I've already driven the new Volvo EX30, and these are the five things I like most about this Swedish electric mini SUV

We already said it in our first look at the Volvo EX30: this is one of those models that could help popularise electric mobility, because it offers something different. And above all, a price that today simply has no rival. We have now been able to drive the EX30 again on Spanish roads during a brief first drive, but long enough to reaffirm the qualities of this groundbreaking electric mini SUV. These are the five things I liked most about the Volvo EX30.

1.- Exterior design and interior simplicity

Well, yes, I have to admit it. I’m not one to get too deep into the minefield of talking about or judging something as subjective as design, but I have to admit that the EX30 really appeals to me. That’s not easy these days, in an era when cars increasingly look alike and it’s hard to tell apart models from the same brand, except by their size. But this EX30 is different from Volvo’s recent designs, and I think it has a wide range of appeal. Very compact, at just 4.2 metres long, it can attract a male or female audience alike, young or older.

It will depend a little on the body colour – there are some very eye-catching shades – and on the trim level you choose, as you’ll end up with a more formal car or one with a more “chic” look. But overall, I find the EX30 has a very attractive quality. And later on it will also have a Cross Country version, distinguished by details such as higher ground clearance, 19-inch black wheels, underbody protection, sill protectors and various exterior decorative elements, giving it a less urban and much more “rugged” look. That would be my pick.

2.- Build quality and interior simplicity

The interior immediately catches the eye for its simplicity. And when I say simplicity, I don’t just mean its minimalist design, taken to extremes I don’t think I’d ever get used to, such as having to use the central screen of the multimedia system even to adjust the rear-view mirrors or open the well-camouflaged glovebox. In return, the sense of visual cleanliness that the EX30’s cabin conveys, with not a single button on the dashboard or the doors – the window switches are on the centre console – is very welcoming. There isn’t even a start button: the EX30 recognises when you approach and have the key with you, and as soon as you get in you just select “D” on the transmission to get going. It takes some getting used to, but it’s very practical.

Behind this minimalism there are also solid reasons: cost reduction and cost savings, which, as we’ll see later, pay off. And note that in no way do the materials used or the quality of finish fall short of what you’d expect from a Volvo.

However, there are some things I don’t like. The Swedish brand has been bold in dropping the instrument display screen and putting everything into the multimedia system screen, though I find that gamble risky; we’ll see whether future updates to this model end up fitting a second, even small, screen for the instruments. Because having to look away and, above all, refocus to check information you’d normally find behind the steering wheel is distracting and tiring.

In return, the 12.3-inch screen, positioned vertically, has good resolution and, once you get used to navigating the menus, is easy to use. Some frequently used functions remain a bit “hidden” or require more screen taps than I’d like, for example to adjust the climate control – an invitation to “talk” more often to the ever-willing voice control system.

By the way, since we’re on the subject of the interior: in the front seats you feel as if you’re in a bigger car than you’d expect for its size. In the back, however, passengers won’t think the same: there is little legroom and the bench is fixed, which doesn’t allow you to play with the centimetres and luggage space, which comes to around 320 litres. The charging cables won’t be a nuisance: they fit in the space under the front bonnet.

3.- Engines and battery: power and range to spare

Volvo offers up to three versions of the EX30, and even the most affordable one has very high power: the motor in the two Single Motor variants with rear-wheel drive produces 272 CV, one with a 51 kWh battery offering a homologated range of up to 345 km, and another with 69 kWh that covers almost 480 km, according to WLTP homologation figures. At the top sits the Twin Motor version, with a motor on each axle and no less than 428 CV – yes, you read that right – paired with the largest battery and a range of 460 km/h.

Some people may find so much power a little overwhelming. And I won’t try to convince them otherwise, especially in the case of the twin-motor version, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds – figures that, until electric cars arrived with their astonishing ability to deliver very high torque from a standstill, were the preserve of high-end sports cars. I also think this version might feel a bit “excessive” in a car like the EX30 for some drivers.

But the 272 CV variant, which may also seem like a lot at first, is a delight: as smooth if you drive gently as it is brilliant if you forget about range. Bear in mind that it does the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds in short acceleration, something not even the best GTIs can boast about. Its agility is surprising, but you can also drive it in “ECO” mode and keep the reserve of power for when you need it. With the 69 kWh battery, this 272 CV single-motor version would be the EX30 I’d choose.

4.- Dynamic behaviour: easy and safe driving

I’ve always really liked the feel of Volvo cars for travelling, thanks to their ergonomics, seat comfort, how easy they are to drive… In the EX30 I’ve already raised a “but” about the ergonomics, namely the absence of an instrument display. But otherwise, the small Swedish SUV wins me over again with its dynamic qualities. As with the XC40, recently “renamed” to EX40, Volvo offers a car designed to make driving as easy as possible. There are no paddles to change the energy recovery mode on the move; if you want, you can activate the “one-pedal” function. Or adjust the steering assistance – again, always via various menus on the screen.

What Volvo has tried to do, and achieves, is to make it so you only have to worry about the steering wheel and pedals, leaving everything else to the electronics. Comfort is one of its strong points because, although it’s a “simple” car, it’s still a Volvo and it’s well insulated. The ride quality is good even over potholes, giving a sense of a larger car. The body may move a little more than desired on winding roads if you select “sport” mode, but it would be a mistake to expect sporty behaviour from the EX30, even though its power and performance might suggest otherwise.

The good operation of the driver-assistance systems rounds out the picture and makes the EX30 a car with a wide range also for long journeys, backed by low energy consumption, good range and the ability to charge from 10 to 80% in under half an hour on direct-current fast chargers.

5.- An unbeatable balance between what you pay and what you get

And although it comes fifth, this may be one of the first points to consider when putting the Volvo EX30 on your radar. The entry version is available from 37,500 euros (without the MOVES purchase incentives), cheaper than other less powerful and less equipped electric SUVs, such as the Peugeot e-2008, the Kia e-Niro, the Jeep Avenger or the DS 3 E-TENSE. The Single Motor with the larger battery costs 42,760 euros, which remains a very competitive price for a car with these power and range figures. The EX30 Twin Motor starts at 48,995 euros, and the only alternative would be the smart #1, with which it shares its platform.

But it’s worth noting that, for a limited time, Volvo has a 5,000 euro discount campaign – subject to financing – on the Single Motor version with the larger battery, bringing its price down to the level of the entry variant. While this offer lasts, there is no other SUV in the segment with that balance of power, performance, range and price that can rival the EX30.

Volvo EX30 – Image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadVolvo EX307 versions · from 39,050 €