The Drive Report: Volvo EX30

Volvo EX30 review: the smallest Volvo is also the most convincing one in years

• Volvo EX30 praised for its design, tech features, and smooth, quiet ride
• Real-world range is around 360-380km, less than the claimed 480km WLTP
• Priced at ₹41 lakh, it undercuts rivals like Hyundai Ioniq 5 and BMW iX1

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To be perfectly honest, I didn’t expect myself to like the Volvo EX30 as much as I did. Right off the bat, it’s the best-looking Volvo I’ve seen on Indian roads since the V40. It’s a gratifying return to form for the Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker whose offerings have been getting a bit long in the tooth as far as design is concerned. Not the EX30 – this is how Volvos should have looked for the past decade.

Interior and exterior

Walking up to the EX30, you notice the "Thor’s Hammer" headlights have evolved into a pixelated, digital signature. It lacks the chrome-heavy insecurity of its rivals. Instead, it relies on stance and proportion. It sits on 19-inch aero-wheels that look like they were carved from a single block of Nordic ice.

Inside, the cabin is a masterclass in Scandinavian restraint. Volvo has binned the traditional instrument cluster entirely. Everything – and I mean everything – is housed within a singular, 12.3-inch vertical tablet. It’s not Tesla-level frugal because you still have a steering-mounted transmission stalk (and an indicator stalk). Even the window switches have migrated to the centre console, and the glovebox now lives under the screen. Its minimalism is strongly contrasted by gridlocked streets, but somehow, despite the absence of buttons, the EX30’s cabin manages to look minimalistic and not frugal. There’s a certain visual harmony to it, much like there is to the exterior.

Volvo has gone full "techno-ascetic," migrating even the most basic tactile rituals – adjusting your headlamps or angling your wing mirrors – into the digital abyss of the central screen. It’s the kind of transition that requires a recalibration of your muscle memory; for the first week, you’ll likely find yourself stabbing at a ghost of a physical switch that simply isn't there.

Thankfully, the silicon backing this play is top-shelf. Powered by a Snapdragon brain, the interface is slicker than a Savile Row silk lining – fast, fluid, and devoid of the dreaded lag that plagues lesser systems. It runs a native Google OS, meaning Google Maps is baked into the car's DNA, precisely where it belongs. And while Apple acolytes get the seamless joy of wireless CarPlay, Android users are inexplicably tethered to a cable – a strange sartorial stumble in an otherwise wireless world. You do, however, get a crisp 360-degree camera feed, ensuring that those gorgeous aero-wheels remain un-scuffed by the brutal realities of a Mumbai curb.

Performance

At a time when home-grown brands are offering 79kWh batteries, the EX30’s 69kWh battery, with a single-motor setup might seem relatively conservative. The battery’s NMC composition makes it a bit more durable with more charging cycles but this isn’t an EV for thrill seeking. Its acceleration is brisk, smooth and predictably linear. The rear-axle mounted motor produces 272hp and 343 Nm of torque, so rest assured, it’s a quick machine. There are no modes to play with when it comes to performance and regen - this may irk those who prefer a small space station’s worth of options, but at least it’s a well-calibrated setting. Fret not though because like most EVs in its price range and below, single pedal driving is still an option you can select. Like all Volvos, this one’s softly sprung, with excellent damping and a smooth, vibration-free ride.

Range

With a claimed WLTP range of 480km you already know that this isn’t exactly a highway cruiser and that might be its only setback, other than the cramped rear seat (you’ll likely find more rear legroom in the upcoming EX40). In the real world, with the most judicious use of throttle and regen, expect a range of 360-380km.

Verdict

The Volvo EX30 is arguably the most important car the brand has launched in a decade. It’s not just an EV; it’s a statement that luxury doesn't need to be loud, and electric power doesn't need to be boring.

With a real-world range hovering around 400 km (against a claimed 480 km WLTP), it has enough legs for the occasional dash to Pune or Alibaug. But its true home is the city. At ₹41 lakh, it undercuts the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and makes the BMW iX1 look unnecessarily expensive. While the Ioniq pips it when it comes to rear leg room, the EX30 is just as full of character.

Volvo has managed to distill its entire brand identity – safety, sustainability, and effortless cool – into a package that fits into a standard Indian parking slot. It is the definitive proof that in the electric era, the best things really do come in small, exquisitely designed packages. As far as Volvos go, this one’s a serious bargain.