Volvo EX30 review – Range, charging & running costs

There are three versions of the EX30. The first of them is the base Single Motor model, which has a 268bhp motor on the rear axle, fed by a 51kWh (49kWh usable) battery. Official figures give it a potential range of 209 miles, and it can charge at up to 134kW, which, if you can find an appropriately powered DC public rapid charger, can give you a 10-80% top-up in 26 minutes.

Then there’s the Single Motor Extended Range model. This has the same motor and drive configuration, but that’s fed by a larger 69kWh (64kWh usable) battery. This gives an official range of 296 miles, and there’s also a slightly faster maximum charging speed of 153kW. So, a punchy enough DC rapid charger can give the bigger battery a 10-80% boost in around the same time as it takes to charge the smaller one to the same level. Rivals such as the DS 3 E-Tense have slower charging speeds topping out at just 100kW.

Lastly, there’s the Twin Motor Performance version, which has considerably more power than the other two EX30s thanks to the additional motor on the front axle. It has exactly the same battery and charging speed as the Extended Range model, but its extra oomph means that its potential range drops to 286 miles, and while our first UK drive was too short to get a full picture of its range, we suspect it will be tricky to hit its official figure if you make use of its acceleration often.

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The two versions with the bigger battery get a standard heat pump, which should improve range in cold weather thanks to more efficient cabin heating. Still, it’s a bit strange Volvo didn’t include this on the entry-level car, which arguably needs it more.

Because the EX30 is an electric car, you pay no Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, or road tax), until April 2025, and the standard rate following this. EVs are currently also exempt from congestion charges and ULEZ restrictions.

How efficient is the Volvo EX30 in the real world?

While testing a Twin Motor version of the EX30 we managed a real-world efficiency figure of 3.5 miles/kWh, which would equate to a range of around 224 miles from a full charge.

What will the Volvo EX30 cost to insure?

Insurance groupings for the Volvo EX30 are quite pricey, starting from group 35 and increasing to group 41 for the Twin Motor version in Ultra trim.