Summary
The Volvo EX30 is a small all-electric SUV/crossover that launched in the UK around the end of 2023, and arrived to consistent praise and acclaim from the British motoring media.
Already the winner of three separate ‘Car of the Year’ titles from British outlets, the Volvo EX30 has been widely commended for its stylish looks, its premium-feel interior, its comfortable ride quality and its competitive price tag.
“It’s absolutely brilliant”, says the Carwow team. “There aren’t many electric cars that even get close to the Volvo EX30’s comfort, especially at this low price.” What Car?‘s Doug Revolta adds that the compact crossover is “excellent on the road, rapid, and well-finished inside.”
That said, the EX30 does come with a large practicality flaw that all reviewers mention, and some modify their review scores as a result. Volvo has opted to not install any physical buttons that are not required by law, and thus practically all of the cabin controls run through the central touchscreen.
As a result, Autocar‘s Matt Prior struggles to recommend the Volvo, as the lack of physical controls makes the car “frustrating to use well beyond the point of annoyance”, which he says is disappointing considering that this is otherwise a strong family car package.
Top Gear’s Paul Horrell mirrors this complaint, while also explaining that the EX30 is cramped in the rear. “The Volvo EX30 is a likeable and admirable car, unless you’re sat in the back of it or lost in the labyrinth that is the screen.”
As of December 2023, the Volvo EX30 holds an Expert Rating of 73%, based on 16 reviews published by the British motoring media. This is a brand-new model, however, so this rating could fluctuate up or down by a few points as more reviews are published in the coming months.
EX30 highlights
- Comfortable and balanced driving experience
- Good value-for-money
- Impressive performance considering price
- Upmarket, tech-laden interior
EX30 lowlights
- Tight rear seats and small boot
- Entry-level battery range beaten by rivals
- Alternatives are more battery efficient
- All cabin controls run through a touchscreen
Key specifications
Body style: Small SUV/crossover
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £33,795 on-road
Launched: Winter 2023/24
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Score: 9 / 10
“We love the Volvo EX30. It’s a great small EV at a comparable price to a petrol model, but it’s just a really fun thing to be in. It drives nicely, looks great and is built well, and its clever use of sustainable materials is a plus. Only the over-reliance on the touchscreen and the tight rear space let the side down, but this is one of the most desirable EVs you can buy at a really desirable price.”
Author: Steve Fowler
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Fast, stylish, sustainable and surprisingly affordable, Volvo’s compact electric SUV seemingly ticks an awful lot of boxes.”
Author: Dan Trent
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Score: 5 / 10
“The new Volvo EX30 is terrific to drive, and yet I cannot in any honesty recommend you buy this car. It’s tempting to put it more strongly: do not buy a Volvo EX30. It is frustrating to use well beyond the point of annoyance, which is such a shame given the rest of the package – the design, the style, the range and value and most of all the driving dynamics – are so strong.
Author: Matt Prior
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo EX30 is a high-quality, solid-feeling EV with acceptable driving manners, a high-spec interior, and excellent performance, at a price that gives budget brands cause for concern. Some rivals are better to drive – notably the even cheaper MG4 – but provided you get on with its all-touchscreen interior then there are a lot of reasons to choose the Volvo.”
Author: Tom Wiltshire
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The Volvo EX30 is a lot of electric SUV for the price you’d expect to pay for a petrol-powered Volvo.”
Author: Ivan Aistrop
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The Volvo EX30 is really comfortable and has a cool interior, but it’s not particularly practical.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Volvo EX30 really is a great car – but with one significant flaw. Nearly all key controls are carried out via a 12-inch display screen sitting in the centre of the dashboard, with no ‘hard controls’. This means you have to turn your head away from the road to carry out some of the most basic safety functions – and that includes setting the side-view wing mirrors. I hope someone at Volvo is looking in the wing mirror to see how they might rectify it.
Author: Ray Massey
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo EX30 is a fantastic small electric SUV that offers great value for money. It not only drives beautifully and looks stunning but also boasts excellent build quality and a commitment to sustainable materials. While the over-reliance on touchscreen controls is a bit frustrating and the lack of rear space might put off some buyers, the EX30 nevertheless manages to deliver electric SUV desirability at a truly tempting price.”
Author: Tom Jervis, Steve Fowler
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“For a company that loves to talk about its commitment to sustainability, Volvo was pretty late to the game with electrification, but it looks like the EX30 could be the car to change that. It drives well in 2WD form and has some fantastic design touches.”
Author: Ginny Buckley
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Volvo is hoping to strike a chord with buyers who are interested in owning a compact five-seat SUV but don’t want to pay too much for the privilege. We think they’ve got the formula just about right, with just a few minor niggles leaving the EX30 as a very good buy rather than a brilliant one.”
Author: Rob Clymo
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The all-electric Volvo EX30 looks good, drives very nicely and there’s plenty of innovation. The pricing is also attractive, particularly when put up against rivals that offer similar specification, but lack the same charm.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“New small Volvo brings Scandi values for a competition-busting price tag.”
Author: Tom Wiltshire
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Model reviewed: Extended Range Ultra
Score: 6 / 10
“Great cabin and a sharp price, but it’s compromised.”
Author: Nail Briscoe
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Model reviewed: Single Motor Extended Range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo EX30 is expensive and wildly over-specced for a car which, on average, is going to live in town and do less than 31 miles a day. Oh, and using the latest generation figures, it will emit CO2 at a rate of 30.9g/km. Viewed from that perspective it makes no sense. But somehow, despite all that, the EX30 is a deeply desirable machine.”
Author: Andrew English
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo EX30 is a likeable and admirable car, unless you’re sat in the back of it or lost in the labyrinth that is the screen.”
Author: Paul Horrell
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The Volvo EX30 is a great electric SUV that is excellent on the road, rapid, well-finished inside and most models are very competitively priced. The boot is tiny, though.”
Author: Doug Revolta
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of December 2023, the Volvo EX30 has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of December 2023, the Volvo EX30 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of December 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volvo EX30 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the EX30, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
No data yet
As of December 2023, we don’t have independently verified data available for the Volvo EX30. Check back again soon.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volvo EX30 has received.
2023
- Carwow Awards – Car of the Year + Urban Living Award
- Electifying.com Awards – Car of the Year + Best Small Family Car
- News UK Motor Awards – Best Small SUV/Crossover
- The Sun Motoring Awards – Car of the Year + Best Small SUV/Crossover
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volvo EX30, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi Q4 e-tron | Citroën ë-C4 | DS 3 E-Tense | Honda e:Ny1 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Hyunda Kona Electric | Jeep Avenger | Kia Niro EV | Kia EV6 | Kia Soul EV | Mazda MX-30 | MG ZS EV | Nissan Leaf | Peugeot e-2008 | Renault Mégane E-Tech | Vauxhall Mokka Electric | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volvo XC40 Recharge
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Volvo EX30 at The Car Expert
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