This Budget Sleeper EV Will Make You Rethink Speed And Affordability

Electric vehicles come under fire and criticism for many reasons, but the one benefit we can all appreciate is how they bring

impressive performance abilities
to seemingly unexpected products like entry-level crossovers. There’s one newcomer to the segment that highlights just how much electromobility improves the affordability aspect of performance cars. It’s not a model that intends to smash global lap records, but it will certainly make its mark on the drag strip next to some of the most powerful ICE super cars.

The added benefit is that you get to enjoy this performance without having to

compromise on space and comfort
, as it is a high-riding crossover with a very versatile, minimal, and spacious interior. The sales charts reveal that new EV consumers prefer crossovers to sedans and hatchbacks by a very noticeable margin, which is a similar trend that occurs in the ICE industry. EV crossovers optimize this interior space as they don’t have to accommodate all the bulky ICE and transmission components. This does come at the cost of heavier curb weights, but the efficient and potent EV motors more than balance this out.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Volvo’s websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA.

The Volvo EX30 Performance Is A Force To Be Reckoned With

The all-new

Volvo EX30
Performance is one of the best options that perfectly balances speed and affordability. The Swedish brand’s flagship trim for its entry-level EV crossover option features a pair of permanent-magnet synchronous motors that generate a combined 422 horsepower and 400 pound-feet to all four wheels.

Volvo’s recent advancements in electric motor technology draw heavily from its close ties with Geely and Polestar. This collaborative effort affords the Swedish brand enhanced efficiency, power delivery, and sustainability. Geely’s extensive resources and electric expertise have supported Volvo in reducing reliance on rare earth materials, while Polestar’s focus on high-performance EVs has influenced the push for increased energy density and improved motor responsiveness.

Performance Specifications

The EPA still needs to release its official consumption estimates for the new Performance derivative, but Volvo says that the 69 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will cover the model for a fairly reasonable 265 miles. This isn’t an amazing figure when compared to its main rivals, but it’s still a very accommodating and practical distance to work, especially if you stick to urban and extra-urban driving conditions. For reference, the base single-motor derivative, which features the same battery pack, returns 30 kWh per 100 miles and covers 257 miles on a single charge.

Why The Volvo EX30 Performance Is Criminally Underrated

Using this configuration, Volvo is able to get the EX30 Performance to sprint from 0-60 MPH in a very impressive 3.4 seconds, which is substantially faster than a lot of the options in its price category. Volvo limits the model’s speed to 112 MPH, which is a cap it applies to almost all of its cars for the sake of safety and battery preservation.

With this in mind, the EX30 Performance is going to be an ideal option if all you want to do is prove a point in between traffic lights. Publications confirm that they will reveal official test figures early next year, which will give us a more realistic interpretation of what we can expect from the new performance model when subjected to real-world conditions.

When stacked against the

Tesla Model Y Performance
, the EX30 isn’t as powerful, but it certainly holds its own. Tesla claims that its option is 0.1 seconds slower than the Volvo, despite benefitting from a slightly higher power output. On the plus side, you can drive this EV all the way up to 155 MPH. The larger battery also means that you benefit from a slightly higher 279-mile range estimate. What’s impressive is the fact that the EX30 is almost $6,000 cheaper than the Tesla, but this excludes the

$7,500 Inflation Reduction Act tax credit
, which Volvo doesn’t benefit from because it’s built outside the U.S.

The EX30 Performance Costs $44,990

The flagship Volvo EX30 Performance derivative

starts at $44,990
, which is a very competitive rate considering the level of performance you get to enjoy. With this balance of affordability and performance, it’s going to be very surprising if Volvo won’t take the Model Y on in the quarterly sales charts. Noteworthy standard features include ergonomic seating, a plethora of standard advanced driver assist systems, next-generation connectivity functions, and bountiful cargo facilities.

Here’s what TopSpeed’s Journalist had to say when he tested the little SUV:

I had a few runs in this cutey (legally!) which never came short of shoving me in my seat each time. This is serious performance coming from something this adorable.

– William Clavey, TopSpeed Journalist

Key Standard Features

• Squared multifunction steering wheel with heating
• Nordic Twilight ambient lighting
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Four USB-C charging and data transfer ports
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster

Additional standout features include a heated squared steering wheel and ambient lighting. The central portrait 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system accommodates wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a five-speaker audio system. You can upgrade this to the nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, powered by a 1,040-Watt amplifier. Volvo will release the full official features list when it officially launches the car in the U.S. early next year.

Don’t Forget About The Polestar 2

If you’re itching to get behind the wheel of the EX30 but just can’t wait until the brand launches the model, you can always opt for the

Polestar 2
, which features the same dual-motor configuration, but with an increased 455 horsepower and 546 pound-feet output. Despite this, the brand claims that this model can cover the 0-60 MPH sprint in 4.0 seconds, which is noticeably slower than the EX30. Admittedly, independent reviews highlight that the model was able to cover the sprint in just 3.8 seconds, which is a noteworthy difference.

Performance Specifications

Polestar limits this model’s top speed to 127 MPH, which again isn’t that high, but it’s at least a bit of an improvement over the EX30. It features the same 69 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, returning an estimated 35 kWh per 100 miles combined consumption rating and a 247-mile range claim on a single charge. Bear in mind that this is a much more expensive option that starts at $53,300 before optional extras, so you have to question whether you’re happy to pay that premium for an EV with more power but a slower 0-60 MPH claim time.

How The EX30 Fits Into Volvo’s Line-Up

Volvo is pretty much a crossover and SUV-only brand at this point, with a dedicated intent to completely

phase the ICE out in the coming years
. This is part of its commitment to reduce its overall carbon footprint by phasing out its reliance on fossil fuels. Volvo positions this model below the EX40, which was formerly known as the XC40 Recharge, making this its new entry-level EV offering. The EX30 sits on the brand’s comprehensively revised Sustainable Experience Architecture 2, which also underpins the new EX90 flagship offering.

Volvo says that it aims to become a fully electric car brand, phasing out all internal combustion engine vehicles, including hybrids, by as soon as 2030. By next year, the company expects half of its global sales to come from its now comprehensive electric vehicle catalog, with the remainder being hybrids and mild-hybrids. The Swedish brand’s partnership with Northvolt also plays a fundamental role in developing sustainable battery technologies.

Volvo’s upcoming EVs will also use the new SPA2 platform, designed for purely electric models, focusing on safety, performance, and range improvements. In terms of production, Volvo will transform its factories, with the Torslanda plant in Sweden and others shifting to EV-only production. Volvo is positioning itself as a leader in safety and sustainability, aiming for climate neutrality by 2040, which includes creating a circular supply chain and reducing CO2 emissions across its entire production line.