Keenly priced new electric small SUV gets a price-bump: 2024 Volvo EX30 pricing up just in time for local arrival as Swedish brand takes aim at BYD Atto 3 and BMW iX1 

Volvo has tweaked the price of its EX30 electric small SUV upward just in time for its launch.

Higher variants are now slightly more expensive as the Swedish brand tackles higher shipping costs, although the base model Extended Range Plus remains the same, at $59,990 before on-roads.

The mid-spec Extended Range Ultra gets a price-rise from $64,990 to $66,290, while the top-spec Twin Motor Performance Ultra moves from $69,990 to $71,290 (both a $1300 increase).

Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the EX30, Volvo Car Australia’s managing director Stephen Connor said of the price-rise: “One major reason. Obviously our costs are going up because the costs of bringing the car into the country have gone up, so we have to follow that.”

“We made a conscious decision to absorb those costs for the lower-grade entry. We felt we needed to keep that lower-grade entry where it was, we needed to keep that price-point where it was, so we can pull people into the brand.

“But obviously we want to make a differentiation between the twin and the single (motor). That’s why we’ve done it.”

Rear-wheel drive versions of the EX30 are powered by a 200kW/343Nm electric motor, while the all-wheel drive version adds an additional motor with total outputs of 315kW/543Nm. 

2WD versions score 480km of WLTP-certified driving range in combined conditions thanks to their 69kWh battery packs, while the all-wheel drive version travels 20km less (460km) thanks to its higher energy consumption.

The base Extended Range Plus scores 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen running Android Automotive with online connectivity and over the air updates, dual-zone climate control, recycled polyester cloth seat trim with synthetic leather for the steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, and the full array of safety equipment.

Upgrading to the Ultra variant also nets a panoramic sunroof, park assist features, a 360-degree parking camera, rear auto braking, a heated steering wheel, tinted rear windows, power seat adjust for the driver and passenger, and heated front seats. 

The EX30 goes into battle against the Hyundai Kona Electric (from $58,000), the Kia Niro (from $66,590), the Renault Megane E-Tech (from $64,990), as well as even more affordable options like the BYD Atto 3 (from $48,011), although it significantly undercuts premium rivals like the UX300e (from $79,990).

Volvo is full steam ahead on its plans to be fully electric in Australia, the EX30 will be followed by the EX90 large SUV as a replacement for the current XC90, while the current XC40 and C40 will be phased out and re-named to EX40 and EC40 as they go electric-only.

In an unexpected move from Volvo, it has also launched its first people mover, the EM90 for the Chinese market. As part of the brand’s plan to have five new models on the market by 2026, the logical next reveal will be a replacement for the XC60, which is now getting on in years.