2025 Volvo EX30 availability falls short of expectations

Ever since the all-electric Volvo EX30 subcompact SUV was unveiled, one number has stood out above all:

$35,000, or more precisely, $34,950.

That's the official starting price for the EX30, which finally makes its stateside debut for 2025 after various delays. It's safe to say that no EV has ever offered the EX30's combination of range, performance and style for that kind of money.

Trouble is, you can't actually buy an EX30 for $34,950 today. Instead, you'll need to pony up at least $44,900 until the base model arrives "later in 2025," per Volvo's vague estimate.

Why? Well, it's complicated, but the bottom line is that the EX30 could have been a broadside attack on the Tesla Model 3 — and for now, it's definitely not.

What are the different versions of the EX30?

From a mechanical standpoint, there are only two versions of the 2025 Volvo EX30, and they're set up to complement each other nicely.

For most people, the single-motor EX30 RWD looks set to delight at that $34,950 starting price, providing as it does a swift 5.1-second sprint to 60 mph along with an adequate 261 miles of EPA-rated range (or 257 miles with the standard 18-inch wheels). This is the EX30's headline-grabbing specification, because the cheapest Model 3, the Long Range RWD, starts at $42,490 as of this writing.

Sure, the Model 3 LR RWD puts the Volvo to shame with its 363-mile range rating, but it's only slightly quicker to 60 mph, and the EX30 has style and hatchback versatility on its side. Especially given the presumably growing impact of anti-Musk sentiment on Tesla sales, the EX30 RWD is in prime position to take a real bite out of the Model 3's market share.

Except you can't buy it yet.

If you'd rather not wait, you'll have to spring for the dual-motor EX30 All-Wheel Drive, which costs a whopping $9,950 extra. That's a whole new ballgame for price-sensitive EV shoppers, i.e., precisely the demographic Volvo wants to woo with the EX30.

Is it faster than the single-motor EX30? You betcha — a 1.7-second improvement to 60 mph is huge. But it also loses a few miles of range, and one thing the base model didn't need was more speed.

Why isn't the single-motor EX30 available yet?

This is a story about tariffs, though they're Biden's in this case, not Trump's. Back in May 2024, the Biden Administration slapped a 100% tariff on EVs imported from China.

What does that have to do with Sweden-based Volvo? It's now owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely, and Volvo had been planning to build the EX30 in China for export to the US.

The backup plan ended up being Volvo's factory in Ghent, Belgium, which allows the EX30 to escape that tariff. But the adjustment took time, and although EX30 AWD models built in Belgium are now available on our shores, the entry-level EX30 RWD has yet to materialize.

Now, according to Volvo in the same press release linked above, the company "prioritized the most requested model" in producing the EX30 AWD first. But perhaps there's a better explanation that's not publicly available. It seems unlikely that there's really more consumer demand for the version that's nearly 30 percent pricier.

No, the $35k single-motor model is the game-changer here, if there is one. The question now is whether Volvo will be able to honor that price coming from the Ghent production line.

Is the dual-motor EX30 worth $44,900?

You could make the argument, yes, especially if you love the thrill of quick acceleration. Although many dual-motor EVs are crazy fast by historical standards, you'll be hard-pressed to find another EV that'll do 0-60 in about three and a half seconds for $45k.

On the other hand, the EX30 AWD's range of 253 miles is on the low side for a dual-motor EV in this price range. Moreover, its maximum cargo capacity of 31.9 cubic feet is dwarfed by that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD, for example, which costs about $5k more.

Ultimately, the EX30 AWD is an intriguing option for the money, but it doesn't stand out as an extraordinary value like the single-motor EX30 RWD. That's why it's such a bummer that the latter's arrival continues to be delayed.

What's the takeaway?

Unless you find the notion of 422 instantly available horsepower in a tiny SUV irresistible, the EX30 AWD is quite simply overkill. The vast majority of EV shoppers will find the standard EX30 RWD plenty quick, and they'll definitely appreciate keeping an extra $10k in their pockets.

But that assumes the Belgium-built EX30 RWD will still start at $35k when it eventually gets here. With uncertainty swirling, one could forgive even the most ardent EX30 fan for mulling rival models. As one of the most promising new EVs in recent memory, the EX30 deserved a smoother launch, which would have given Tesla a whole lot more to worry about. ⛐ md