I finally have a Volvo EX30 in my driveway. And that's been a long time coming.
Longtime InsideEVs readers may remember that I tried to buy the Volvo EX30 last year. Like a lot of people, I was blown away early on by the EX30's compact shape, intriguing minimalist interior, handsome design and, above all else, that $34,950 price tag. Affordable cars are hard to come by in America these days. And the thought of Volvo being the one to bring us a truly bargain-priced electric car for the masses—and hopefully, a good one—was compelling enough for me to plunk down $500 of my own money on a refundable deposit.
There was just one problem. To meet that affordable price tag, Volvo built the EX30 in China. And Uncle Sam wasn't too thrilled with where that might lead. Later in 2024, amid rising geopolitical tensions and that country's incredible momentum in the EV space, then-President Joe Biden hit China-made EVs like the EX30 with stiff 100% tariffs. That led to the car being delayed a year, with new plans to move production to Belgium instead.
Well, it's 2025, and the EX30 is finally on sale in America. It's still made in China, for now, but the European-made version is coming soon. The only problem is that the only one we can buy now is the top-shelf Twin Motor Performance version, which starts at $46,195.
That's what this car is. And it's a far cry from the $35,000 Volvo I was hoping for. So is it any good? We're working to find out.
A full review with a video is coming soon from InsideEVs. In the meantime, what do you want to know about it?
This car is an EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra, the top-trim variant with a panoramic sunroof, Volvo's Pilot Assist automated driving assistance system featuring lane-change assistant and other upgrades. It's powered by a 69 kilowatt-hour battery and its two motors deliver a combined 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
The DC fast-charging speeds are just okay at 153 kilowatts, but in theory, that medium-sized battery shouldn't take too long to fill up. (And admittedly, this car's Moss Yellow paint isn't for everyone, but I dig it.)
Now, if you aren't the sort of person who enjoys Tesla's overall vibe, you may want to look elsewhere. But for a few buttons on the steering wheel, the EX30 keeps physical controls as scant as possible—although it thankfully has manual air vents. There's no on-off switch, so you merely walk up to the car to fire it up or walk away to deactivate it. Nearly every function on the car is controlled by the central touch screen. There is no display in front of the driver. This experience isn't for everyone, but it helps Volvo keep the costs minimal.
At least, that's the idea. You can thank tariffs for a much stiffer price in America now, and as Volvo's CEO indicated recently, additional tariffs could make cheaper versions "impossible."
What's good so far? I love the truly small size, which is refreshing in our EV landscape so dominated by medium and large crossovers and pickup trucks. It's properly quick, too. What's not so good? Well, the software has had a few issues, and the driving experience just isn't all that great—not for $48,395 as tested. It's meant to be an affordable European compact car and it feels like one; pushing the price tag into the entry-luxury range is a tough sell in every way.
We'll see how it stacks up over the next few days. In the meantime, what do you want to know about it? Drop your questions into the comments or shoot me an email.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
