The 2026 Volvo EX30 EV felt composed yet playful being hustled on serpentine Southern California canyon roads, even after a day of heavy rains.
I was in the base Single Motor version of the EX30 and it was a hoot. At $40,245 (including the $1,295 destination fee), the EV is now the lowest-priced model in Volvo’s entire U.S. lineup. And it didn’t feel like it’s skimping on anything.
At just 166.7 inches long and riding on a 104.3-inch wheelbase with an excellent 36.1-foot turning circle, the EX30 is compact and urban-savvy. If you’ve gravitated toward hot hatches like the VW GTI and want to go fully electric, this is a great personality match.
Unlike the 2026 Nissan Leaf, which has just been redesigned, or the 2027 Chevy Bolt EV, which is on hiatus before a redesigned version arrives, the single-motor version of the EX30 is rear-wheel drive, which in most situations amounts to a better-balanced dynamic feel. It makes 268 hp and 253 ft.-lb. of torque and hits 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, according to Volvo.
EVs tend to be a lot heavier than their gasoline equivalents but the RWD EX30 lends an impression of being relatively nimble and light. It weighs 3,913 pounds in U.S. spec—238 pounds less than the dual-motor version that, up until now, has been the only way to get the EX30. The EX30 Twin Motor Performance makes a combined 422 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque and feels like a brute-force alternative, allowing muscle-car-like launches and an official 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds.
For now, that higher output is the only way to get the EX30 Cross Country. Fundamentally, it’s more in sync with the crossovers that American shoppers want. The Cross Country trim boasts 7.5 inches of ground clearance compared to 6.7 inches in other EX30 models. It’s also equipped with beefier all-terrain tires.
EX Cross Country goes past the pavement but not entirely off-road
Altogether, the 2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country trades out the other EX30s’ sharp, hot-hatch impression for a ride that’s a little better isolated from harsh road surfaces. The trade off is steering that doesn’t feel quite as sharp or dynamics as in-tune with the canyon roads.
The Cross Country can accelerate to 60 mph from standstill in 3.5 seconds and, although it doesn’t offer the dedicated Off-Road mode of Volvo’s XC40 and XC60 SUVs, it does have Hill Descent control for steep downslopes.
All U.S. versions of the EX30 family have the 69 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that’s termed Extended Range on the global stage, with 65 kWh usable (Europe and other markets can also specify an LFP pack with 49 kWh). DC fast-charging is via a Combined Charging System port allowing a road-trip charge from 10 to 80% in 28 minutes, reaching a peak of 153 kW, according to Volvo. For the U.S. market, the Single Motor version has an EPA-estimated range of 261 miles.
The EX30 Cross Country, as I experienced it, starts at $49,445. One of the most noteworthy additions is a heat pump that may help boost range in colder temperatures. However, the model’s EPA-estimated range of 227 miles is significantly lower.
Some technology hit and miss
Across both of these models the interiors compare closely and the technology interface is exactly the same. Volvo has gone perhaps too minimalist, consolidating all sorts of details (yes, even mirror adjustment) into a 12.3-inch center touch screen. It’s the only display space because there is no gauge cluster or head-up display, although the menus themselves are clean and intuitive.
An example of this relentless design consolidation that does work especially well is the excellent Harman Kardon sound bar that subs in for individual speakers at the front of the cabin. These models also offer wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 5G data capability for over-the-air updates. The infotainment system is built on Android Automotive OS and includes four years of the Google Assistant and Google Maps.
Even the $40,245 EX30 Plus trim I drove included a large panoramic roof, power front seats, a two-zone climate system, adaptive cruise control and a range of safety-sensing features. For now, if you want to step up to the Ultra trim’s 360-degree camera view, parking aids and Pilot Assist lane-keeping functionality with cruise control, you also need to go with the Twin Motor Performance starting at $47,945.
Don’t let the rather rakish roofline lead you astray; you sit upright in this EV family and front seats are on the firm side but satisfyingly supportive.
Whether you go with the single-motor EX30 or Cross Country, these are compact vehicles, with rear door openings that can feel hopelessly short for adult legs. But once inside there’s decent headroom and shoulder space for two adults if you can negotiate a balance of the legroom with those in front.
There are plenty of useful bins in the EX30, including door compartments large enough for water bottles, while a cupholder good for cafe drinks slides forward from the center console armrest. Volvo has also done a top-notch job in isolating out road and wind noise — an extra hurdle in EVs. Cargo space is tight, however; there’s only 11.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat back, although a lower well and small frunk give you space to stash smaller items out of sight.
EX30 family fits in better now
After sampling the full lineup of EX30 models, it’s clear that in the nearly two and a half years since the Volvo EX30 and EX30 Cross Country were confirmed for the U.S. market, they’ve become more relevant to America.
That’s because the American EV market has changed profoundly and it’s veered sharply back toward affordability. While a small number of initial EX30 deliveries for the U.S. were made in China, Volvo changed over to models built in Ghent, Belgium, starting in April of this year — yes, that’s right around when the tariff turmoil hit automakers — and in 2026 it plans to deliver “thousands” of them.
Volvo is also due to reveal the upcoming technologically advanced heart of its family EV lineup, the EX60, in January. While some other automakers might have eased back on their EV plans, Volvo’s roadmap includes an 800-volt technology upgrade for the EX90, this fun little EX30 and EX30 Cross Country, and the EX40 model above them.
