Volvo EX30 - Boot space, comfort & practicality

Let’s look at the Volvo EX30 range more generally first, because it sits in compact car territory that the brand hasn’t explored since the Volvo C30 hatchback almost two decades ago. The EX30 is almost identical in length to that noughties curio, but as fashion dictates, the car takes the more practical shape of a five-door small SUV rather than a three-door hatchback.

If you’re expecting a practical crossover, then the EX30 might not fit the bill. By the standards of cars in this segment, it’s a little tight in the back – the Jeep Avenger offers similar space, but is roughly 200mm shorter overall. In reality, it’s closer to compact premium hatchbacks like the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class in terms of size. Those in the back will also be impacted by a high floor that limits foot space under the front seats; headroom is fairly generous, though. Two ISOFIX child seat mounting points are provided on the rear bench's outer positions.

A 318-litre boot isn’t so large, but it is neatly shaped, and doesn’t look any more compromised than the class average. A small 19-litre storage area under the bonnet means you can keep the loose (and potentially dirty) charging cables away from your luggage in the main boot. A standard 60/40 split folding rear seat design increases the load area to 904 litres, which isn’t especially generous. The bigger Hyundai Kona provides 466 litres of space with the seats up, and 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded. Plus the Kona Electric can be had with a much more versatile 40/20/40 split folding rear seat in N Line trim and above.

The standard range, single motor model has a 1,000kg braked trailer towing capacity, while the Extended range models can pull up to 1,600kg, which is rather good for this size of electric car, and puts it above even the likes of the larger Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4. We would suggest you take a look at your mirror set up, though. Like the Polestar 2, the EX30 has frameless door mirrors to which you can’t attach traditional extension mirrors, so you may need to invest in an alternative solution.