Used Volvo EX30 for sale: everything you need to know

The Volvo EX30 is the brand’s entry-level electric car and its smallest SUV to date. Sharply styled and with a premium feel that belies its relatively low brand-new starting price, it’s sure to be a popular car among EV buyers.

That should see plenty of EX30s filtering onto the used market too over the next few years, and second hand buyers will benefit just as much from the smart cabin design and high equipment levels - though it’ll be wise to try before you buy, as not everyone gets on with the heavily touchscreen-based controls.

If you’re considering a Volvo EX30, then there should be a few other family EVs on your shortlist too, including the Renault Megane E-Tech, MG4, Smart #1, Kia Niro EV, and Volkswagen ID.3 - all offering different styling, driving characteristics, and features.

Should you buy a Volvo EX30?

One of the Volvo EX30’s biggest selling points as a brand new car is that you’re getting a high-quality, strikingly-designed electric SUV for a surprisingly competitive price. While EX30s are yet to filter onto the used market in large numbers, it’s likely to be just as much of a used bargain, too.

But with one or two reservations, it’s also just a very good car in its own right. The smart exterior and interior styling make it something you’d be proud to have on the driveway, without the overt aggression or flash of some other premium models, and in terms of pure utility, it goes a decent distance on a charge too.

One of the more surprising aspects of the EX30 is its performance. The very cheapest model gets from 0-62mph in under six seconds, enough to trouble plenty of hot hatchbacks, while the Twin Motor will see off plenty of sports cars in a straight line - and needs some restraint behind the wheel. It rides and handles well, but again bear in mind the Twin Motor has enough punch to potentially overwhelm the car’s handling abilities.

The interior looks and feels fantastic, but the rear seats can feel a little cramped for adults. The boot isn’t the biggest in this class, but it’s usefully flexible. Our only real reservation is with how many of the car’s controls are operated through the touchscreen alone - a potentially distracting oversight.

The EX30 has joined a sprawling mass of electric family cars and compact SUVs, including the similarly great value MG4, the excellent Renault Megane E-Tech, the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born twins, the Kia Niro EV, and the Honda e:Ny1. The EX30 is also related to, but quite different from, the Smart #1.

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What’s the best used Volvo EX30 model to buy?

As far as powering your Volvo EX30 goes, you should be looking right in the middle of the range, at the Single Motor Extended Range. For a family car, it’s got more than enough performance (the Twin Motor’s 3.6-second 0-62mph time sounds hilarious but it’s probably overkill for the vast majority of buyers), and its near-300 mile claimed range will also suit most buyers.

The entry-level Plus trim is probably all you really need too. It’s a big chunk cheaper than Ultra trim, a difference that’s likely to carry over to pre-owned models for some time, and doesn’t add much that’ll fundamentally change your experience of the car.

Used Volvo EX30 range and performance

• Volvo EX30 Single Motor: The Single Motor has a rear-mounted motor delivering 272PS, for 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds. With 49kWh of usable battery capacity, range is quoted at up to 213.8 miles, with a 10-80% fast charge at 134kW taking 26 minutes.
• Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range: The Extended Range still sends 272PS to the back wheels but the battery has a larger 64kWh of usable capacity, bumping range to as much as 295.8 miles, while acceleration improves slightly at 5.3 seconds from 0-62mph. 153kW fast charging means a 10-80% top-up takes 28 minutes.
• Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance: The Twin Motor uses the same 64kWh battery pack as the model above, but adds an extra motor to the front wheels, for 428PS combined. 0-62mph drops to a supercar-like 3.6 seconds, while range is up to 279 miles and a fast charge as little as 28 minutes.

What used Volvo EX30 trim levels are available?

Volvo offers a pair of trim levels on the EX30. Other than the differences listed below, the other key difference is that you can get the Plus with all three motor and battery combinations, but the Ultra is only offered in Single Motor Extended Range, and Twin Motor Performance versions.

• The Volvo EX30 Plus gets 18-inch alloy wheels in Single Motor variants and 19-inch wheels on Extended Range and Twin Motor models, two-zone climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, a 12.3-inch portrait touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, front and rear park assist, adaptive cruise control, a power tailgate, comfort chassis settings, wireless Apple CarPlay, Harman Kardon audio, a heat pump (on Extended Range and Twin Motor versions only), and an 11kW onboard charger.
• The Volvo EX30 Ultra adds a 360-degree parking camera, Park Pilot Assist, 20-inch wheels, privacy glass, a fixed panoramic sunroof, power front seat adjustment, and a 22kW onboard charger.

Used Volvo EX30 dimensions and boot size

The Volvo EX30’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4233mm
• Width: 1940mm (mirrors folded), 2032mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1555mm

The Volvo EX30’s boot size is:

• 318 litres
• 904 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)

Used Volvo EX30 road tax

The entire EX30 range is electric, which means the entire range enjoys zero-rate VED or ‘road tax’ - so until the UK government decides to slap an annual fee on driving an EV, you won’t have to pay a penny in tax.

How much is it to insure a Volvo EX30?

The Volvo EX30 range starts at insurance group 35, which gets you a Single Motor car in Plus trim. Twin Motor Performance versions start in group 40, which actually isn’t bad when it matches plenty of cars in the high group 40s and group 50 for straight-line performance, though all EX30s are a little more to insure than some electric equivalents - the Smart #1 starts in group 30, while the Volkswagen ID.3 is as low as group 19 in some models.

Read our full Volvo EX30 review