Volvo EX60 (2026 - )

There’s no denying the overwhelming success story that is the Volvo XC60 – it’s the Scandinavian giant’s best-selling car globally. So, there was always going to be quite a lot of pressure when it comes to the arrival of its fully electrified sibling, the EX60 then. Thankfully, the newcomer ticks all the right boxes… well almost.

It’s the first vehicle to be built on Volvo’s fully scalable SPA3 architecture and that means it will be used for future vehicles spanning the B-Segment right the way up to limousine-sized models.

But the headline feature has to be the EX60’s driving range – it is world class with the top model able to achieve a WLTP-tested 503 miles on a single charge – little chance of range anxiety there then.

The EX60 is a five-door, five seat mid-sized SUV that is available in two trims called Plus and Ultra with prices starting from £56,860 and topping out at £70,360. There are three battery options with a P6 featuring an 83kWh unit and capable of delivering 379 miles – this car is rear-wheel drive. The P10 has a larger 95kWh battery along with two electric motors for all-wheel drive and this can achieve up to 410 miles. Finally, the high-end P12, which will be introduced early in 2027, has the largest battery at 117kWh and it’s this version that covers that 503-mile range.

We opted for the EX60 P10 Plus for our test drive which had a starting price of £59,860, increasing to £61,645 with some optional extras factored in.

Our Volvo EX60 Plus test model featured the P10 powertrain which sees a 95kWh battery combining with two electric motors for all-wheel drive. This car, with a range of 410 miles, has 510hp and 710Nm of torque which results in blisteringly quick performance figures. It can power to 62mph from a standing start in just 4.6 seconds and tops out at 112mph.

But it’s the manners and refinement that really impressed us. Yes, it’s very quick and can overtake slower-moving vehicles in the blink of an eye, but the cabin is beautifully hushed against any wind or road surface noise, and the excellent suspension set-up smooths out all but the harshest bumps and dips along the way.

The EX60 will sit with ease at 70mph on motorways and the excellent all-round driver visibility make it a perfect companion for the dreaded school run with cars and pedestrians darting out from all angles.

However, it’s when faced with the more challenging twists and turns of winding country roads that the EX60 shows its true colours. It’s balanced, composed through faster bends and any signs of body sway are kept well in check.

There is all manner of ways to personalise the driving experience with settings to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking, steering and suspension feel, but these are all buried inside the touchscreen. Additionally, if you go exploring you will find drive modes called Range, Standard, Performance and Off-Road that alter the dynamics and handling of the car. Personally, we think most owners will rarely delve into these functions once they have found a mix that suits them, which is quite a shame as they add lots to the dynamics of the car.

Our other gripe was the compact, two-spoke steering wheel. Yes it looks fabulous and on a couple of shorter drives, it felt well-weighted with a nice feel. However, on a 90-minute, uninterrupted test run, the unusual driving position left me with aching shoulders, which isn’t ideal. I think it will be a feature that receives very mixed feedback in the long run.

Volvo seems to have a winning formula when it comes to developing attractive vehicles that are very easy on the eye and the EX60 is another perfect example of that clever design work. The car looks elegant from any angle but is not aggressive or flashy in any way. The front end is instantly recognisable as a Volvo thanks to the Thor’s Hammer signature lights and narrow grille housing the company emblem. The side profile is streamlined and the tapering roofline helps accentuate the car’s length. There are tinted rear windows, upgraded 21-inch alloys and Wing Grip door handles that protrude upwards rather than sitting flush to the bodywork. At the rear, the Volvo name is spelt out across the wide tailgate and there are upright LED tail lamps.

Moving inside, the interior is typically Volvo with a minimalist Scandinavian feel and an abundance of space and light thanks to the panoramic fixed sunroof.

The seats are upholstered in a leather-look material that is very high-end and they are powered and, along with the steering wheel, can be heated against the winter blues. The main focal point is a 15-inch central infotainment screen that offers access to a wealth of technology, including a built-in sat nav set-up with Google Maps, full smartphone connectivity via wired Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, a 21-speaker Bose sound system (upgraded to a 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins set-up with headrest speakers on the Ultra grade), a DAB radio and Bluetooth.

There are premium fixtures and fittings throughout the cabin with an abundance of soft-touch surfaces, although physical controls are instantly noticeable by their absence.

The steering wheel is really small, but looks amazing and there is an 11.4-inch driver display behind the wheel that clearly shows all the important numbers such as speed, speed limits and existing driving range.

Everything works really well, apart from the occasional delay on the touchscreen and having to navigate menus to make simple adjustments to the door mirrors and steering wheel. Sometimes less really isn’t more!

The Volvo EX60 is beautifully proportioned and boasts plenty of kerb appeal. It stretches 4,803mm in length, which is about 100mm longer than the XC60, is 2,067mm wide (including mirrors), 1,639mm tall and has a 2,970mm wheelbase. 

The interior is deceptively spacious with bundles of room up front for two six-foot-plus adults to stretch out. And back seat passengers are treated well too, with ample leg, shoulder and head space for another trio of adults. The completely flat floor will be appreciated by the person asked to sit in the middle and the outer seat occupants also benefit from heated seats. Additionally, the rear seats can be reclined slightly if a snooze is the order of the day.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can hold 523 litres of luggage, a capacity that increases to 998 litres by lowering the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats. There is additional storage room beneath the boot floor with the cover opening in a 60:40 split so you can access items like chargers while still carrying bulkier objects such as a pushchair or golf clubs. There is a further 58 litres of storage room beneath the bonnet.

Throughout the cabin itself, you will find some really handy storage solutions, but the designers have certainly strayed away from the norm. The glovebox and traditional central cubby have been ditched in favour of a larger pop-out cubby that is large enough for handbags. This is also where the front USB-C ports are located and there is a small cut-out groove so cables can be fed through. It’s clutter-free and really practical.

A pair of cup holders pop out from the front armrest and there are wide door pockets, a wireless charging pad and tray, seat back pockets with a mobile phone pouch, plus rear cup holders.

Charging the EX60 is a simple process both at home or on the go. Our car’s 95kWh battery could take a 370kW fast charge and be boosted from 0 to 80 per cent in as little as 16 minutes, or in about 12 hours if using a home wallbox for a zero to 100 per cent charge.

All EX60 models have a heat pump as standard and the car also boasts bi-directional charging meaning it can power up your home in the event of a power cut or send energy back to the wider grid.

With family getaways in mind, the AWD P10 and P12 versions can tow a trailer or caravan weighing up to 2.4 tonnes, dropping slightly to 2.0 tonnes for the RWD P6 model.

The Volvo EX60 is competitively priced at entry-level P6 Plus grade, which costs £56,860. This model, featuring the smallest battery, increases to £62,360 in Ultra trim.

The P10 car with the 95kWh battery in Plus specification, as tested, costs £59,860 or £65,360 in Ultra guise.

And the P12 with its 117kWh battery and that 503-mile range, costs £64,860 for the Plus and £70,360 for Ultra.

Our test car also featured upgraded paintwork, some dark exterior trimmings and larger 21-inch alloys – the result of which saw the final cost reach £61,645.

Unfortunately, the EX60 is not eligible for any electric car grant. Instead owners face an additional cost as it exceeds the government’s £50 Expensive Car Supplement threshold. That means an extra £440 will be added to the tax bill from years two to six. 

However the first-year road tax charge is just £10, and this will rise to the standard £200 fee after 12 months.

Anyone thinking about the EX60 as a company car will see an attractive four per cent Benefit in Kind tax rating and, for added peace of mind, the car is sold with a standard three-year, 60,000-mile warranty that increases to 10 years or 150,000 miles of cover for the battery.

The Volvo EX60 is exceptional in many ways. Firstly it bucks the normal trends when it comes to cabin design, making clever use of space and storage solutions. It’s also packed to bursting with creature comforts and we haven’t even touched on the world class safety technology. In fact, this car boasts the first ever multi-adaptive seat belts that adjust to each individuals’ size, shape and position to offer maximum protection in the event of an accident.

It’s also a car that continues to learn, collating data from other vehicles and improving via over-the air software updates. That means it’s a vehicle that will constantly be getting better.

It has that class-leading driving range and the refinement levels could prove difficult to match.

But, it’s so touchscreen dependent and there are so many features that will be left undiscovered because of that. Then there is that tiny steering wheel – only time will tell how the majority of drivers find it. I loved it on my first few shorter journeys, but my opinion changed after a lengthier run.

But, positives and negatives aside, this is definitely one to watch this year and could be the car Volvo XC60 owners have been patiently waiting for.