Volvo EX60 Review: Is This Now the Most Likeable Car Brand in the World?
Can you think of a more inoffensive car brand than Volvo? John Marcar thinks the Swedish car maker might be the most universally loved brand, and while testing the new EX60, he may have figured out why.
New Volvo Midsize EV SUV
This week, I've been testing Volvo's latest midsize SUV, the EX60 P10 ULTRA. For a TL;DR headline - it's excellent. The latest model is brilliantly stylish, exceptionally comfortable, incredibly quiet, and packed with tech and features that elevate it from being just another nice family SUV to something firmly in the realms of luxury. But before delving into the details of the new model, I first want to celebrate the brand itself.
Volvo: The Most Inoffensive of Car Brands
Think about this for a moment. Lots of car brands are loved, but rarely universally. A brand that might be aspirational to some can be utterly repulsive to others - think BMW, Audi and Tesla. All three brands have a huge following; in some cases, it's almost cult-like. But while there might be a fan club for the BMW M3, Audi RS3, and Tesla Cybertruck, plenty of other people will tut, huff, or even recoil at the idea of owning any of these cars.
Volvo is probably the most sensible and least controversial brand on the market thanks to two major factors: the type of people that buy them and the fact that almost everyone has a significant Volvo memory. Either there was a Volvo in the family home growing up, or one in a nearby household. Chances are, the owners of said Volvo were decent people, thinking people and people with a priority for style and safety without any unnecessary volume or bravado. Volvos are family cars that become catalysts for creating memories, and that's a powerful thing for any brand, let alone a car brand.
The latest sensible car to roll out of the factory in Gothenburg is the EX60, and perhaps unsurprisingly, it's wonderful. It drives very well, it's exceptionally comfortable, and I think it looks great too. The EX60 is the fully electric version of the XC60, which has proven to be a popular model for Volvo, with 2.7 million sold globally so far. With such big numbers achieved for the petrol and diesel variants, the new EX60 EV is likely to be an equally popular choice for those in the market for a new midsize family electric SUV.
Prices and Variants
At launch, three EX60 variants are available: P6 (RWD), P10 (AWD), and P12 (AWD). P6 is the RWD entry-level model priced from £56,860, P10 is midrange AWD priced from £59,860, and P12 is the top-of-the-range AWD model priced from £64,860.
Each variant is also available in either 'PLUS' or 'ULTRA' trim. ULTRA on all models increases the level of included extras and, consequently, the prices to £62,360 for the P6, £65,360 for the P10, and £70,360 for the P12.
EX60 PLUS vs ULTRA
In PLUS trim, the EX60 offers a generous amount of safety features, standard equipment and luxuries, including 3-zone climate control with air purification, a heat pump, a heated steering wheel, heated wiper blades, a 15-inch OLED curved infotainment touch screen, adaptive cruise control, matrix LED lighting, and advanced ADAS with lane keep assist, blind spot assist and pilot assist. PLUS also includes 20-inch alloy wheels, NFC smartphone connectivity, heated seats, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a Bose sound system, and Google Gemini built into the car for AI assistance at any time.
ULTRA offers further upgrades over PLUS, including advanced high-definition pixel headlights, 21-inch spoked alloy wheels, laminated side windows for extra safety, perforated Nordico upholstery for optional seat ventilation, and an upgraded 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system with Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 3D immersive sound.
Performance Batteries and Range
Power increases in increments for each model regardless of trim, while overall WLTP range differs between PLUS and ULTRA due to changes in weight and gadgetry.
In PLUS trim, the P6 produces 374hp from an 83kWh battery and offers up to 374 miles WLTP. The P10 produces 510hp from a 95kWh battery, offering up to 410 miles WLTP, and the P12 produces 680hp from a 117kWh battery, which offers the range-topping 503 miles WLTP.
In ULTRA trim, the WLTP ranges adapt to 372 miles for the P6, 402 miles for the P10 and 503 miles for the P12.
As Tested: P10 ULTRA
I opted for a P10 ULTRA to test, as it's likely to be one of the more popular models in showrooms. The model I tested was equipped with 3 optional extras, including ventilated Nappa leather (£1,495), a premium paint option (£795), and an optional dark exterior theme (£195), bringing the on-the-road retail price to £67,845.
Design, Space and Comfort
The EX60 follows the ethos that has worked for Volvo for decades. It's spacious, exceptionally comfortable and looks utterly inoffensive in design. The boot offers enough space to swallow up typical family fodder, with 523 litres of boot space on hand with the rear seats in place. With the rear seats folded flat, the space jumps up to an especially generous 1,647 litres.
In the driver and front passenger seats, space and comfort are top-tier with superb adjustability to the seating position and steering wheel. The theme continues in the back seat with excellent space for taller adults. Thanks to the family focus, interior storage options are also vast, allowing for a clutter-free, design-focused cabin.
Tech and Luxuries
A standout feature for the EX60 in ULTRA trim is the Bowers & Wilkins sound system. I experienced the same system recently when testing the ES90. The audio experience is sublime as standard, although further enhancements and tweaks can be made to suit personal preferences, with simulated audio environments also on offer. The optional ventilated seating was a welcome addition on the hot summer's day I happened to be testing, and it's an option well worth ticking.
Google Gemini... I'm not sure I get it
A tech feature that Volvo is keen to shout about is the inclusion of Google's Gemini AI system. The idea is to integrate the car with Gemini, which acts as an AI assistant on hand at all times.
Drivers and passengers can give spoken commands for comfort settings, such as climate control or window operation, and also ask for directions to a destination or for restaurant recommendations based on the driving route. In theory, an AI assistant in the car sounds like a nice idea, but in practice, for me personally, it needs time to learn and improve the 'intelligence' aspect of its programming. The system was clever enough to suggest local attractions while driving, but only when the local mobile signal allowed.
I haven't yet met anyone who wants AI in a car, and I can't say I'd personally be drawn to a particular model for having it, but it can be turned off if preferred - I predict many will.
Driving the EX60
To drive, the EX60 P10 is excellent. The ride is comfortable, the steering feels well above average for an EV platform, and the soundproofing is potentially the best in the segment, which further benefits the posh B&W audio system. The silence in the cabin is thanks to clever noise-cancellation technology that helps neutralise the rolling frequency of road rumble and wind noise when driving. Volvo does this better than most other car makers, and it's well worth noting. Driving with the sound system playing your favourite songs in perfect clarity is great, but driving in a beautifully quiet environment thanks to the noise-cancelling tech is also delightfully refreshing.
The driver assist and intelligent cruise control do a great job of reducing fatigue on dual carriageways and motorways, and the system brilliantly handles start-stop traffic too. The power delivery is punchy, the brakes feel nicely balanced, and the suspension compliance and overall ride quality are superb. Top marks all round for family SUV driving experience.
Quirky Steering Wheel
The steering wheel was a feature that left me feeling a little divided. Rather than a conventional round wheel, the EX60 designers opted for a shape closer to a rectangle. Visually, it looks great - it's the sort of thing you would expect to see in a concept car, but in use, it's a little odd. At the 3 and 9 o'clock grip points, there isn't much to wrap your fingers around, so the length of your fingers ends up extended, resting on what feels like the steering column. I'm sure with more time, I'd have got used to it, but it wasn't like any other wheel I've experienced, and I predict many will have the same reaction.
Perhaps a Tad Too Powerful?
There is a slight conflict with my recurring theme of ‘sensible ’ in reviewing the EX60, and it comes down to power. With 510 HP in the P10, at times, the model can feel a bit too powerful for its own good. As to why a medium-sized family SUV needs as much power as a Porsche Cayman GT4RS is lost on me; however, for the times that you want to get off the line at the traffic lights in a hurry, 0- 62 mph can be achieved in just 4.6 seconds.
Things get even more ridiculous in the P12 version, with the power topping out at 680hp (that's more than a Porsche 911 Turbo S). For most people, I'm sure the limits of the new EX60's power will rarely even be considered; however, for those wanting to surprise the occasional sports car off the lights, there's plenty of fun to be had.
To conclude
The EX60 deserves to sell very well, and I predict that it will. The new model encapsulates everything that has made Volvo the sensible, safe and calculated family car choice for generations.
Will there be a fan club for the EX60 in the same way as there is for M3s, RS3s and Cybertrucks? No, probably not. It probably won't be a car purchase that's bragged about in your car WhatsApp group either, but that's not the point. The point of the EX60 is to be smart, safe, sensible and surprisingly fun - but without the fuss. It's about as brilliantly 'Volvo' as Volvos get.
words by John Marcar
photography by Volvo UK
