Volvo reveals the new EX60
Let’s get straight to the point. The Volvo EX60 is, in many ways, the fully electric answer to the much-loved XC60, but it’s also a clear step beyond that. It’s the first model built on Volvo’s new SPA3 EV platform and powered by HuginCore, the digital backbone that underpins Volvo’s next generation of EVs.
If I’m being honest, it’s a genuinely compelling package. On paper at least, the EX60 looks well-positioned to take on rivals like the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ. Volvo claims a driving range of up to 810km, which is impressive on its own, but I’ve always believed range only really matters if charging is just as timely as refuelling. And from what we’re seeing here, we’re getting very close to that reality.
That said, the EX60 can add up to 340km of range in just 10 minutes on a 400kW fast charger, effectively the distance from Gauteng to Mbombela. That’s the kind of EV progress that actually matters here. Also, the P12 variant can travel up to 810km between chargers, thanks to a 117kWh battery pack, while the P10 packs a 95kWh battery pack with an estimated range of up to 660km. The P6 entry-level model uses a 83kWh pack good for up to 620km.
On the performance front, the range is split into three. The AWD P12 sits at the top, using dual electric motors to deliver a combined 500kW and 790Nm of torque. That’s enough to launch the electric SUV silently from 0-100km/h in a brisk 4.0 seconds. Sitting in the middle is the P10, which uses a similar dual-motor setup but with slightly reduced outputs of 375kW and 710Nm, resulting in a still-impressive 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds. The entry-level P6 opts for a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 275kW and 480Nm. It’s more about balance than outright pace, yet it still manages the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.0 seconds. The top speed for the entire range is capped at 180km/h.
Then there’s the look, which follows the same design language seen on the EX30 and EX90, with Volvo looking to keep a uniform look for its EVs to avoid confusing customers. As expected, the interior has that minimalist approach, which we found to be a bit of a mixed bag since almost everything is controlled via the 15-inch infotainment system, powered by Google Gemini. Unlike the EX30 (which has no screen behind the wheel), the EX60 features a low, wide instrument cluster tucked into the dashboard for essential driving data.
The new EX60 also comes with a premium 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and for the first time in a Volvo car, the system features headrest speakers in all four main seats as well as pre-installed Apple Music. Interestingly, it’s the first Volvo to feature the new adaptive safety belt, which adjusts tension based on real-time conditions.
The new EX60 is slated to arrive in SA in the second half of the year, and if Volvo gets the pricing right, it could be one of the most important electric SUVs in its segment. What’s clear already is that Volvo has found a strong formula with its EX range. The EX30 and EX90 have shown just how effective the brand’s minimalist interior approach and clean, confident styling can be, and the EX60 feels like the sweet spot between the two.
