Text by Tom Appel
2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra
Specs
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Country of Manufacture: China
Color: Moss Yellow
Miles driven: 201
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A- |
| Power and Performance | A |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | B+ |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 442-horsepower |
| Engine Type | Electric motors |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Battery capacity: 64 kWh
EPA-estimate MPGe: 116 city/100 hwy/109 combined
EPA-estimated driving range: 253 miles
Consumer Guide range estimate (ideal conditions): 253+ miles
Charge Port Location: Rear driver-side fender
Snow Performance: N/A
Base price (2024): $46,600 (not including $1295 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Climate Package ($500)
Price as tested: $48,395
Pros and Cons
The great: Modern design, excellent power, fun to drive
The good: Reasonably priced, roomy cabin
The not so good: No old-school speedometer, middling range
Review
There are actually two ways I could have opened this review. One addresses how delighted I am by the new Volvo EX30’s fresh design, the other details this poor vehicle’s rough trip to the United States. But, in the interest of talking about the product first, we will address the little electric Volvo’s tariff woes momentarily.
New and Fresh
So, the good news first: The EX30 is easily one of the newest-feeling vehicles I have driven in years. Now, 2025 has been a banner year for new rides. I rank among the best vehicles I’ve driven this year the Kia K4 small sedan, Lincoln Nautilus premium midsize crossover, Subaru Forester Hybrid, and the Toyota Crown Signia. But, that said, I am most impressed by this delightful little Sino-Swede.
Design
Volvo’s all-new subcompact electric crossover looks fun and simple on the outside, and boasts one of the most elegantly simple cabins on the market. If you’re familiar with Tesla cabins, you know what were talking about here, though the Volvo interior comes off as more modern, and less austere.
Tariffs
There’s another story here…and it has a sad ending. But, not too sad.
When Volvo first intended to introduce the EX30 in the summer of 2024, the Chinese-built car was slated to start at just $36,245 (including destination charge), this for a single-motor, base model. But for a number of reasons, the small electric Volvo is just trickling into U.S. showrooms as this review is published—about a year and a half behind schedule.
Chinese EVs
During the production delay, a 100-percent tariff on Chinese-built EVs was enacted by the Biden administration, and has remained in effect under the current presidential regime. As these import taxes are prohibitive, Volvo quickly moved to transfer EX30 production from China to a factory in Ghent, Belgium.
Belgium
While the production move does allow Volvo to dodge the Chinese-car tariff, it does raise the priced of producing the EX30, due to higher European Union (EU) labor costs. Thus, we will never see a $36,000 EX30 in the States. For the moment, Volvo will only import from Belgium the topline Twin Motor Performance Ultra. And, all things considered, it represents impressive value. Note that our test car, as depicted here, was among the few EX30s imported to the U.S. from China. Per Volvo, consumers will not notice a difference between vehicles assembled in China and Europe.
But enough backstory. Let’s talk about driving the EX30…
Test Car
Consumer Guide’s test car—seen here in Moss Yellow—came to $48,395 including destination charge. Our test car’s only option was the $500 Climate Package.
Trim Levels
For 2026, a slightly less-expensive Plus trim level will be added to the lineup, as will a rugged Cross Country variant. Both will feature dual-motor AWD. The Cross Country will feature off-road themed trim, as well as a small increase in ride height for added ground clearance. The originally scheduled single-motor base model is no longer in Volvo’s plans for the U.S.
Cabin
Stepping into the EX30 is an exciting trip into the future. The simplicity of the design, the dearth of physical switchgear, and general openness contribute to the sensation of futurism come to life. To some extent, the cabin’s simplicity is a function of Volvo’s efforts to keep production costs of the EX30 down, but the net effect in quite positive.
Touchscreen and Controls
Almost every control is located on the touchscreen, with climate functions located at the bottom of the screen. The usually array of redundant controls can be found on the steering wheel.
Additionally, there is no traditional instrument panel located in front of the driver, instead, speed and range information is displayed on the console touchscreen. While we generally prefer actual knobs, switches, and speedometers, we quickly acclimated to the EX30 setup.
Ride and Handling
Underway the EX30 is a delight. The little EV is amazingly quick, and is all sorts of fun to drive. When we say the ’30 handles well, we don’t mean in the traditional, hunkered-down, sports-car idiom, but in a spunkier, light-on-its-feet sort of way. Folks who remember how Volkswagens of the Eighties felt to drive will know what we’re talking about. That said, we would appreciate a little more feel and heft from the steering.
Power and Performance
As for power, the EX30 boasts an abundance. The dual-motor setup is rated at 422 horsepower, and helps the little Volvo sprint to 60 mph from a stop in less than four seconds. A 64-kWh battery is the only power-storage option, and in the case of our test car yields an EPA-estimated 253 miles of range. During our fair-weather testing, that range estimate proved to be conservative.
Charging
As this will become an issue—or at least consideration—moving forward, note that the EX30 is equipped with a traditional CCS charge port, and is not yet equipped with the trending NACS system which allows access to the Tesla Supercharger Network, though a simple adapter fixes that problem.
Value
Honestly, though Volvo wasn’t able to retail the EX30 for around $35,000, we find this loaded example at under $50,000 a pretty compelling value. We wouldn’t mind a little more range, and maybe the controls have been over simplified, but we are otherwise charmed by this simple, fun-to-drive, character-packed little Swede. If it comes in at a similar price, the 2026 Cross Country may be even more interesting.
And while it’s a shame that the tariff situation has limited Volvo’s plans for this feisty and futuristic electric car, we’re just glad it got here at all.
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2025 Volvo EX30 Pictures
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