$35K Volvo EX30 Is a High-Tech, Sophisticated EV for Urban Drivers

Volvo today unveiled the EX30, its smallest, most affordable electric vehicle yet. European customers can reserve it now, and US customers can place pre-orders at VolvoCars.com.

"The attractive pricing of the EX30, which starts at $34,950 MSRP in the US, means our customers get a premium all-electric SUV for a similar price to an internal combustion engine-powered equivalent," Volvo says.

Volvo EX30

Combined with 275-mile range on the Single Motor variant, on par with the base model of a Tesla Model Y (279 miles) but over $10,000 cheaper, the EX30 is a compelling new option. The Dual Motor variant goes 265 miles on a single charge, and goes from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds—the brand's fastest-accelerating car ever. It also fast charges with impressive speed, going from 10-80% in 26.5 minutes. That's about as low as we've seen from any automaker yet.

The EX30 is more affordable and has higher range than the two other EVs Volvo currently offers, the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, both of which are around $55,000 with 225-mile range. It is also more compact—the brand's "smallest SUV ever."

Despite its attractive pricing, the EX90 is far from a budget car in its interior quality and technology. It's based off Volvo's flagship 2024 EX90, a larger, 7-seat electric SUV that sets the new design and technology philosophy for forthcoming EV releases. The brand plans to be fully electric by 2030.

"We wanted to build the EX30 based on the experience we have in the EX90," Lisa Reeves, Volvo head of interior design, tells PCMag. "We want to have a big SUV experience within a smaller car." A newly designed center console takes advantage of space typically filled by the transmission jutting into a gas-powered car. It replaces the glovebox, giving the passenger more leg room, and serves as an armrest for the driver and passenger, complete with two cupholders and a wireless charging pad.

Center console

The EX30 dash is slightly smaller than the EX90, in proportion to its overall size, using a different menu to neatly organize apps for the space. Both vehicles offer Volvo's updated infotainment system and run on a Google built-in operating system.

"For the EX30, we’ve worked closely with tech partners such as Google, Apple, and Qualcomm to deliver the best possible user experience," Volvo says. "We’ve also worked closely with ECARX through our jointly owned HaleyTek software joint venture to deliver the best possible infotainment platform for our customers."

Volvo EX30 dash screen

With the EX30, Volvo hopes to bring in new customers, particularly in urban environments. "There is a growing demand from consumers globally for small, fully electric premium SUVs," Volvo says. "We expect the EX30 to be one of our best-selling models in coming years."

Its small size makes parking easier in tight spaces, combined with new autonomous parking technology that identifies parking spaces, displays them on a 3D user interface, and then parks the car as the driver supervises.

"This is our first car to include a new generation of our popular Park Pilot Assist feature," Volvo says. "It can handle all types of parking spaces, including parallel, curved, perpendicular and diagonal fishbone-style, making parking in tight spaces a breeze."

A safety alert also prevents "dooring," or hitting a bicyclist, scooter, or runner when opening the door after parking.

Volvo EX30

Design-wise, the vehicle has the most personality of any Volvo yet, the brand tells PCMag, expressed through the use of textured, sustainable interior materials like wool, recycled denim, and flax—just one reason it's Volvo's most sustainable, lowest CO2 vehicle yet.

Volvo calls its interior variants "rooms," each of which expresses a different energy. "Whether you prefer the warm sunlight falling through the leaves of a Scandinavian forest, a sunset on the Swedish west coast, the world famous northern lights, the golden summer skies of Swedish midsummer or the bright mood of an urban sunset, your EX30 will be filled with the colors of your choice," Volvo says. "For extra immersion, you can pair each lighting theme with an ambient soundscape.

The exterior features headlights that are inspired by Thor's Hammer. It comes in five colors, such as Cloud Blue and Moss Yellow.

EX90 Cross Country variant, coming in 2024.

Volvo will release a rugged variant, dubbed the Cross Country, in 2024, with orders opening the same year. It's geared toward outdoors adventures, with more ground clearance, skid plates on the front, rear, and side, and black panels on the bumper. "The small, hood-mounted Swedish flag is the cherry on top," Volvo says.