Volvo took a now-well-worn path with its first electric-vehicle (EV) models, adapting existing gas vehicle platforms to handle batteries and new drive components. Though the move allows automakers to lower development costs and speed vehicle rollout, notable tradeoffs come with repurposing gas platforms, including packaging challenges that can reduce interior space. Volvo is taking a new approach with its upcoming EVs, adopting an electric-first platform from parent company Geely for the recently announced EX30 SUV.
The EX30 joins Volvo's previously announced EX90 and will slot into its lineup as the smallest SUV it sells. Unlike some futuristic EVs that make a splashy debut in Europe but never make their way stateside, the EX30 is coming to American shores with a mid-$30,000 price tag, a range of up to 275 miles on a charge, and all the advanced safety tech buyers expect from Volvo.
The new Volvo EX30 carries design cues and a vibe very similar to the EX90. Though the brand's familiar "Thor's Hammer" LED running lights remain, the EX30 shrinks Volvo's look. Despite its diminutive size, the SUV features a long wheelbase and large wheels. Volvo adjusted the front and rear overhangs to be equal, giving it a somewhat symmetrical side profile look.
Five colors will be available at launch, and a more rugged Cross Country model will land in 2024 with 19-inch wheels, more ground clearance, and underbody skid plates for off-road protection. Like iconic Cross Country models from Volvo's past, the EX30 XC will feature exclusive badging, and Cross Country logos will adorn its exterior.
Volvo focused on sustainability with the EX30's interior, claiming that using responsibly sourced materials lowered the SUV's total carbon footprint by more than 30 tons over 124,724 miles of driving. Though it hasn't detailed all interior specifications, Volvo says it will offer four interior themes, or "rooms," and notes that the SUV will come with storage spaces throughout the cabin.
The interior design is immediately recognizable as a Volvo, but the EX30 takes the automaker's austere Scandinavian design to the next level. It features a clean dash devoid of buttons and controls, and the automaker reduced the gauge cluster to a small display behind the steering wheel. Volvo also moved the gear selector to a stalk mounted on the steering column, and the center armrest appears to offer ample storage space and additional controls.
Two main EX30 configurations will be available at launch. The Single Motor Extended Range model has a 69-kWh (65 kWh usable) battery and a 268-horsepower motor. The driving range reaches 275 miles on a charge, and Volvo says the zero-to-60-mph time is as low as 5.1 seconds. Moving up to the Twin Motor Performance variant, buyers get 422 combined horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a 265-mile driving range. The dual-motor variant's zero-to-60-mph time drops to 3.4 seconds, making it Volvo's fastest-accelerating car.
Charging from 10 to 80 percent takes as little as 26.5 minutes, and the interior displays allow the driver to specify the charging rate, time, and desired level. The SUV can charge at a maximum rate of 153 kW, making it far slower than new EVs from Hyundai, Kia, and others.
Volvo notes several new safety technologies in the EX30, including a feature that helps prevent what the automaker calls "dooring," which is when a car door opens in front of cyclists and pedestrians. The EX30 also gets an updated version of Volvo's Park Pilot Assist, which can deal with multiple parking spaces, including curved spots, parallel, perpendicular, and diagonal. It allows the driver to select a parking space on the 3D interface in the infotainment system, and the vehicle handles braking, steering, and other functions to park.
Volvo hasn't disclosed the EX30's infotainment screen size, but the SUV appears to have a unit similar to the one found in the larger EX90, which has a 14.5-inch display. Google services come built-in and include voice commands, maps, and Google Assistant. Smartphone mirroring—Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—comes standard. Volvo says the system features a contextual single-screen interface, which means the main display changes based on the situation. The automaker says this should help reduce distraction and improve the ease of use.
Owners can choose between five interior ambient lighting themes that mirror Sweden's changing landscape, including "the warm sunlight falling through the leaves of a Scandinavian forest, a sunset on the Swedish coast, the world-famous northern lights, the golden skies of Swedish midsummer, or the bright mood of an urban sunset." The EX30 also comes with a smartphone-as-a-key function that uses Volvo's app. Owners can preset climate functions, locate the vehicle in a parking lot, and monitor the state of charge from the app.
The EX30 will compete most closely with Volvo's other small EVs, the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. Even so, it significantly undercuts its predecessors in price. Buyers may also look at the Tesla Model Y, which is slightly more expensive but eligible for federal tax credits. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are priced similarly; both will offer performance variants by the time the EX30 lands. Volvo plans to build the upcoming EX90 at its South Carolina manufacturing facility, which could open the door for tax credit eligibility for it and the EX30, should Volvo also build it in the United States.
Volvo is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of June 7, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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