Tesla Model 3 vs. Volvo EX30: Which One Wins?

Key Points

• The Volvo EX30 is Volvo’s smallest SUV, fastest accelerating model, and most eco-friendly vehicle, making it a strong competitor to the Tesla Model 3.
• Both the Tesla Model 3 and Volvo EX30 offer impressive features and capabilities, but differ in design, range, performance, safety, and price.
• The Tesla Model 3 has a futuristic design with a streamlined exterior and expansive glass roof, while the Volvo EX30 prioritizes efficiency and functionality with additional storage space.
• Both vehicles offer comparable ranges and charging times, with the Tesla Model 3 offering a slightly faster charging time.

The newly unveiled Volvo EX30 is Volvo’s smallest SUV to date, its fastest accelerating model, and its most eco-friendly vehicle. Given this impressive set of accolades, it’s likely to be a fierce competitor to the Tesla Model 3.

Both electric vehicles represent the cutting edge of technology, offering impressive features and capabilities. In this article, we pit these two against each other to determine which one comes out on top.

Tesla Model 3 vs. Volvo EX30: Side-by-Side Comparison

Tesla Model 3 vs. Volvo EX30: What’s the Difference?

Design

The Volvo EX takes a minimalistic design approach, prioritizing efficiency and functionality by eliminating unnecessary components. While omitting parts helps to extend the range, it also creates additional storage opportunities. The sound system, for example, is distilled into a single soundbar, creating extra storage space in the doors. Moreover, the absence of drivetrain components between the front seats further adds to available storage space. To ensure convenience, a 12.3″ tablet-style center display provides easy access to essential driver information and useful apps like Google Maps.

Beyond functionality, the EX30 offers ambiance themes such as “Northern Lights” and “Forest Bath” to enhance serenity. Subtly shifting interior lighting and sounds mimic the natural world, creating a calming atmosphere.

With the Volvo EX30 evoking a connection to nature, the Tesla Model 3 serves as its futuristic counterpart. In contrast, it features 14 speakers, including a subwoofer and dual amplifiers, for sound dynamics comparable to a recording studio. Although it doesn’t match the Volvo’s storage capacity, it has a similarly spacious feel, thanks to an expansive glass roof. Taking a similarly minimalistic approach, the vehicle’s controls are consolidated in a 15″ central touch display. Navigation, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity come standard, but AM radio and SiriusXM satellite radio are oddly unavailable.

As an electric vehicle, the Tesla Model 3 has lower cooling needs, making the removal of the front grille possible. This streamlined exterior not only adds to its futuristic appeal but also optimizes its range by reducing air resistance.

Range

The Tesla Model 3 and the Volvo EX30 offer comparable ranges (about 275 miles of range on a full charge). This is quite a remarkable accomplishment for Volvo, considering that the EX30 is an SUV and is significantly heavier.

The Tesla Model 3 offers a slightly faster charging time than the Volvo EX30. After a quick 25-minute charging session, drivers can replenish their batteries and get back on the road. However, the EX30 is not far behind: only 1.5 minutes slower at delivering the same amount of charge.

Tesla’s higher trim level of the Model 3, dubbed the Long Range offers the highest range, 358 miles. This means you could theoretically drive from Philadelphia, PA to Boston, MA on a single charge. The fear of running out of battery power during a long journey has been a barrier for some individuals considering the switch to electric vehicles, but Tesla’s significant leap forward in capabilities goes a long way to put those fears to rest.

Performance

Regarding performance, the EX30 will definitely blow your hair back. Alongside the standard model, it offers an additional trim level known as the Twin Motor Performance. With an acceleration of 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, it is the fastest-accelerating Volvo of all time. To put that in perspective, it accelerates faster than a Ferrari Portofino.

Although the Tesla Model 3 may be marginally slower to accelerate, it compensates by reaching higher top speeds (145 mph vs. 112 mph).

To handle all that power, both cars position their batteries under the floor. This results in a low center of gravity, which helps each car feel stable when cornering.

Safety

Both models go beyond passive safety features like airbags by incorporating preventative safety features like automatic collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

The Tesla Model 3 earned NHTSA 5-star safety ratings across all categories and subcategories, which reaffirms its exceptional safety performance and crashworthiness.

While the EX30 has not had the opportunity to win any safety accolades as it has yet to be released, we can expect it will uphold Volvo’s renowned commitment to safety. To date, Volvo has been awarded more IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Awards than any other manufacturer.

Price and Tax Credit Eligibility

While the Tesla Model 3 is more expensive than the Volvo EX30, some consumers may qualify for a federal tax credit, which can help offset the price difference.

The EX30 is not eligible for a federal tax credit, however, the Tesla Model 3 is eligible for a partial tax credit of $3,750. This effectively lowers the price of the Tesla Model 3, however, it’s still higher than the Volvo EX30 ($36,490 vs. $34,950).

If you are considering one of the higher trim levels of the Tesla Model 3, the federal tax credit becomes more significant. The Tesla Model 3 Performance fully qualifies for the federal tax credit, knocking a hefty $7,500 off the base price. This makes the Tesla Model 3 Performance likely to be the more accessible choice when compared to Volvo’s equivalent, the EX30 Twin Motor Performance. “Likely” is an important distinction, because the exact price of the EX30 Twin Motor Performance has not been released yet.

Tesla Model 3 vs. Volvo Ex30: 6 Must-Know Facts

Here are six must-know facts about the Tesla Model 3 vs. Volvo EX30:

• Both the Tesla Model 3 and Volvo EX30 offer two powertrains (RWD and AWD).
• Volvo’s dual-motor EX30 can make the zero-to-60-mph sprint in just 3.4 seconds, which outperforms even high-performance sports cars.
• Both standard electric vehicles have the same range, although the Volvo EX30 is heavier and has more storage space.
• The Tesla Model 3 provides self-driving capabilities while the Volvo EX30 does not.
• The Tesla Model 3 offers a unique feature that allows for summoning your car, a capability not available in the Volvo EX30.
• The federal tax credit for electric vehicles applies to the Tesla Model 3, but not to the Volvo EX30.

Tesla Model 3 vs. Volvo Ex30: Which One Is Better?

We think the Volvo EX30 stands out as a good value for the money. Even if you qualify for a federal tax credit, the Volvo EX30 offers a comparable range, superior acceleration, and more cargo space at a lower price point than the Tesla Model 3. Additionally, thoughtful details such as ambiance themes add a touch of luxury to the driving experience.

However, one of the major features the Volvo EX30 is missing is self-driving functionality. The Tesla Model 3, on the other hand, lets you sit back while the car drives itself. This feature enables a significantly more relaxed driving experience, potentially even more relaxing than Volvo’s nature-focused ambiance themes.

Additionally, the EX30 does not have the Model 3’s capacity to “smart summon.” This feature allows you to summon your car from a distance by using an app. With just a few taps, the car will plot a path toward the driver’s location, making corrections for people and traffic along the way. This is the kind of feature that makes you feel like Batman.

Ultimately, the decision to invest in Tesla’s autonomous capabilities comes down to budget considerations, but we certainly think it’s worth it.