Volvo EX30: Australian pricing and features for Swedish brand's smallest (and quickest) model

The Volvo EX30 has gone on sale in Australia as the Swedish brand's most affordable electric vehicle yet.

Starting from $59,990, Volvo’s smallest vehicle available today is positioned five-grand above the petrol-powered entry-level XC40 but $17,000 below the cheapest electric XC40.

EX30 arrives as a crucial model to Volvo's plan to go all electric by 2026 in Australia, and by 2030 globally.

Volvo Australia first announced pricing in mid 2023, and while the entry EX30's price is unchanged there are increases for the other two variants that form a three-model line-up.

The mid-range Extended Ultra moves from $64,990 to $66,290; the flagship Performance Ultra shifts the other side of $70K, also up $$1300 to $71,290.

All three launch models feature a 69kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, with the range-topping Performance Ultra adopting an extra electric motor for all-wheel drive where other variants are rear-wheel drive.

The EX30 is produced at Volvo’s Zhangjiakou plant in China and shares its platform with some other models in the portfolio of parent company Geely.

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How much is the Volvo EX30?

JUMP AHEAD

• Specs & performance side-by-side
• EX30 specs & features explained
• EX30 Cross Country
• Size & space: EX30 v XC40
• EX30 range in detail
• EX30 safety features

Specs & performance: The basics

The quick rundown on the EX30 range's specifications, side-by-side.

EX30 specs & features explained

The rear-drive EX30 models share a 200kW/343Nm electric motor said to deliver a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.3 second, and a 480km claimed range.

The all-wheel-drive EX30’s dual motors produce combined outputs 315kW and 543Nm to make it the quickest Volvo ever. The maximum range drops slightly to 460km.

Volvo Australia has teased some initial feature specifications, which points to a strong equipment level from the base model up.

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The Extended Plus will include a Harman Kardon audio with soundbar speaker system, as well as an auto tailgate, wireless phone charging, and a digital key that follows a Tesla trick - allowing owners to access the car and drive away using just their smartphone.

A long list of safety features is standard across the range and includes a new alert system designed to prevent doors being opened into oncoming bikes, scooters or runners.

Ultra models gain a new-generation version of Volvo’s Pilot Park Assist, which can now detect a wider range of parking spaces and controls acceleration and braking in addition to the steering. The driver can monitor the distance to surrounding objects, including cars, walls and bollards, via the central touchscreen.

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Click any image in this story for our full gallery

To emphasise the EX30’s intended appeal to younger buyers, five exterior colour choices include yellow and pale blue.

The EX30 joins the XC40 Recharge and C40 to expand Volvo Australia’s electric line-up to three, with the EX90 large electric SUV due in early 2025.

The $71,290 flagship EX30 Performance Ultra, while more compact, also undercuts other luxury small electric SUVs, including the BMW iX1 (from $78,900), Lexus UX300e (from $80,720) and Mercedes EQA (from $81,700).

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MINI MATCH-UP: EX30 v XC40 dimensions

In terms of size and space, here's how the compact new EX30 compares to the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric already available in Australia.

The Volvo EX30 range in detail

The EX30's key specs and features are outlined below. A full list of features will be released in the lead-up to the EX30's fourth-quarter 2023 launch.

Safety across the EX30 range