Driving the Volvo EX30: Style over substance, or simply brilliant?

If you’re after a small, stylish and comfortable electric car, it’s hard to go wrong with the Volvo EX30. A former Carwow Car Of The Year winner, this is one of the best EVs on sale.

It’s a great-looking little thing with its sleek headlights and clean lines, and the LED taillights look cool as well. A Peugeot E-2008 may be more bold, but there’s something effortlessly cool about the EX30’s design.

This theme continues on the inside, where you have a fairly minimalist design. Not in the same way that a Tesla looks like an unfurnished flat, more like a cool Scandinavian apartment. The materials are pretty funky-looking, a lot of them are made of recycled materials for added eco points.

This stripped-back nature does come with some drawbacks though, the main one being the central screen. It’s pretty bright and responsive, but all of the car’s functions are controlled through it and some of the menus are confusing. There’s no driver’s display either, nor is there the option of a head-up display, so you have to keep looking towards the centre for your speed which takes time to get used to.

Fiddly controls aside, the EX30’s driving position is pretty spot on. There’s a good range of adjustment in the seats and the steering wheel, and the chairs themselves are also really comfortable.

Things aren’t so good in the back though, because both the kneeroom and headroom are pretty tight. A Kia EV6 has a more spacious cabin. At 318 litres, the boot isn’t massive either. An EV3 offers 460 litres of space, but it is still bigger than the Smart #1’s 273-litre luggage area.

So what’s the EX30 like when you hit the road? The answer is very pleasant. Around town you have decent forward visibility and light steering, although there is a bit of a blind spot over your shoulders. The reversing camera does help with this while parking, but you have to step up to the top-spec Ultra model if you want a 360-degree surround-view system.

It’s pretty relaxing on the motorway too. The standard-fit adaptive cruise control takes the strain out of long drives, and it’s a comfortable car for eating up the miles in. If you do a lot of long motorway journeys you’ll want the Single Motor Long Range model, because it can go 295 miles on a charge, up from 209 miles in the basic model.

If you’re after ballistic performance you can also get a dual-motor version with 428hp. This will still do 279 miles between charges, but it’s not really worth spending the extra for because the handling doesn’t live up to the bonkers straight-line speed. It’s very comfortable on a twisty road, but it’s much better suited to a relaxed driving style than an enthusiastic one.

The Volvo EX30 is by no means perfect thanks to the limited practicality and some frustrating tech, but there’s something about the chic styling and cool interior which makes it a really desirable small EV. It’s also great to drive, and with a starting price of just over £30,000 it’s great value for money. It remains one of our favourite small electric cars.

Looking for an easy way to change your car? Then Carwow is the place to go. You can sell your old car for a great price, and get the best deals on a new one. All through our network of trusted dealers and all from the comfort of your home. Tap the button below to get started today.