2025 Volvo EX30 Hands-On Preview

The car is instantly recognizable as a Volvo, wearing the usual design cues of the manufacturer. Up front there’s no grille and a pair of digitized Thor’s Hammer headlights.

Volvo claims the long wheelbase, 20-inch two-tone aero wheels and equal overhangs bring a balance and refinement to the exterior. We like the black roofline and the familiar looking rear tail lights that are similar in design to those on the EX90.

When it does go on sale later this year, it will be available in a choice of five exterior colors including cloud blue seen in photos here.

Like many of Volvo’s EV offerings, the EX30 with come with a choice two powertrain options. The first is a single motor with 268 hp that will power the rear wheels. It’s expected to travel 275 miles, or roughly 443 km on a single charge.

For more performance and better traction, there will be a dual motor version with all-wheel drive. Combined, it’ll deliver 422 hp and be capable of going from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds. That’s not just properly quick, but the fastest 0-60 time of any production Volvo ever made.

Range for the all-wheel drive model should be around 265 miles, or an estimated 425 km. Both powertrains come with a 64 kw battery pack. Volvo states it can charge at speeds up to 153 kWh, allowing the battery to go from 10 to 80 percent capacity in 26.5 minutes.

Although we won’t be able to drive the new EX30 for some time yet, the manufacture claims to have tuned the chassis for ease of driving and nimbleness in the city and beyond. This leads us to believe it won’t necessarily be a sporty drive, but should be a good mix of comfort, luxury, and handling.

Inside, buyers can choose from four distinct designs, each with their own look. The vehicle we got to sample has the Breeze interior. We're big fans of the retro vibes from the spotted dash and door trims.

Central to the EX30 is a single-screen UX, with built-in Google, and running the latest version the brand’s infotainment software. Like a lot of modern EVs, the EX30 also comes with optional digital key functionality, which allows drivers to operate it with a copy of the key loaded on their smartphone.

Optional ambient lighting is available in five different themes. Each is said to be inspired by a different Scandinavian landscape, with slowly transitioning colors.

The EX30 features a full glass roof and a ton of headroom both front and rear. In fact, we're quite impressed with the overall passenger space inside for such a small vehicle. A lot of this has to do with clever packaging, like the sound bar that's located up against the dashboard.

Of course we can’t cover a Volvo without mentioning safety. Included in the EX30 is a safety feature for bikes that helps to prevent so-called ‘dooring’ accidents. It alerts drivers opening their doors if a cyclist, scooter, or runner is quickly approaching. The vehicle also has a new generation of the Park Pilot Assist feature. It can now handle parallel, curved, perpendicular and diagonal fishbone-style, parking.

Pricing in America for this luxury EV starts at less than $35,000 before destination charges. Pricing in Canada should start from $53,700. That puts the EX30 directly in-line with a lot of gasoline-powered competition.

Pre-orders for the EX-30 have begun in the US, will full order books opening in Canada this fall.

Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.