Volvo EX30

The Volvo EX30 is the smallest and most affordable EV in Volvo’s global lineup, and now it’s headed to India. Don’t mistake “entry-level” for “basic”, though, the EX30 is packed with tech, looks funky in its design, and can accelerate quicker than some sports cars.

On the surface, it may look like a baby version of the Volvo EX40 (formerly, the XC40 Recharge), but the EX30 has its own unique personality. It’s quirky, practical in some places, odd in others, but overall, it feels like a fresh take on compact luxury EVs.

Let’s take a closer look at what it offers.

The Volvo EX30 has a design that makes people look twice. It’s not too big, not too flashy, but stands out because of its unusual shape, a mix of boxy SUV and curvy crossover. It is roughly the size of a Mahindra XUV400.

Up front, the Thor’s Hammer LED DRLs get a new pixelated pattern, and the grille area is closed off as it’s an EV. From the side, it looks tall and chunky, but the curves keep it from looking too square. The rear lights form an almost T-pattern that you won’t mistake for any other car.

It sits on 19-inch alloy wheels with a clever dual-tone effect, making them appear to “float” at certain angles.

Colours in India are subtle: white, grey, beige, black and sky blue. Sadly, the bright yellow shade, which is offered internationally, won't be on sale in India. That’s a pity because the EX30 looks exciting in bright colours, and I would’ve personally loved to see it in the yellow shade, considering its competitor, the Mini Cooper SE garners enough attention in that bright yellow shade.

Design & Quality

Step inside and you’ll notice the cabin doesn’t feel like a traditional luxury car. Instead of leather, wood or brushed metal, Volvo uses recycled and sustainable materials with textures that feel unusual but good. For example, the dashboard and door pads get inserts that feel like granite. Volvo calls it the “Particle Deco” interior, which is made out of recycled PVC and aluminium.  The design is minimalist, with most controls moved to the 12.3-inch touchscreen in the centre. There’s no digital driver’s display, only a small strip behind the steering wheel for safety monitoring. All the information is relayed on the infotainment screen.

The panoramic glass roof makes the cabin airy, but there’s no sunshade. While the glass is heat-insulated, a powered blind would have been more practical for India. We had to keep the AC on MAX while we were clicking pictures underneath the sun in the Jaipur heat.

Front Seats

The front seats are well-bolstered and comfortable, even for taller or broader drivers. Seat adjustment is controlled by a single joystick-like dial, which can adjust everything from recline to lumbar support (driver only). It feels unusual at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to use.

Getting in and out of the car feels a bit difficult if you’re anyone above 5’8” because of the low ride height. Once you sit in, things are quite simple, actually. Steering can be adjusted for rake and reach, and the visibility is good overall.

The front seats do not have a ventilation function.

The driver's seat is 8-way adjustable, whereas the co-driver's seat is 6-way adjustable. Both powered.

Rear Seats

The back seats aren’t the strongest point of the EX30. Space is adequate for two adults, leg room is just enough, under-thigh support is weak, and there are no rear AC vents. In hot weather, this could be a big drawback.

The floor is flat, which helps for a third passenger, but comfort is best suited for two people.

Storage & Practicality

When it comes to storage and practicality, the Volvo takes a slightly different approach with some clever ideas and a few quirks. 

For instance, the glovebox isn’t where you’d normally expect it; instead of being in front of the passenger’s seat, it’s positioned in the centre and can only be opened using the touchscreen. The cupholders are also neatly tucked away under the front armrest and pop out only when needed, keeping the cabin clean and uncluttered. 

The centre console runs all the way to the back and even includes a removable tray for rear passengers, which is quite handy.

Overall, practicality is decent for daily city use, but it isn’t the most spacious or versatile in its class, when compared to rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQA and the BMW iX1 LWB

Charging Options

There are no 12V sockets in the Volvo EX30. It gets four Type-C charging ports, two at the front and two at the back. There is a wireless phone charger as well in the front, which also doubles up as the NFC reader (more on that in the features section).

Features

The Volvo EX30 is feature-rich, but it follows a minimalistic philosophy.

The Volvo EX30 does things a little differently inside. For starters, you won’t find the usual window or lock controls on the doors. Instead, all the power window switches (front and rear) and door locks are housed neatly in the centre console.

There’s no instrument cluster in front of the driver. Instead, Volvo has added a steering-column-mounted scanner that keeps an eye on the driver’s movements for attention-assist. As for the essentials like the speedometer, mirrors, light settings, and even dual-zone climate control, all of that is handled directly via the large 12.3-inch touchscreen.

The gear selector is steering column-mounted, similar to that we’ve seen on Mercedes-Benz cars.

The touchscreen itself is loaded with features; it gets Google Maps, YouTube, and the Play Store built in. That’s why there’s no Android Auto support, but Apple CarPlay is included for iPhone users.

You won’t spot any speakers on the front doors either. Instead, Volvo has integrated a large sound-bar setup near the windshield, which is part of the 9-speaker Harman Kardon system. It delivers clean and immersive sound quality.

Now, there’s one feature on the Volvo EX30 that feels a bit over-engineered – the NFC key. Unlike traditional key fobs, Volvo gives you two options: an NFC card and your phone as an NFC key, which is managed via the Volvo Car App.

Here’s the catch. If you’re using the phone key, the car does unlock as you walk up to it, but to turn it on, you must place the phone on the wireless charging pad, which doubles as the NFC reader. With the NFC card, the process is a bit more tedious — tap it on the B-pillar to unlock the car, and then place it on the wireless charging pad to get the vehicle running.

While the system is certainly modern, it doesn’t quite live up to the “keyless entry” convenience that most people expect. In fact, it adds a few extra steps where a simple key fob would’ve done the job more seamlessly. Plus, the NFC card itself feels a little impractical, is easy to misplace, and is not exactly valet-friendly either. I wish Volvo had provided a traditional key fob option with it.

Volvo has always been synonymous with safety, and the EX30 carries that legacy forward with flying colours, having already secured a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

The SUV comes equipped with seven airbags, including a central airbag between the front passengers for added protection. 

It also packs in advanced driver assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control to make highway drives safer and more convenient. 

For tricky situations in traffic and parking, it offers front and rear cross-traffic alert with auto brake, along with a 360-degree camera. Automatic emergency braking, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and conveniences like auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers further enhance the sense of security. 

In short, the EX30 is easily one of the safest compact EVs you can buy today.

One quirk worth pointing out is the speed warning system. Like every car sold in India, the EX30 gets the mandatory beeps, a single chime at 80 kmph and an endless chorus once you cross 120 kmph. Nothing unusual there. 

What is unusual, though, is the way Volvo has set it up. Instead of letting the warning tone coexist with your music, the EX30 actually cuts into whatever you’re listening to every single time. The result? Your playlist keeps getting rudely interrupted, which can get properly irritating on longer drives. 

Maybe just letting the beep play over the music, like most other cars do, would’ve been the smarter (and saner) choice.

With the seats up, you get between 318–400 litres of space (depending on how you measure it), which is enough for a few trolley bags or a big suitcase. The seats split-fold, and the floor is height-adjustable too.

But there’s a catch: Volvo India will provide a space-saver spare tyre, and if that sits in the boot, a lot of this practicality goes out of the window. In that case, you’re left with space for little more than a couple of small bags. A shame, because the layout is otherwise thoughtful.  

In India, the Volvo EX30 comes exclusively in a rear-wheel-drive setup. It can catapult from 0-100 kmph in just 5.3 seconds, which is quick for a compact EV.

 Powering it is a 69kWh NMC battery pack, with a WLTP-claimed range of 480km, which realistically should translate to about 350-400 km on our roads.

What makes the EX30 interesting is its dual personality; it’s both quick and composed without needing fancy drive modes or complicated settings. 

City Performance 

The Volvo EX30 feels right at home in the city. The instant torque delivery from the electric motor makes it feel effortless and quick off the line. Crawling through traffic is a smooth and quiet affair, and thanks to its compact dimensions, it’s far easier to manoeuvre than most luxury SUVs. Slotting into gaps or overtaking slow-moving vehicles requires no second thought, as the EX30 delivers punch instantly whenever you need it.

The single-pedal mode also helps in bumper-to-bumper traffic, as you rarely have to use the brake pedal.

In terms of efficiency, depending on the battery pack you choose, the EX30 should easily deliver 4.5–6 km/kWh in the city, translating to a real-world range of 280–360 km.

Highway Performance

The Volvo EX30 is just as confident on the highway. Cruising at triple-digit speeds feels effortless, with more than enough power in reserve for quick overtakes. The acceleration is immediate, even when you’re already at 100–120kmph, so getting past slower vehicles never feels like a struggle. 

However, while the pace is strong, it’s delivered in a very controlled and linear manner, so you won’t get that adrenaline rush, but you will always feel composed and in control.

Drive it with a light foot, and you can expect a highway range of around 320–380 km, depending on conditions.

Ride Quality

The Volvo EX30 has been tuned more for city comfort than sporty dynamics. Over small potholes, speed breakers, and rough patches, the suspension does a good job of ironing things out, keeping passengers fairly comfortable. However, the sharper bumps and uneven joints do make their presence felt inside the cabin, reminding you that this is still a compact EV with stiff underpinnings. 

The ride feels a touch firm, especially at lower speeds, but it settles down well once you get moving. On the highway, stability is reassuring, and the EX30 feels planted even at higher speeds, making long-distance drives stress-free.

Handling

Despite being an SUV, the EX30 is quite friendly in the city. The steering is light, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces or while parking. Out on the open road, the steering weighs up enough to inspire confidence, though it doesn’t feel very sporty or connected, more tuned towards ease of use. Body roll is controlled well for an SUV, and quick lane changes won’t unsettle it. In short, it’s easy and confidence-inspiring to drive, whether in the city or on the highway.

In India, Volvo is expected to offer the EX30 in one fully-loaded variant with a 69kWh battery pack in rear-wheel drive configuration.  

The Volvo EX30 is a different take on what a luxury EV should be. It’s stylish, quick, safe, and packed with features, but also quirky and sometimes impractical. The rear seat isn’t the best, the touchscreen-only control system won’t please everyone, and the boot space may shrink with the spare tyre.

The Volvo EX30 is priced at Rs 41 lakh (ex-showroom), slotting under the EX40, and it is coming to India via the CKD route, i.e. it will be assembled in India.

To sum up, if you want a self-driven, compact, luxury EV that makes you smile every time you look at it or floor the pedal, then the EX30 is a good option to consider.

Other Cars To Consider Instead Of Volvo EX30

Mini Cooper SE

Reasons to consider

• Compact footprint

• Iconic look

• Sportier driving position

Reasons to ignore

• Rear seat is not as spacious as the EX30

• Limited units on sale

• Significantly more expensive

• Range isn’t acceptable for intercity commutes

BMW iX1 LWB

Reasons to consider

• More conventional luxury feel

• Better brand value

• Supremely spacious

Reasons to ignore

• More expensive

Mercedes-Benz EQA

Reasons to consider

• More premium cabin experience

• Better rear seat comfort

Reasons to ignore

• Lacks the EX30’s performance punch

• Costs a lot more than competitors without offering much more