Volvo EX30 Performance real world range test

Vik Braykov, 23 March 2024

The Volvo EX30 just hit the market and is quickly becoming a runaway success for its maker. It’s the smallest SUV the company has ever made, but is proving to be a big deal for Volvo. We recently embarked on a mission to find out how efficient the newest electric Swede is and how it stacks up to its competitors.

Volvo EX30 Performance range test

Our test example is the Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance, which is the most powerful version and Volvo’s quickest accelerating car ever, producing 315 kW (428 hp). It is a small crossover, aimed primarily at city driving and, in this Performance trim, capable of topping most stoplight drag races. This test, however, doesn’t take acceleration into account and focuses plainly on how long it can go.

Volvo EX30 Performance range test

Let’s look at what we measured on our test routes, which we always drive at constant speeds with each car we test.

The ambient temperature while testing was 64°F, which is close to perfect for maximizing range.

At our lowest testing speed of 37 mph the Volvo EX30 shows its capable engines are rather thirsty. Its consumption is on par with much bigger and heavier vehicles, while its close competitors prove much more efficient.

At the next testing speed of 56 mph the EX30's smaller size helps so consumption doesn't increase significantly.

Range test results

  • 37 mph
  • 56 mph
  • 81 mph
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
544 miles
5.1 mi/kWh 70°F
BMW i7 xDrive60 BMW i7 xDrive60
518 miles
5.1 mi/kWh 75°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic
502 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 61°F
Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023) Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023)
452 miles
6 mi/kWh 100°F
Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD
440 miles
5.9 mi/kWh 75°F
Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD
439 miles
4.6 mi/kWh 52°F
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
419 miles
5.5 mi/kWh 63°F
Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD
409 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 52°F
Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used) Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used)
393 miles
5.9 mi/kWh 73°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh
378 miles
5.9 mi/kWh 52°F
Polestar 2 Polestar 2
354 miles
4.9 mi/kWh 59°F
BMW i5 BMW i5
353 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 37°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh
350 miles
5.4 mi/kWh 52°F
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic
343 miles
3.8 mi/kWh 77°F
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 Renault Megane E-Tech EV60
336 miles
6.1 mi/kWh 86°F
Jeep Avenger Jeep Avenger
323 miles
6.3 mi/kWh 79°F
Volvo EX30 Performance Volvo EX30 Performance
301 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 64°F
Fiat 500e Fiat 500e
276 miles
7.4 mi/kWh 68°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
455 miles
4.2 mi/kWh 70°F
Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD
350 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 75°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic
344 miles
2.9 mi/kWh 61°F
BMW i7 xDrive60 BMW i7 xDrive60
342 miles
3.4 mi/kWh 75°F
Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023) Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023)
328 miles
4.4 mi/kWh 100°F
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
315 miles
4.1 mi/kWh 63°F
Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD
308 miles
2.9 mi/kWh 52°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh
299 miles
4.7 mi/kWh 52°F
BMW i5 BMW i5
286 miles
3.5 mi/kWh 37°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh
286 miles
4.4 mi/kWh 52°F
Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD
286 miles
3.3 mi/kWh 52°F
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic
275 miles
3 mi/kWh 77°F
Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used) Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used)
265 miles
4 mi/kWh 73°F
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 Renault Megane E-Tech EV60
255 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 86°F
Polestar 2 Polestar 2
241 miles
3.3 mi/kWh 59°F
Volvo EX30 Performance Volvo EX30 Performance
229 miles
3.6 mi/kWh 64°F
Jeep Avenger Jeep Avenger
217 miles
4.3 mi/kWh 79°F
Fiat 500e Fiat 500e
181 miles
4.9 mi/kWh 68°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
324 miles
3 mi/kWh 70°F
BMW i7 xDrive60 BMW i7 xDrive60
314 miles
3.1 mi/kWh 75°F
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580 4Matic
254 miles
2.2 mi/kWh 61°F
Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 43 4Matic
231 miles
2.5 mi/kWh 77°F
Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used) Tesla Model S 75D (2018, used)
212 miles
3.2 mi/kWh 73°F
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
210 miles
2.7 mi/kWh 63°F
Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD Nissan Ariya 87 kWh FWD
209 miles
2.4 mi/kWh 52°F
Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 LR AWD
209 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 75°F
Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023) Tesla Model Y Long Range (2023)
208 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 100°F
BMW i5 BMW i5
204 miles
2.5 mi/kWh 37°F
Polestar 2 Polestar 2
186 miles
2.6 mi/kWh 59°F
Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD Kia EV9 99.8 kWh AWD
180 miles
1.9 mi/kWh 52°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh
175 miles
2.7 mi/kWh 52°F
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 Renault Megane E-Tech EV60
170 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 86°F
Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh Hyundai Kona Electric 65.4kWh
162 miles
2.5 mi/kWh 52°F
Volvo EX30 Performance Volvo EX30 Performance
156 miles
2.6 mi/kWh 64°F
Jeep Avenger Jeep Avenger
142 miles
2.8 mi/kWh 79°F
Fiat 500e Fiat 500e
119 miles
3.2 mi/kWh 68°F

At the highest testing speed of 81 mph we clearly notice that the EX30 is primarily aimed for city traffic and its aerodynamics aren't the most efficient around. This is normal for the segment, as most of its competitors show similar results in this category, despite being much more efficient at lower speeds.

So the Volvo EX30 Performance is not the most efficient EV on the market, at least in the overpowered AWD 428 hp version we tested. If efficiency and low consumption are your main priorities when deciding for a vehicle, you should probably opt for the single motor version. But if you want a small, nimble and monstrously quick vehicle for your day-to-day life, the EX30 may very well be exactly what you’re looking for.

Volvo EX30 Performance range test

We now suggest you use the widget below to find out the EX30 Performance’s range in every combination of speed and temperature you might need. We've used our real world tests and a complex model to provide an estimate that should be as close to the actual performance as possible.

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Reader comments

  • CoserGR

Rather dissapointing results. EV cars are not gonna "fly" if they continue this trend. Sky high prices, with ridiculus range affected too much by weather / load / degradation over time and too much fragile with exorbitand costs for repairin...

TBH, Volvos EX30 efficiency is fairly low, but not as low as a lot of competition. I would believe, in this case, you would be able to hit at least 350 km of range in a realistic mix of driving conditions. In non highway conditions, 400+ km sou...

  • Honest

Way unrealistic ranges. In reality 30 percent lower.

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