Volvo EX60 review

Driving position 

The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside the Volvo EX60 is just how minimalist it is. It is a Volvo, after all. 

The cabin reminds us of a Swedish dentist’s lounge with a giant screen in the middle (in a good way), sitting next to a very peculiar-looking steering wheel. 

For a change, Volvo has fitted the EX60 with a square wheel (you might see it called a ‘squircle’), which is smaller than what you’d find in an EX30, but we think it’s great to use. 

It has some physical buttons and a joystick on either side to control various settings, including the 11.4-inch digital driver’s display, which is ‘ahead of the driver’ (instead of directly behind the wheel) to make you feel more at one with the car. 

The seat itself is very easy to adjust via a toggle switch on the side. But it is a bit fiddly having to adjust the door mirrors via the screen, but how often are you really doing that anyway? 

Visibility is superb both front and back, helping you when merging at tricky junctions and slip roads, not that you need it because the instant torque makes joining any road a total breeze.  

Just watch yourself, because it’s seriously quick if you’re not expecting it – more on that later. 

Tech and features 

Volvo EX60 trims 

– Plus 

– Ultra 

The EX60 is available in two different trims: Plus and Ultra. What’s the difference?  

Well, the EX60 Plus is generously equipped, with matrix LED lights, a 360-degree camera, a 21-speaker BOSE sound system, 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a heat pump, a panoramic glass roof and a powered tailgate as standard. 

Step up to the Ultra, and it takes the poshness to the next level. It adds an electrochromic function to the roof (switching from clear to opaque at the touch of a button), a powerful 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, upgraded headlights with more defined road scanning, privacy glass and 21-inch alloy wheels.  

The car we tested was the EX60 Plus, which we honestly found to be the sweet spot. 

You have a 15.04-inch display that runs incredibly smoothly and has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Not to mention built-in Google Maps and the Gemini AI voice assistant for added help. 

What we particularly like about the screen is that, unlike some other new cars, the climate controls are always visible, so there’s no need for menu diving to change the temperature. 

Below the screen is a glass volume knob and a pair of skip buttons to change music, again, not a faff. Much safer – and less annoying – when driving. 

Electric motors and power 

Volvo EX60 performance stats 

Power: 374hp, 510hp or 680hp 

0-62mph: 5.9 to 3.9 seconds 

Top speed: 112mph 

Driven wheels: RWD or AWD 

While there are two trims, the EX60 comes in three different performance configurations, each adding more power. 

The range starts with the P6, which is rear-wheel drive, has 374hp and can do the 0-62mph sprint in 5.9 seconds. This entry model is probably the one most people will go for, but if you can spare a few thousand more pounds, get the mid-spec one. 

This brings us to the P10 AWD, which – you guessed it – adds all-wheel drive and increases the power output to 510hp. We think it’s the ideal amount of performance, but if it’s not quite enough for you, there’s one more... 

Sitting at the top of the range is the P12 AWD, which produces an eye-watering 680hp (this is a family SUV, by the way), 790Nm of torque (that’s more than an F1 car) and a blistering 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds – that’s supercar territory. 

But what is the Volvo EX60 actually like to drive? Our test car was the P10 AWD (in Plus trim), which we still deem to be the pick of the bunch. 

It had more than enough performance for daily driving; it was very easy to drive around town and still sits at under £60,000. Okay, that’s hardly cheap, but for what you get, it’s well worth considering. 

It has a few different drive modes, but you’ll likely leave it in the normal mode most of the time, unless you want to scare your passengers in Performance mode or conserve some energy in Range mode. 

Handling and ride comfort 

On the road, the EX60 is fast. Really fast.  

For a family SUV, it has no right plummeting down the road like a bat out of hell, but where it sets itself apart from a sports car is the ride quality. 

Volvo has fitted it with adaptive suspension, which allows you to change between soft, normal and firm suspension, and you really notice a difference.  

Firm is great for a more spirited drive in Performance mode (if you’re brave enough), soft is ideal to wallow around a pothole-filled town and normal is what you’re probably going to leave it in 99% of the time. 

For a car that weighs more than two tonnes, it handles Britain’s rougher roads really rather well. The only place we found it lacking was at motorway speeds, where tyre and wind noise were louder than we’d have liked. 

Still, you can’t have everything. 

Handling-wise, it’s no Lotus Emeya, but it still tackles a bend with ease. We often find steering can feel numb in lots of electric cars, but not in this one.  

You feel more connected to the road, yet not too dialled in that you think you’re Sebastian Vettel when you nip to the shops for some milk. 

Boot space 

Volvo EX60 boot space: 

– Boot space: 523 litres 

– Incl. rear seats folded: 1,647 litres 

– Front boot (froot): 58 litres 

Boot space is one of the biggest considerations when buying a new family vehicle, and luckily, the EX60 doesn’t disappoint. 

With all seats up, it has 523 litres of boot space. By comparison, the BMW iX3 has 520 litres, the Mercedes GLC Electric gets 570 litres and the Tesla Model Y 854 (though this is inflated because Tesla measures up to the ceiling, not the headrests like everyone else). 

There are two very handy features we should touch on, too. 

Firstly, is that when you open the boot door and look at the top, it has a small ‘Will it fit?’ plaque that tells you the car’s exact dimensions and sort of items you can store in it, like skis, suitcases and a dog. 

The second is underfloor storage, which is vast. This is a great place to store your charging cables, muddy boots, dog poo bags (empty, please...) and other bits and bobs you want to keep out of sight. 

Rear seats 

Space continues to be plentiful in the back seats, too. Because of the panoramic sunroof, there’s lots of light entering the cabin, making it feel airy and roomy. 

The seats themselves are incredibly comfy, with headroom and legroom for folk over six-feet tall. 

Rear-seat passengers also get access to temperature controls and a pair of USB-C ports. 

Storage solutions 

In true Volvo style, there’s plenty of clever storage solutions dotted around the cabin. From the sizeable ‘floating’ front cupholders to the large door bins and back-seat pockets. 

If you’re buying this as a family car, there’s plenty of space for all your kids’ needs (and for them to hide lollipop wrappers, too...) 

Volvo EX60 dimensions 

– Height: 1,635mm 

– Width: 2,067mm (incl. door mirrors) 

– Length: 4,803mm 

– Kerb weight: Up to 2,405kg 

Safety 

Volvo takes safety very seriously. All car manufacturers take it seriously, of course, but you don’t invent the seatbelt for no reason. 

Adding to its portfolio of creations, Volvo has launched the EX60 with the first multi-adaptive seatbelt.  

What it does is read your body the second you click it on. It knows how your body is formed, so in the event of an accident, it can hold you in all the right places to minimise impact. How clever is that?  

This is why when you put the seatbelt on for the first time, you’ll feel it ‘hug’ you just to adjust it (and say hello in a slightly forward manner).  

Aside from that piece of clever trickery, the EX60 also comes as standard with all the usual assistance kit. 

That means everything from semi-autonomous cruise control, automatic parking, 360-degree surround-view cameras and automatic braking and collision avoidance systems. 

It’s yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, but based on Volvo’s incredible five-star form of late, we don’t doubt it’ll pass with flying colours. 

Volvo EX60: electric range, battery and charging 

Range: 380 miles, 410 miles or 503 miles 

Battery size: 83kWh, 95kWh or 117kWh 

Max charging speed: 400kW 

Charge port location: Back left 

Charge time (AC): 0-100% in eight hours 

Charge time (DC): 10-80% at 350kW in 16 mins 

Efficiency: 4.2mi/kWh 

One of the EX60’s most impressive traits is its all-electric range, which is up to 503 miles in the top-spec P12 model with the biggest 117kWh battery.  

Even the other two models (410 miles and 380 miles) are more than enough for most trips. This is especially true when you think that the average Brit drives approximately 20 miles per day. 

By comparison, the BMW iX3 gets up to 500 miles of range, and the Tesla Model Y gets up to 387 miles on one charge.

And even when it comes to charging, it can use a 400kW charger to go from 10-80% charge in around 16 minutes. Range anxiety, who? 

It’s also very efficient out on the road. In our testing, we saw approximately 4.2mi/kWh, which is Tesla territory in terms of efficiency readings. It’s also got a Range mode, which reduces throttle response and air-con – not that you’d ever really need it. 

Another way Volvo ensures the EX60 is as efficient as it can be is by adding a heat pump as standard. This helps it to heat up and cool down the car without eating into your precious range. 

Reliability 

Being a Volvo, you aren’t going to need to worry about reliability – they’ve been really solid cars for years, and the electric ones are no different. 

Additionally, you get a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is about the standard you get with a new car in the UK.