Overview

What's New for 2025

The 2025 Volvo EX30 crossover will be available in three trim levels: Core, Plus, and Ultra, with a twin-motor Performance variant available in the Plus and Ultra trims.

Core

The Core Single Motor Extended Range starts at $36,245 (including a $1,295 destination fee). Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, an energy-efficient heat pump, an AC charge cable, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, Google built-in infotainment operating system with Google Maps and Google Assistant voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay, a center-mounted 12.3-inch driver information and infotainment screen, and a suite of Volvo advanced safety and driver-assist features.

Plus

The mid-range Plus starts at $40,195 and will feature 19-inch alloy wheels and tires, auto-dimming mirrors, a power liftgate, a dual-tone roof, a digital key integrated into your phone, dual-zone automatic climate control, an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, a wireless charging pad, two rear-seat USB-C power ports, and a panoramic glass roof.

Ultra

The Ultra trim, starting at $41,895, adds power-adjustable front seats, a surround-view camera system, a semi-automated parking system, and a low-level hands-on automated driving system called Pilot Assist.

Volvo says the Performance variant for the Plus and Ultra will have a dual-motor, electronic all-wheel-drive powertrain rated at 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The automaker said Performance versions will be capable of a 3.4-second sprint to 60 mph, making them the quickest Volvos ever.

A Cross Country variant is slated to start production in late 2024 for early 2025 deliveries. It will get a lifted stance for greater ground clearance, 19-inch black-colored alloy wheels, or 18-inchers with meatier tires. Black front and rear scuff panels and a Swedish flag on the hood will help distinguish it from other EX30 models.

As its name states, the Volvo EX30 Core Single Motor trim will have a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive powertrain generating 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. That's 20 hp more than the larger XC40 Recharge. It will be fed by a 64-kWh, lithium-ion battery with energy-dense nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry. It's estimated to reach 60 mph in a quick 5.1 seconds.

The Twin Motor Performance variant with dual motors and electronic all-wheel drive will use the same battery as the single-motor version but can deliver up to 422 hp with both front and rear motors working together. Volvo said the EX30 Performance will be its quickest vehicle ever, with a 0-60-mph sprint time of just 3.4 seconds. That ranks with the BMW i4 M50, Kia EV6 GT, Porsche Taycan, and Tesla Model Y Performance — all larger EVs with much bigger price tags.

In an abbreviated drive in city environs, the EX30 is plenty powerful and quick. As with other EVs, acceleration is very responsive and the silence makes for a very serene experience. Smart use of sound insulation also greatly reduces the low-frequency "boominess" that some other EVs have to contend with. Braking is as seamless as in a typical internal combustion vehicle and a one-pedal drive mode is available for those who prefer it. Handling is confidence-inspiring and can be considered somewhat sporty, though it doesn't encourage spirited drivers to test the cornering limits.

The EX30 Cross Country will be the first of Volvo’s EVs to get the rugged trim package that’s available on other Volvo SUVs. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain should be standard, as it is on non-electric Cross Country models.

Volvo is estimating a range of up to 275 miles for the single-motor 2025 EX30 and 265 miles for the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant. Only the single-motor Volkswagen ID.4 can match the EX30’s range, and the dual-motor ID.4, at 255 miles, has slightly less range than the dual-motor Volvo. Other main rivals are single-motor only, the closest being the Hyundai Kona Electric at 260 miles. The Nissan Leaf is rated at 212 miles.

All EX30s can handle DC fast charging at up to 153 kW. That’s enough to take a single-motor model's battery from 10% to 80% of capacity in just under 27 minutes, which is quicker than the competition. The dual-motor version should only take a minute or two longer.

The EX30's 11 kW onboard charger will replenish a fully depleted battery in eight hours using a typical Level 2, 240-volt home charger. The 11 kW capacity has become the norm for EVs, including other Volvo models.

The 2025 Volvo EX30 gets a fairly minimalist cabin, but minimal can still be premium. Volvo is known for its high-end interiors, and the EX30 doesn’t disappoint. A portrait-oriented 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen flanked by tall, thin adjustable vents, dominates a clean dash. There’s a minimum of bright metal trim and the dash and door panels are highlighted with adjustable ambient lighting. Sustainable upholstery includes recycled denim and woven wool-and-flax fabrics. One of the four available interior color schemes uses recycled plastic dash and door panels speckled with white.

The glove box has been moved to the center of the dash, just below the touchscreen, and the window controls are on the center console. A five-speaker audio system soundbar along the base of the windshield replaces traditional door and dash speakers. The narrow, two-level center console has an open bin at the bottom and a pullout cupholder/phone holder tray under the padded armrest. A pull-out bin at the rear of the console offers small-item storage for back-seat passengers.

Although it's a subcompact SUV, the EX30 has a relatively long wheelbase, which increases interior space. The 166.7-inch overall length is 8.1 inches shorter than the Volvo XC40 Recharge, but the EX30’s 104.3-inch wheelbase is just 2.1 inches shorter. That’s enough to give the EX30 a full 41.7 inches of front headroom and 41.4 inches of front legroom, more than in the XC40 Recharge. Rear legroom suffers a bit, though, and at 32.3 inches is almost 4 inches less than in the bigger Volvo electric crossover. Rear headroom is the same in both Volvo EVs: 38.3 inches.

Among likely competitors, only the Kia Niro EV comes close in headroom, at 40.5 inches up front and 38.1 inches in the second row. The EX30 has the least rear legroom in the segment, at 32.3 inches, with the Volkswagen ID.4 offering 37.6 inches. All are within half an inch of each other in front legroom.

The Volvo EX30 has 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 27.8 cubes with the rear seatbacks folded flat. That's the least among competitors. The Niro is top of class at 22.8 cubic feet in the primary cargo area and 63.7 cubes with the rear seatbacks folded down. But the EX30 still has enough space for a weekend getaway’s worth of luggage for two. For flexibility, the rear seats have a 60/40-split, and while there is a center seating position, it’s fairly narrow.

There's also a frunk (front trunk) under the hood, but it only measures 0.2 cubic feet and is really only useful for storing a charge cable, maintenance gear, or other seldom-used small items.

The EX30 is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds. The only competitors with tow ratings are the ID.4, at 2,700 pounds with all-wheel drive and 2,200 pounds with rear-wheel drive, and the front-wheel-drive Niro EV, at 1,650 pounds.

Volvo packs the 2025 EX30 with a lot of technology, most of it controlled by clicking on icons in the 12.3-inch touchscreen, which serves as both the infotainment display and the driver's info display for things like the speedometer, driving range, and battery charge information. The driver's information is displayed at the top of the screen for quick access. Tesla uses the same one-screen-does-it-all approach.

As with all new Volvos, the system is Google-based and uses “Hey Google” voice controls, which we find to be fairly intuitive and user-friendly. The navigation system uses Google Maps, so there's no need for Android Auto, but there is wireless Apple CarPlay. USB-C ports and over-the-air updates for operating and infotainment software are included. Wi-Fi connectivity is available.

The 2025 Volvo EX30 has not been evaluated yet by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). But in Volvo tradition, we expect the new EV to perform well.

Standard driver-assist and safety features are part of what Volvo calls its Safe Space Technology suite. It includes front- and rear-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring with steering intervention, a driver attention monitor, rear parking proximity sensors, and a door-opening alert that warns if a vehicle or bicyclist is approaching when a door is about to be opened. Also included is adaptive cruise control. The Plus adds front parking sensors while the top Ultra trim comes with a surround-view camera system, a semi-automated parking system, and the Pilot Assist automated driving system that keeps the vehicle in its lane while also maintaining a consistent distance from vehicles in front.

When the EX30 hits showrooms in the summer of 2024, it will be pitted against similarly priced subcompact and small compact electric crossovers. We expect it to be a clear winner in range, power, interior quality, front seating area, DC fast-charging speed, and towing capacity. It doesn’t have the rear seating room of the Kia Niro EV, though, or the interior cargo capacity of any of the likeliest rivals.

The Niro EV and the Volkswagen ID.4 both start at $40,000. The Nissan Leaf starts about $7,000 below the base EX30, but that’s for the small-battery model with just 149 miles of range. The 212-mile Leaf’s starting price is $1,000 higher than the EX30’s entry price. The Hyundai Kona Electric costs about $2,000 less than the Volvo.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV crossover is almost 2 feet longer than the EX30, so it has more interior space in every category, but not the same high-quality cabin.

Volvo EX30 vs. Chevrolet Equinox EV

Volvo EX30 vs. Hyundai Kona Electric

Volvo EX30 vs. Kia Niro EV

Volvo EX30 vs. Nissan LEAF

Volvo EX30 vs. Volkswagen ID.4