
2024 Volvo EX30: specifications, technology and equipment
As we’ve said, the entry-level trim is called Plus, but it’ll far from an entry-level feel due to an impressive roster of standard luxury kit. You get dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, automatic lights and wipers, wireless phone charging, and digital key access (depending on phone compatibility).
Being a Volvo, you also expect a very strong showing on safety, and to that end, the standard kit list also includes driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, lane keep assist, lane change assist, automatic high-beam headlights and road sign information. There’s also a door opening alert to warn of cyclists approaching from behind.
Ultra trim adds, among other things, powered front seats, a fixed panoramic sunroof and a 360-degree camera.
2024 Volvo EX30: power, performance, range and charging
The three powertrain options available in the EX90 start with the Single-Motor version, which gets a 268bhp motor on the rear axle for rear-wheel drive, giving a 0-62mph sprint time of 5.7 seconds and a restricted top speed of 112mph. This version comes with a 51kWh (nominal capacity, 49kWh usable capacity) battery pack, giving an estimate WLTP range of 214 miles, and it’ll charge at a rate of up to 134kW at a sufficiently powerful DC rapid charger, giving you a 10-80% charge in less than 30 minutes.
Next up is the Single-Motor Extended Range version. This has the same motor and propulsion layout as the Single-Motor, so it has the same power, but it still does the 0-62mph sprint 0.4 seconds quicker. The bigger difference is that it gets a bigger 69kWh battery pack (64kWh usable capacity), which boosts the projected range up to 298 miles. It’ll also support faster rapid charging at up to 153kW, but due to the extra capacity, a 10-80% charge will take roughly the same amount of time as in the Single-Motor.
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The range-topper is the Dual-Motor. This gets the same battery as the Extended Range version, with the same capacity and rapid-charging capability, but it comes with an additional electric motor on the front axle to give it 422bhp and four-wheel drive. That makes it good for seeing off the 0-62mph dash in just 3.6 seconds, which officially makes it Volvo’s fastest accelerating car ever, although the like all other versions, the top speed is limited to 112mph. The theoretical range drops to 286 miles.
Charging is taken care of via a now-industry-standard CCS port on the nearside rear wing, making it compatible with the majority of public rapid chargers in the UK, and versions with the larger battery get a standard heat pump for more effective heating in the winter, theoretically meaning more range.
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A one-pedal driving mode is offered and there’s also an external speaker that emits a noise to alert pedestrians to the presence of the car at low speeds.
2024 Volvo EX30: price and on-sale date
The EX30 is available to order from today, and first customer deliveries are expected in early 2024. Price start at £33,795 for the Single Motor Plus. Then comes the Single Motor Extended Range Plus at £38,545, followed by the Twin Motor Performance Plus at £40,995. The Single Motor Extended Range in Ultra trim will cost you £42,045, while the range-topping Twin Motor Performance Ultra is £44,495.
An additional entry-level Core trim will be introduced at a later date, which will cost from around £31,000. And for those who want more adventure from their EX30, a more rugged Cross Country version will be introduced later in 2024.