2025 Volvo EX30

As with other Volvo Cross Country models, the forthcoming EX30 Cross Country rides a bit higher and has more of an off-road theme, with skid plates on the front and rear, as well as black panels on the front and rear bumpers. It rides on 19-inch wheels, though 18-inch wheels with distinct tires are available. If that doesn’t set it apart, the small Swedish flag on the hood should do the trick. 

The interior takes on four distinct themes that highlight sustainably sourced materials, while it extracts every possible cubic inch of space for passengers and storage. Vertical vents flank a 12.3-inch portrait-style touchscreen in the sparsely furnished cabin. Another set of vertical vents sets the borders of the dash at the doors, with plastic tabs that slide to control airflow. The gauges reside in the center screen, with no separate display even for speed, a la the Mustang Mach-E. It’s a stark, Tesla-inspired place, one with materials that don’t line up with the latest Volvo aesthetic—instead they call back to the priorities of a generation ago. More on that in a few hundred words.

Is the Volvo EX30 4WD?

A dual-motor all-wheel-drive model adds a 115-kw front motor for a total output of 422 hp and 400 lb-ft, and a quoted 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, which Volvo says makes the dual-motor EX30 the quickest Volvo in history. It’s still limited to 112 mph at the top end. Range drops slightly to 265 miles.

In both versions, Volvo tunes the regenerative braking to very light effect. In theory it offers one-pedal driving, but in application it’s nowhere near as responsive to a release of the throttle as…just about any other electric vehicle we can name. On dual-motor models set to Performance drive mode, one-pedal driving isn’t permitted (and Performance mode itself gets limited to operation only when the battery’s more than 80% charged). 

In all, it’s in harmony with how Volvo views the performance of this vehicle—exceedingly quick, but in an understated way. That translates into ride and handling that make the most of a fairly conventional setup of MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link rear end. Even when shod with the largest 20-inch wheels, the chunky EX30 (which weighs upwards of 3,858 pounds in single-motor and 4,140 pounds in dual-motor trim) comports itself with light-touch steering, an absorbent and quieted ride, and plenty of body lean in corners. The artificial aggression baked into other performance electric SUVs? It’s nowhere to be found, though the EX30 does promise some moderate all-terrain talent, with its 7.0 inches of ground clearance and its tow rating of up to 2,000 pounds.

The numbers matter less in front, where driver and passenger have plenty of headroom and 41.9 inches of legroom. They perch on pillowy seats covered in a cloth that includes recycled materials—it’s a harbinger for the rest of the cabin. Heated seats are an option on all versions, but only the EX30 Ultra offers power adjustment. We’d like more tilt to the bottom cushion, but otherwise find the EX30’s main cabin spacious and airy.

Front passengers are surrounded by tucked-away storage in unconventional places. The cupholders pop out from the lower half of the armrest, the power window switches sit atop that armrest, and the small glovebox sits under the center of the console—all cost-effective and effective solutions. The console has more storage under a butterfly lid. A soundbar sits at the base of the windshield, which cuts down on wiring as there are no other speakers.

Volvo has sunk some controls into the EX30’s touchscreen interface, and it’s a multi-gesture affair to access power-mirror adjustments: tap the screen then swipe on the steering-wheel controls, which need to be tuned for finer adjustment.

In back, the EX30’s wind-cheating shape requires a tuck and roll to get inside, since the door cuts are tall but not very wide. The EX30 has 32.3 inches of rear-seat legroom, not quite enough for tall passengers, and toeroom’s at a premium under the front seats. The back seats do get access to the storage bin hidden in the front armrest.

Many drivers will opt to fold down the seatbacks, to convert the EX30’s 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space to 31.9 cubic feet. Another 0.2 cubic feet of front-trunk space awaits under the hood. Maybe you can fit a novel up there.

Now, for that interior. Forget the Orrefors crystal shifters and gray birch wood trim of the classy Volvo SUVs of the past decade. This Volvo harks back to the plastics of the ’70s and ‘80s 240 sedans and wagons that likely could have survived thermonuclear attacks. The Ford Maverick-grade interior gambles that customers will pay a premium for sustainability even as it pushes the boundaries of thrift. Of the four interior themes, the recycled-denim suite subdues the hard plastic surfaces best; the flax-trimmed cockpit ranks as our least favorite. Fit isn’t the question the EX30 poses—finish is, and the interior comes very close to costing the EX30 a point here.

Front parking sensors arrive on the midgrade Plus edition, while the Ultra gets a surround-view camera system, automatic park assist, and hands-free driver assistance, dubbed Pilot Assist by Volvo.

That’s a great value, but some will want the dual-motor EX30, which comes only in the Plus and Ultra trims. With a single motor, the EX30 Plus costs $40,195. It getsHarman Kardon sound, 19-inch black wheels, a wireless smartphone charger, and a panoramic roof. 

The dual-motor Plus costs $46,195. For $800, Volvo will fit 20-inch wheels to the Plus and Ultra EX30. 

How much is a fully loaded Volvo EX30?

The EX30 Ultra caps the lineup, and gains front power seats with lumbar adjustment. The single-motor Ultra costs $41,895. The dual-motor Performance Ultra costs $47,895. 

A 4-year/50,000-mile warranty that includes three free scheduled maintenance visits comes with the EX30. 

Because it’s manufactured in China, the EX30 does not qualify for the current range of federal tax incentives.

Volvo will switch from the EX30’s initial CCS charging connection to the Tesla-derived NACS standard early in the EX30’s lifespan. Owners will be offered a NACS adapter until newly assembled EX30s fit them instead of the CCS port.