Volvo EX60 review

When entering a new market, it’s always helpful to have a USP, and the new Volvo EX60 has a doozy: 503 miles. Yes, that’s the official range of this premium electric SUV if you order it with the biggest of its three battery options, meaning it can go farther between charges than any rival.

This is partly because the battery in question is… well… big. But it’s also down to the new underpinnings developed for the EX60 (and the electric Volvos that will follow it). These apparently bring a sizeable weight saving (although an exact kerb weight is still to be confirmed), which in turn improves efficiency.

Volvo EX60 video review

Then again, Volvo really did need to pull out all the stops with this car. For starters, it’s the electric sister to the XC60 – the best-selling Volvo of all time. Plus, the rivals the EX60 faces could hardly be tougher, with the world’s best-selling electric vehicle (the Tesla Model Y) and our reigning Car of the Year (the BMW iX3) among them.

What’s new?

- May 2026: We drive the Volvo EX60 in Barcelona, Spain
- March 2026: We travel to Sweden to experience the EX60 for the first time
- January 2026: EX60 wins What Car? Readers’ Choice Award, for the most exciting car coming in 2026
- January 2026: All-new EX60 is revealed as an electric alternative to the big-selling XC60

How fast is it and which motor is best?

So far we’ve only driven the P10 model, which has two electric motors (for four-wheel drive) and a total of 503bhp. That’s enough for 0-62mph in 4.6sec, which is quick – roughly on a par with an BMW iX3 50 xDrive or Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD.

That said, if you want to be pinned back in your seat even harder, a 671bhp P12 version will join the line-up in late 2026. That will rocket to 62mph in just 3.9sec – quicker than a Porsche 911 T, although a Porsche Macan Electric GTS is even faster.

A single motor, rear-wheel drive EX60 (called the P6) is available already, and serves as the entry point to the range. Even this manages 0-62mph in a hot hatch-bothering 5.9sec.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The P10 comes with standard adaptive suspension, which can be stiffened and softened depending on the type of driving you’re doing – or simply your mood.

The softest setting delivers a ride that’s soft and wafty, and well-suited to both town and 70mph motorway cruising. However, this can make the EX60 feel a bit floaty along undulating country roads; switching to the ‘standard’ mode tightens things up a bit.

You might imagine the stiffest ‘firm’ mode would turn the EX60 into a fun-handling and agile sports SUV, but it really doesn’t. There’s still more body lean and nosedive under braking than an iX3 or even a Model Y.

The EX60’s steering, while accurate, also gives little sense of connection with the road. Rivals (particularly the iX3) are better in this respect, and more entertaining to drive because of it. In short, the EX60 feels much happier being driven gently and smoothly than hustled around corners.

The forthcoming P12 will have the same adaptive suspension system, while the entry-level P6 has regular (or so-called ‘passive’ suspension). We haven’t tried this yet.

There will also be a Cross Country version with air suspension. This will sit 20mm farther from the road to begin with to give better ground clearance, and you’ll be able to jack the suspension up by a further 20mm if you need to venture off-road or wade through deep water.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

We drove the EX60 on the roads around Barcelona, which are much smoother and better finished than those back in the UK. Mind you, our test car was fitted with enormous 22in alloys – the biggest you can get.

So, it’s encouraging that there was very little road noise – even at motorway speeds – and only a small amount of wind flutter around the windscreen pillars.

The EX60 is also really easy to drive, that’s to light controls and an accelerator response that isn’t too sharp or grabby. The brake pedal can feel slightly inconsistent at times (it isn’t as well-judged as an iX3 or Model Y’s) but it doesn’t stop you slowing down smoothly.

What’s the range like, and how quickly can it charge?

While only the forthcoming P12 offers that headline 503-mile official range, that doesn’t mean lesser EX60’s are weak in this area. Indeed, even the entry-level P6 can officially travel 380 miles in one go.

As for charging, the P6 can accept a peak of 320kW, while the twin motor versions can accept up to 370kW. As a result, every EX60 can be topped up from 10-80% in less than 20 minutes – assuming you’re plugged into a powerful enough charging point.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cross Country model turned out to be both the most comfortable EX60 and the best to drive, thanks to the range of settings its air suspension allows.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Modern Volvos tend to look classy and minimalist inside, and the EX60 is no exception. Buttons have been almost entirely banished from its dashboard, while the gear selector is a stalk behind the steering wheel.

You can choose from dark grey, light brown and light grey faux-leather seat upholstery – and if you go for the latter the lower half of the dashboard, headlining and even inside of the steering wheel rim is colour-matched. That helps create a light and airy feel.

There’s a real wool interior option, too, and if you’re going for range-topping Ultra trim, you can pay extra for genuine Nappa leather. Either way, the EX60’s interior features plenty of upmarket materials and feels solidly screwed together.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

In the EX60, you sit about as far above the road as you do in the conventionally powered Volvo XC60 (albeit slightly closer to the floor of the car. That means you look down on most other drivers and get a fine forward view.

By contrast, over-the-shoulder visibility is compromised by the way the window line kicks up towards the back of the EX60. But all trims get front and rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera to help with manoeuvring.

Volvo makes some of the best front seats in the business, and they offer a huge range of electric adjustment and feel supportive – although they don’t have as much side bolstering 

As in the BMW iX3, you look over the steering wheel (rather than through it) to see the digital instrument display. Smaller drivers might find that the top of the wheel obscures the lower part of the display, although the speedo is still clearly visible because it’s in the top left corner.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

Volvo typically uses portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreens. However, for the EX60 it’s gone landscape, which helps bring the most commonly used functions closer to the driver.

It would still be easier to adjust the temperature on the move if there were some separate physical knobs and switches, but the icons for the climate control are at least permanently on display at the bottom of the 15in screen.

In addition, Google Gemini AI is integrated into the system, allowing you to talk to the car in a natural, conversational voice to ask questions or give commands, including adjusting the temperature or setting a destination.

“I’m one of those people who can’t see the bottom of the digital instrument display unless I set the steering wheel lower than I’d ideally have it.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

How much space does it have for people?

The Volvo EX60 is around 10cm longer than the petrol-powered Volvo XC60. Combined with superior packaging – and the fact that electric motors take up less room than petrol engines – that means it’s quite a bit roomier inside; even really tall people will be perfectly comfortable.

Like many other electric cars, the EX60 also features a completely flat rear floor area, which makes life more comfortable for a central rear passenger. The rear seats can even be reclined electrically so your back-seat passengers can have a snooze on long journeys.

How much room is there for luggage?

The EX60’s main boot has a 634-litre capacity, meaning it can carry far more luggage than a Audi Q6 e-tron or BMW iX3. And while the Tesla Model Y officially gives you 854 litres, this is misleading because it includes the space above the parcel shelf, rather than simply below it.

*measured to the roof

As a bonus, a deep underfloor storage well at the rear of the EX60’s boot helps to keep bags of shopping upright. Plus there’s enough under-bonnet storage for the charging cables or even a carry-on suitcase.

What’s more, when you need to cart around even more stuff, you can fold the rear seatbacks down in a 40/20/40 split by pressing buttons on the walls of the boot.

“I appreciate the fact that there’s space beneath the boot floor for the parcel shelf, so you don’t have to leave it behind or stash it in the rear footwell when transporting bulkier loads.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The Volvo EX60 is priced from about £56,860, whereas the cheapest versions of the Audi Q6 e-tron and BMW iX3 cost slightly more. However, while the EX60 and Q6 have similar-sized batteries in these entry-level forms, the iX3’s is much bigger.

Indeed, if you want an EX60 that goes similarly far to the iX3 on a charge, you need to go for the range-topping P12 model, which starts at £64,860 (although doesn’t go into production until the end of 2026.

It’s also worth noting that the Tesla Model Y is available from as little as £41,990. Or £48,990 if you want a battery that’s competitive with the entry-level EX60 P6.

More positively, like all electric vehicles, the EX60 qualifies for a lowly 4% rate of company car tax.

What’s more, Volvo has been very generous with standard equipment. The cheaper of two trim levels (called Plus) comes with 20in alloys, a panoramic glass roof, three-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, a powered tailgate, a 21-speaker Bose stereo and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Upgrading to Ultra trim brings you 21in alloy wheels, higher-definition headlights, an electrochromic glass roof (which allows you to adjust the level of shading) and an epic-sounding 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. It does push the price up quite a bit, though.

Is it reliable and how long is the warranty?

Given that deliveries won’t start until the summer, we obviously don’t have any owner feedback on the dependability of the EX60. However, Volvo didn’t do brilliantly in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey finishing 21st (out of 30 brands) in the overall manufacturer league table.

True, Audi, Mercedes and Land Rover were all behind it, but BMW was sixth and Tesla seventh.

Every EX60 comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is fairly standard among premium rivals. And as with most electric cars, the drive battery is covered by a separate eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The list of Volvo safety innovations over the years includes everything from the three-point seatbelt to curtain airbags and blindspot monitoring. And it's come up with another one for the EX60: the multi-adaptive safety belt.

Unlike conventional seatbelts, which can adjust the force that’s applied to suit small, medium and large occupants, this new design has 11 profiles (with the potential for Volvo to increase this over time via remote software updates), so further reduces the risk of injury in the event of an accident.

Both front seats get these multi-adaptive belts, although for the time being the seatbelts in the back make do with conventional pre-tensioners and load limiters.

The EX60 also debuts a new type of Pilot Assist Plus that, at speeds of up to 80mph, is said to steer and assist more accurately with lane changes than the driver aids in any previous Volvo.

“The EX60’s Bowers & Wilkins sound system is absolutely fantastic. I think it’s one of the best in-car audio systems on the market.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Buy it if…

– You value a comfy ride and peaceful cruising

– You want an upmarket and elegant interior

– You want lots of kit without messing around adding options

Don’t buy it if…

– You want an SUV that’s fun to drive

– You want a 500-mile range (and don’t want to wait for the P12)

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