Volvo EX30 long-term test

The EX30 is the most affordable way into a new electric Volvo – but what's this small SUV like to live with? We're running one to find out...

Updated04 April 2026

The car Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range Plus Run by Allan Muir, managing editor

Why we’re running it To see whether this small electric SUV can be provide benefits over larger, often pricier alternatives in everyday use

Needs to Be comfortable and easy to live with, nippy around town, reasonably practical and efficient enough to deliver a respectable range for longer journeys

Mileage 3115 List price £39,860 Best price £39,860 Price as tested £40,660 Dealer price now £23,100 Private price now £21,700 Test range 228-245 miles Official range 296 miles Running costs (excl. depreciation) Electricity £216

4 April 2026 – Cornering the upmarket

Should Volvo be regarded as a premium brand? Is it on the same level as Audi, BMW and Mercedes when it comes to style, comfort, quality, technology and all of the other traits that distinguish premium models from mainstream ones?

Until recently, I couldn’t say for sure, because I’d never run a Volvo before. The signs were all there, though – not least the fact that four Volvo models were recognised for either best interior or best interior quality at our 2026 Car of the Year Awards. One of them was the EX30 – and after living with an example of this small electric SUV for the past few months, I’m no longer in any doubt. The EX30 may be the Swedish brand’s cheapest model, but it impressed me so much that I’d now look to Volvo first if I wanted another classy, high-quality car, ahead of Lexus or any of its German competitors.

Fundamentally, the EX30 was better suited to my needs than any other electric vehicle (EV) I’ve run. Because I don’t have a regular call for a massive boot or limo-like rear leg room, its size was ideal for me: compact enough to be nimble and easy to manoeuvre in town, yet still reasonably practical and mature in feel. I didn’t want or need a bigger car – especially when most of them wouldn’t be as good to drive as the EX30.

With precise, ideally weighted steering offering a good sense of connection to the front wheels, the EX30 felt surprisingly light and playful through corners and displayed admirable poise along uneven roads. True, wind and road noise were more noticeable at motorway speeds than in some other EVs I’ve driven, but overall the EX30 greatly exceeded expectations by being both fun to drive and a comfortable cruiser.

Its ability to cover long distances without drama was aided by a very respectable real-world range. My Single Motor Extended Range variant usually managed around 230 miles between charges during the coldest part of the year and was up to 245 miles by the end of my time with it. I’d expect that figure to improve further over the summer.

Thanks to a superb driving position and exceptionally comfy, supportive seats, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more at home behind the wheel of a car than in the EX30. The minimalist, two-tone interior may look relatively plain, but in my opinion it’s still a class act. The surfaces you touch most often are soft and tactile, the standard of fit and finish is impeccable, and the few things that you pull or twist – such as the internal door handles and the windscreen wiper knob on the indicator stalk – feel exceptionally slick and well engineered.

In some ways, I liked not having an instrument panel in front of me. True, there were times when it would have been helpful to be able to see sat-nav directions without having to look over at the infotainment screen, but the upsides were great forward visibility and a calming absence of extraneous light and flickering movement that was especially welcome at night.

On the face of it, the EX30’s reliance on its infotainment touchscreen for almost all of its controls goes against one of Volvo’s core values – functionality – and I wasn’t sure whether I’d gel with this arrangement or not. It’s true that I did find some of the on-screen icons and text too small for comfort, and adjusting the door mirrors was a slow, clunky process, but otherwise I didn’t really have a problem with the EX30’s set-up.

That can largely be attributed to the fact that the Google-based system is fundamentally excellent; the upright screen is responsive to inputs and most of the main functions are easy enough to find. While more physical controls would have cut down on the number of warning chirps from the driver attention monitor, the EX30’s set-up wasn’t a deal-breaker for me.

Some of the EX30’s driver aids were surprisingly lacking in subtlety, but my main gripe was to do with the keyless entry – specifically the fact that the doors were painfully slow to unlock automatically as I approached the car. I’d have given almost anything to be able to press a button on the keyfob to unlock the doors, particularly if I wanted to put something in the boot before getting behind the wheel.

Still, I clicked with the EX30 so thoroughly that I can say unequivocally that it’s my favourite electric company car so far – possibly even my favourite, full stop. Up next is another highly rated small electric SUV (I won’t spoil the surprise), but it will have to be exceedingly talented to match or top the overwhelmingly positive – and premium – experience I had with my EX30.

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