Volvo EX60 Review

Introduction and model history

The EX60 is a mid-sized SUV with rivals like the new Mercedes GLC and our Electrifying.com Car of the Year, the BMW iX3 in its sights.  Like the iX3 its new from the ground up - new platform, new tech, new infotainment software… and it’s showcasing what Volvo can do with its new generation of electric cars. 

I don’t know what you think of the way it looks, but as a fan of Scandinavian design, I really like its simple, pared-back style. Volvo is particularly good at making its cars feel unmistakable, despite the sheer amount of competition. In a world full of SUVs that can blur into one another,  I think Volvo stands out for having a clear design look you won’t confuse with any other brand.

I think it's a lovely evolution of Volvo’s very classy SUV design, with the familiar Thor's Hammer headlights, new slimline Wing Grid door handles - which Volvo is showing for the first time on the EX60 - and those cool stepped rear lights. But let us know what you think about it by leaving a comment on the YouTube vid.  

And if this standard version isn't rugged enough for you - as you can see in the photograph above - there will be also be a Cross Country version arriving down the line.

From launch, the EX60 will be offered with a couple of variants - the entry-level EX60 P6 gets rear-wheel drive and a WLTP range of up to 385 miles, while the P10 AWD brings more power and the benefits of all-wheel drive for an official range of up to 410 miles. 

The range-topping version is the Volvo EX60 P12 AWD. You’ve probably worked out that this is also an all-wheel drive model with an abundance of power, while a bigger battery means a BMW iX3-rivalling WLTP range of 503 miles. 

We’re expecting pricing to start at under £57,000 for the entry-level P6, but you can read more about prices and on sale date a bit further down the review.  

Range, battery and charging

Range is clearly one of the EX60’s big plus points, and there are three battery options. The P6 comes with an 80 kWh usable battery, delivering up to 385 miles WLTP. Peak DC rapid charging is up to 320 kW thanks to an 800V charging system, which is a bit like industrial-strength wiring that allows for ultra-rapid charging – unlike the 400V system that many EVs get. 

The P10 steps up to a 91kWh usable battery, pushing range to 410 miles WLTP, and charging is also boosted to 370kW.

The flagship EX60 P12 gets a huge 112kWh usable battery, unlocking the headline figure of up to 503 miles WLTP – also with that 370kW peak charging. Every Volvo EX60 gets a lithium-ion NMC battery, and you can read more about that in our battery tech explainer.

That top charging rate doesn’t quite hit the 400kW peak charge rate that the BMW iX3 offers but, this is still one of the fastest-charging EVs on sale and it’s capable of adding around 210 miles of range in just 10 minutes or a 10- to 80% charge takes as little as 19 minutes. Provided you’ve got ideal conditions and a powerful enough charger, that is! 

Unfortunately, charging speeds are always affected by conditions – the temperature, the state of the charger, how many cars are sharing the charge points, the temperature of your battery… You also need to input your intended charging stop into the car’s nav to preheat the battery, which is important if you want the best charging speeds (although that’s pretty easy to do).

Anyway, it’s always worth treating these claimed charging figures as the best case scenario, but it’s safe to say that the EX60 has very impressive range and charging.   

Practicality and boot space 

I love the huge pano roof in the EX60! Isn’t it lovely? It really improves the sense of light and airiness in the rear seats, where you also get loads of leg- and headroom, a centre rear armrest, charging ports and climate control. And the carpets are nicer than the carpets in my house, so it’s all very lovely!  

The boot’s 630 litres is impressive – that’s bigger than the Skoda Enyaq, Audi Q6 e-tron SUV and BMW iX3, so Volvo’s doing well with that. I also really like the clever underfloor storage, which is divided up so that you can keep your muddy wellies in the plastic underfloor area but still keep your cables separate down there and leave the main boot area free for the dog. Perfect.

There’s also a 58-litre frunk (86 litres if you don’t want the warning triangle in there), which is another useful place for you to keep your cables or other paraphernalia. Overall, this is one of the most practical cars in its class. And I don’t say that lightly, as there are some seriously practical cars up against the Volvo EX60.

Interior, design/styling and technology

I’m not going to lie – I’m obsessed with Scandinavian design, and I’d like Volvo to design my living room, to be honest. But the EX60 is definitely one of the nicest interiors in this class. I really prefer the EX60 to the Audi Q6 e-tron and Mercedes GLC, which feels a bit fussier compared to the simple, fresh-feeling interior in the Volvo. 

I love the volume button, too, which is like a little glass jewel. And you can open the central glovebox without using the touchscreen – which is one of the things that annoys me on the Volvo EX30 and the Tesla Model Y. Little details like the Swedish flag labels on the seats and frameless rear-view mirror give it a minimal stylish feel, while the seats are brilliant, supportive, with plenty of adjustment with very comfortable head rests - some of the best seats in the industry, if you ask me. Is the BMW iX3 nicer inside? It's different in its approach and has more going on in terms of screen and buttons, but I do also love the iX3’s cabin, so I’m going to hold off on that verdict until I can try both of them back-to-back. 

Like the BMW there's no shortage of clever tech. The EX60 gets ‘multi-adaptive seatbelts’, which uses sensors inside the vehicle to work out your body shape and how you’re sitting. For a child it will respond differently to the pressure it will apply, compared to how it will respond for a woman or for a large man. And the seatbelts even get smarter over time through software updates, as the system is constantly learning from day to day driving. Clever stuff, from the brand that invented the seatbelt many decades ago. 

There’s also an ‘Nvidia Drive’ platform, which essentially means that you’re getting the very latest in processing power to make the car’s software as slick and quick as possible. There’s Google maps and other apps built in, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and natural AI voice commands that learn how you speak. 

The EX60’s semi-autonomous driver assistance systems are, as you’d expect, the very latest technology as well. In fact, the EX60 will be the first Volvo to get Navi Pilot Assist, which is advanced enough that the car can steer itself without the driver’s hands being on the wheel… In countries where that’s legal. Which doesn’t include the UK. Over here, you’ll have to keep your hands on the wheel and remain in control and alert at the wheel, at all times – even when you are enjoying the car’s ability to autonomously stay in lane on the motorway, and keep a safe distance from the car in front even in stop-start traffic.

Motors and performance 

We haven’t driven the car yet, so if you’re keen to know what it’s like to drive then come back in a couple of months and we’ll tell you all about it. For now, I can tell you that the Volvo EX60 range kicks off with the P6 RWD, which gets 374hp and does 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. Step up to the P10 AWD and you get 510hp for the usual sprint in 4.6sec. Then the P12 gets a huge 680hp for a storming 0-62mph of 3.9 seconds!! I can’t help but feel that sort of pace is a little unnecessary in a family SUV, but Audi, BMW, Tesla, Polestar, Porsche and Mercedes are all doing it… So why wouldn’t Volvo?! 

You’ll also be able to get the Volvo EX60 Cross Country, if you’re after a slightly more rugged variant. The Cross Country is only available on the all-wheel drive models, and adds 20mm to the ride height for better ground clearance, plus some rugged styling tweaks.

Pricing and on sale date 

We’re expecting the EX60 to kick off at £56,860 for the entry-level EX60 P6 with its 385 miles of range, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the entry-level iX3 only costs around £2000 more - even for the all-wheel drive iX3 xDrive50 with 500 miles of range. So, with that in mind I can’t help but feel that the iX3 has got the edge when it comes to value for money. 

Still, you do get a 10 year warranty on the high voltage battery in the Volvo, as opposed to eight years for the BMW. And it’ll all come down to monthly PCP and leasing rates, in the end, so the jury’s still out on how the ownership costs will stack up when we know more about the Volvo’s costs.

The EX60 range will start with Plus and Ultra trims, and Volvo says that a Core trim line will arrive later on. It's available to order now, with P6 and P10 models being delivered from the summer and P12 versions arriving with customers later in the year.

Verdict 

The EX60 makes a very strong first impression. It looks great, the interior is beautiful, and the tech feels like a clear step forward, particularly Volvo’s clever rethink of the seatbelt, which is exactly the kind of innovation you want in a family car. The infotainment also appears far more intuitive than before, although I’ll reserve final judgement until I’ve tried it out properly. In terms of space and day-to-day usability, this feels like one of the most practical cars in its class. 

But BMW’s iX3 looms large, offering more range for the money and making this a tougher decision than Volvo might like. Ultimately, monthly finance and how the EX60 feels on the road will be key - and I’ll be putting that to the test very soon.

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