TRIED AND TESTED
Volvo EX60
Volvo’s new EX60 makes a play for drivers seeking Scandinavian minimalism and comfort. By Simon Harris.
TRIED AND TESTED
Volvo EX60
Volvo’s new EX60 makes a play for drivers seeking Scandinavian minimalism and comfort. By Simon Harris.
Volvo’s new EX60 enters the premium executive sector as a large electric SUV that charts its own distinct path. Instead of trying to copy the execution of the highly regarded BMW iX3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric, the Swedish manufacturer has leaned into its own well-established design identity.
The focus here is entirely on delivering a relaxing cabin atmosphere, isolated long-distance comfort and clean ergonomics that make regular business travel less tiring. While the wider model range will eventually expand to cover multiple battery and power options, our initial road evaluation focused on the mid-tier, four-wheel-drive P10 model.
Our time behind the wheel of the P10 AWD in Plus trim showed that Volvo has got the basics right for high-mileage drivers. Even when specified on large 21-inch alloy wheels, the suspension tuning manages broken UK road surfaces remarkably well, absorbing surface imperfections and keeping tyre roar completely out of the passenger environment.
The steering setup is a welcome surprise. The wheel itself is a compact ‘squircle’ (featuring a flat top and bottom) which makes this large car feel far more agile and easy to place than its physical footprint suggests. The steering response is direct and linear, helping the vehicle feel as though it shrinks around you on twisty sections of road, while remaining perfectly steady and relaxed at motorway cruising speeds. This flat-topped geometry is also highly functional, creating a completely unobstructed sightline to the slim driver information display screen positioned neatly at the base of the windscreen. By putting the essential driving data directly within your natural forward eyeline, Volvo has made a traditional head-up display unnecessary, and it has confirmed that no such system is planned.
Underneath the bodywork, the EX60 is the first production car to use Volvo’s new SPA3 electric platform, which – like the BMW iX3 – builds the battery cells directly into the frame using cell-to-body technology to increase structural stiffness and save weight. The exterior design incorporates a low front-end, tapered sides and a sloping roofline to help it cut through the air with a competitive drag coefficient of 0.26.
The range structure covers distinct operational needs across three main powertrain variants. The entry-level model is the rear-wheel-drive P6, which covers up to 385 miles on a charge. The P10 tested here uses two electric motors for four-wheel drive and delivers a longer official WLTP range of up to 410 miles on a single charge. A high-performance P12 flagship variant will arrive near the end of the year, claiming a class-leading range of up to 503 miles. When utilising ultra-rapid 400kW charging infrastructure, the vehicle’s electrical architecture can replenish up to 211 miles of range in just 10 minutes, minimising journey interruptions on long business trips. The long wheelbase and flat floor mean the interior space is exceptionally practical, providing rear passengers with generous legroom alongside a large, square luggage compartment. The materials throughout the cabin focus on sustainable, softly padded surfaces, completely avoiding the overly complex layouts or fingerprint-prone glossy black plastics common in this class. However, the ergonomics are not entirely faultless. Volvo has migrated far too many core adjustments and secondary driving operations onto the central touchscreen, which forces you to take your eyes off the road just to tweak standard menu functions. It is a frustrating choice in an otherwise well-considered interior, leaving a solitary physical dial for the audio volume as the cabin’s only remaining tactile control button. The digital interface itself is at least fast and responsive, powered by a core computing system that eliminates menu lag.
The EX60 is the first vehicle to launch with Google’s Gemini AI assistant fully integrated into the native Android Automotive operating system, allowing drivers to manage climate, media and navigation settings through natural, conversational speech without memorising specific commands. For those who value high-end audio, an optional 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system introduces dedicated surround-sound speakers directly into the four main headrests.
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VERDICT
The EX60 stands out precisely because it refuses to emulate its established competitors. By focusing on a highly compliant ride, a logical layout and substantial real-world battery range, the P10 variant works brilliantly as a comfortable, low-stress cruiser for professional drivers who value a calm environment above all else.
