The All

When it goes on sale, the EX30 will be among the smallest and most affordable EVs on the market

The average new car sells for more than $48,000, and the average new EV costs more than $60,000. That's why it's a big deal that Volvo's all-new, all-electric EX30 subcompact SUV starts at just $34,950 before taxes and fees, and it doesn't appear to skimp on safety or performance.

Volvo says the EX30 is the smallest, fastest, and most efficient SUV the brand has ever made, and it is chock-full of recycled materials. At just over 166 inches long, the EX30 is shorter than the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV. Depending on how it's equipped, Volvo says the EX30 can go from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. The EX30 will initially be built in China, which means it won't qualify for federal tax credits, but it may qualify for state and local credits.

Although the automaker claims that many design decisions were made for the sake of efficiency—like the Tesla Model 3, the EX30 only has one display in the center of the dashboard, for instance—some of these choices also have the added benefit of making the EX30 less expensive to manufacture. Physical buttons must be expensive, since the EX30 relies mostly on its center touchscreen, which is powered by software from Google. A Cross Country version with blacked-out trim and larger wheels will be available, but there's no word on how much it will cost.

Volvo definitely made the most of the EX30's suite of radar, ultrasonic sensors, and cameras, including a feature that warns occupants if they’re about to open their doors into the path of oncoming cyclists, an automatic emergency braking (AEB) setup that works at intersections, and a driver monitoring system that can detect drowsiness or inattention.

What it competes with: Chevrolet Equinox EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EVPowertrains: 268-hp single electric motor and rear-wheel drive, or 422-hp dual electric motors and all-wheel drive.Price: $34,950-$50,000 (base price confirmed, range is an estimate)On sale: 2024. Preorders open now.

Photo: Volvo Photo: Volvo

As is the case with many new vehicles, Volvo has only shared the EX30's superlatives with us—how fast it can go with all the right options, and how affordable it is with none of those options. We’ll reserve further judgment until we see a full list of specifications and pricing, and our final judgment until we buy one of our own and put it through our rigorous test program. The line between "cost-effective" and "cheap-feeling" is narrow, and it will be interesting to see which side Volvo's low-priced, efficient SUV falls on. Whether the EX30's diminutive proportions will attract buyers in the U.S. is also an open question—especially since public chargers are scarce in cities where tight parking spaces are more common.

Photo: Volvo Photo: Volvo

The EX30 is about the same size as the similarly priced Hyundai Kona Electric and a little shorter than the Kia Niro EV. However, it's two feet shorter than the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV, which should cost about the same as the EX30 and be eligible for a federal tax credit.

The SUV's designers say the EX30 was inspired by helmets worn in sci-fi movies. We think it carries through design cues from the upcoming EX90 three-row SUV and also sprinkles in a little bit of influence from Polestar, the all-electric brand that shares the same corporate owner as Volvo—Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

Animated front headlights and prominent rear lighting will make the EX30 recognizable day and night. There's a thick rear pillar, and the front is slanted downward like the Volkswagen ID.4. An optional Cross Country trim will have a slightly higher ride, 18- or 19-inch wheels, black trim, and an optional roof rack.

Unlike many newer vehicles that poorly conceal their radar and other safety sensors behind noticeable plastic shields, the designers of the EX30 took those sensors into account from the very beginning. They’re all intentionally hidden inside of a black trim band that spans the front of the vehicle.

Photo: Volvo Photo: Volvo

Volvo says the EX30's five-seater interior is largely built around recycled and natural materials, including wool and flax, and reconstituted plastics and denim. It's appropriately minimalist, but jazzed up by interesting textures and color choices. Different lighting themes are designed to mimic colors found in nature, but with a Swedish twist. Yellow lighting isn't just reminiscent of sunlight—it's the glow of a Swedish midsummer evening.

Like the Tesla Model 3, the EX30 only has a single display. It's a large center-mounted touchscreen that shows speed and other vital information in addition to infotainment and climate controls. The screen is powered by software from Google, but unlike new Google-powered infotainment systems from GM, this one is also compatible with Apple CarPlay. There's also available 5G internet connectivity and over-the-air software updates.

There's only one speaker, and it's a giant soundbar that spans the entire front of the dashboard. Not only does that save money on individual parts and wiring, but it opens up storage space in the front doors where speakers no longer sit. The same goes for a glovebox, which doesn't exist. Instead, there's tons of storage space between the front seats—a benefit of going electric, since there aren't any drivetrain components taking up that space.

Volvo put the EX90's window switches in the center console, rather than on the doors. It also appears to use three buttons instead of four, similar to the VW ID.4, where the third button changes between controlling the front and rear windows. We suspect this is a cost-cutting move rather than a historical reference to the placement of power window switches on the Volvo 850 from the 1990s. The mirror adjustment switches are also replaced by touchscreen controls.

The gear selector is now mounted on the steering column and appears to have a Park button on the end of the stalk. We’ll report back on how easy it is to use once we get some time behind the wheel.

There's a clever "Will it Fit?" graphic printed in the EX30's plastic trim that's visible when you open the liftgate, showing just how much space there is behind the rear seats, when the rear seats are folded, and with the front passenger seat pushed up to the dashboard. We wish more cars had these simple measurements—that way, you’d only have to measure the item you plan to put in the car, not the car itself.

Volvo says that maximum cargo capacity is 31.9 cu. ft. with the seats down—a little more than the current Nissan Leaf.

Photo: Volvo Photo: Volvo

In the U.S., Volvo will offer two powertrain choices: a 268-hp single-motor version with rear-wheel drive, or a dual-motor version with all-wheel drive. Volvo says the EX30 Single Motor Extended Range has a range of 275 miles, while the 422-hp Twin Motor Performance version is good for 265 miles and can do 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds. (Other powertrain options are available outside the U.S.) Both trims are powered by a 69 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery and can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 27 minutes at a fast-charging station.

Volvo claims the RWD version consumes just 26.5 kWh per 100 miles of driving, which would make it one of the most efficient EVs on the market. We will have to wait for the EPA's official ratings to see if they back up that claim.

Volvo calls the EX30's suite of safety features Safe Space Technology. Although the automaker hasn't shared details about which systems will be standard, we expect the usual suspects—AEB, blind spot warning (BSW), and lane keeping assistance (LKA)—to come at no extra cost.

Volvo has also touted three additional features. Park Pilot Assist can automatically guide the EX30 into all kinds of parking spaces. A door opening alert issues visual and audible warnings if a driver or passenger is about to open the door into oncoming traffic, which Volvo says could prevent potentially fatal "dooring" collisions with cyclists. And the EX30's AEB has a feature that can avoid or mitigate a collision if a car crosses in front of you at an intersection.

There's also additional passive safety features, including an airbag on the inside of the driver's seat that's designed to reduce head and thorax injuries during a side impact crash, and a specially strengthened battery compartment.

Keith Barry

Keith Barry has been an auto reporter at Consumer Reports since 2018. He focuses on safety, technology, and the environmental impact of cars. Previously, he led home and appliance coverage at Reviewed; reported on cars for USA Today, Wired, and Car & Driver; and wrote for other publications as well. Keith earned a master's degree in public health from Tufts University. Follow him on Twitter @itskeithbarry.