Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra 2024 review | Goodwood Test

Volvo is doing something right with its gradually expanding range of electric cars, certainly in the case of its most affordable EV, the EX30, which has become the company’s third most popular car across global markets towards the back end of 2024.

On the face of it, the Volvo EX30 is a simple formula for sales success. A compact, relatively affordable SUV with modern styling, decent range and a classy, high-tech interior. Its popularity confirms that Volvo’s tick-box strategy has worked a treat, but the true test for a car like this is in what it offers beneath the surface.

With a starting price of £32,850, it’s cheaper than the Hyundai Kona Electric and Jeep Avenger and priced similarly to the Peugeot e-2008, but with a higher electric range and lightning performance it’s clearly turning plenty of heads.

We should say that the model we’ve tested here was not the cheapest EX30 you can buy, it was the range-topping Twin Motor Performance in Ultra trim that comes in as one of the most expensive models among its competitors, so there’s pressure on to deliver.

Volvo’s design philosophy has evolved dramatically in recent times alongside its gradual transition to electric cars. There are some very bold details to the styling of the EX30. The front end is now entirely devoid of grille details and features a single piece of bodywork that extends down from the bonnet edge to give the effect that the whole car has been forged from a single block.

The recognisable LED signature has also been embellished, while the bodywork from the body-coloured front wheel arches also extends round to the front bumper to bring it all together. It’s a very purposeful and modern design with strong lines that deliver a distinct look.

It’s a similar story at the rear as the low roofline leads smoothly into a reduced rear window flanked by tidy LEDs. The rear design follows the theme of clean modern simplicity with a simple tail light layout that surrounds the only break in the yellow bodywork that surrounds the rest of the car.

Volvo has put together a fairly aerodynamic shape with a drag coefficient of 0.28. It’s an important aspect of electric cars that can have a major impact on range, so we like to see manufacturers paying attention to aero efficiency.

It’s an odd time for the automotive industry as we try to figure out how much power is too much power in a mainstream, run-of-the-mill family car. In years gone by a car like the Volvo EX30 would have been powered by a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine with modest power but impressive fuel economy. A transition to electric motors has opened the door to easily obtainable and utterly ludicrous straight-line performance, so now even a small £45,000 SUV can sprint from 0-62mph in only 3.6 seconds.

In this all-wheel-drive Twin Motor Performance form, the EX30 produces 428PS (315kW) and 543Nm (400lb ft) of torque, and the acceleration is astonishing at any speed. It’s the old adage of immediate torque from a pair of potent electric motors, and with one placed on each axle that power gets put down onto the road with assurance. Top speed is limited to only 112mph – we say only, you shouldn’t need any more than that, and the batteries would run dry rather quickly if you went much faster.

Away from the outright speed, the EX30 exhibits a typically relaxed Volvo drive with a smooth ride that isolates your seat from any surface interference. It’s quiet and classy on the road, ironing out even Britain’s ravaged tarmac into smooth sheets. It’s almost too numbing, because the feeling through the steering wheel is a little distant. The response from the axle itself is sharp and direct, but there’s a detachment from your own inputs that is just a little uninspiring.

It's a similar story with the pedals. The throttle is a conduit to a huge amount of performance, and yet you never really feel as though the power is under your foot. It feels distant and unengaging, which is a bit of a shame because you never really feel as though you’re playing with the power. The brakes also lack feedback, they’re spot on in terms of performance, the stopping power is good, but the overwhelming feeling is that there’s a machine somewhere managing it for you, rather than the pressure of your foot.

In terms of handling, there’s plenty to enjoy about the way the EX30 drives. It weighs 1,885kg, but the chassis does well to disguise some of that weight when you turn into a corner. The batteries are positioned in the floor of the car to keep the centre of gravity low, and that helps to secure the body pretty well to the road. You can turn in confidently, and the rear-bias of the power delivery (156PS front, 272PS rear) helps to balance the car through the exit.

The 64kWh battery is capable of delivering an electric range of up to 279 miles from a single charge, although anyone prone to a touch of spirited driving will find that figure dramatically reduced. The perils of enjoying a burst of acceleration away from a red light.

The interior is the best part of the EX30. It’s a clean, open space with a modern feel and a great design language that incorporates a stunning array of recycled and renewable materials. Every surface is smooth and uncluttered, it follows a similar philosophy to the exterior styling in that it all appears to be formed from a single piece. Every single element has a soft feel to it, Volvo has not cut any corners, the chromed door handles are particularly fancy.

The electrically adjustable and heated front seats are upholstered in a variety of quality finishes, they’re comfortable and supportive with decent lumbar support for the driver. The feeling of space at the front is accentuated by the panoramic sunroof that lets a huge amount of light into the cabin.

It’s only really the front seats that you’d want to sit in though, because the rear bench is incredibly cramped. Cars of this shape have always been compromised in the rear, but that is exacerbated by the high floor housing the battery. Leg room is at a premium as a result, although headroom is not bad despite the hunched roofline. For all intents and purposes, the centre seat, besides housing a small cuddly toy, is unlikely to be of any extended use.

Interior storage is a little limited, although the two-tier cubby setup in place of a transmission tunnel does make good use of the space. It provides two cupholders, which can be slid inside the central tunnel if you’d rather they were out of the way, and a space for wireless phone charging, though it doesn’t do a great job of holding your phone in place and we did find ourselves having to replace it after navigating roundabouts and the like. It’s an interesting layout that feels well put together with a nice tactile click to the cupholder function. You do also get some fairly accommodating door bins which is where you’ll be stowing most of your belongings.

A final word goes to the 318-litre boot, which is deep but quite narrow in shape, which means wrestling in larger items like pushchairs could be a struggle, especially due to the huge lip that hinders accessibility somewhat. The floor can be opened up for a further 61 litres of space, while folding the rear seats down increases the capacity to 904 litres. This is all supplemented by a rather menial luggage compartment at the front of the car.

The prominent feature inside the EX30 is that large portrait orientated touchscreen. It’s a 12.3-inch display that houses absolutely everything you can do in the car. All functionality, aside from a handful of buttons on the steering wheel, is controlled via this infotainment system, which is both a blessing and a curse.

A lack of physical buttons for the climate control will never not be annoying, but the screen is at least clear and responsive, and generally a joy to use if you’re clued up on where everything is. Therein lies the problem, some of the most useful functions, like your climate, your media, your efficiency settings, are all hidden away one, two, three, even four touches of the screen away. It’s just too much time looking at a screen instead of at the road.

The physical switches you do get are the worst touch points on the entire car, which is perplexing. They’re plasticky buttons on the steering wheel for volume, skipping tracks, cruise control, voice control and a shortcut button.

One thing that is worth playing around with on the infotainment is the Harman Kardon Premium sound system which is a standard feature on the EX30. It’s a 1,040W nine-speaker setup with 5.1 Surround Sound, and it generates some impressive sound with plenty of depth and customisability.

Elsewhere there’s wireless Apple CarPlay and integrated Google support for Maps and more. In Ultra spec, you get an additional 360-degree parking camera and Park Pilot Assist.

Charging is achieved through a Type 2 CCS charging port, through which a top up from 10-80 per cent takes as little as 26.5 minutes. If you source a charging station through your car’s sat-nav it can pre-condition the battery for you by heating or cooling it prior to charging, to help optimise its rapid charging capability before you plug in.

You can’t argue with a car’s popularity. It’s clear that Volvo has struck a chord with a core section of the small electric SUV market, and rightfully so because the EX30 is a capable car with the image to match. It’s a car you’re going to enjoy being seen in, and being associated with, because passengers and onlookers are going to be impressed.

It’s a bold choice in a market filled with more reserved and traditional alternatives, and in many ways it’s the best option if you can afford the additional cost. From a quality perspective, you really can’t go wrong here. The interior is the best in class, and where we see the price being justified, especially for the Ultra trim. In terms of performance, it’s also flippin’ spectacular in a straight line, albeit a touch uninspiring for the more discerning driver who craves feel and engagement.

It’s just difficult to know who the EX30 is for. You’d need to plan your life around its compromises if you wanted to turn it into your family car, while buying this simply for its acceleration feels a little overt for £45,000. It’s a very stylish and very efficient thing for cruising around town. It’s a car for looking good and feeling good while you drive it, and in many ways isn’t that exactly what most of us want from our favourite mode of transport?