When it comes to electric vehicles, Volvo isn’t afraid to experiment. It attempted to redesign a platform from its internal combustion vehicles (for the EX40 and EC40, née XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge), a flagship SUV that is also a technology demonstrator (the EX90), and a radical reinvention of its brand (with the EX30). The Swedish automaker’s latest electric vehicle takes a different approach – one that could make it the most important Volvo electric vehicle yet.
The 2027 Volvo EX60 offers technical improvements in a package that will likely have mass appeal. It is based on a new architecture that offers improved range and charging performance, supported by software with now mandatory AI integration. And as a five-seat SUV that’s similar in size to the current Volvo XC60 – the automaker’s best-selling model – it’s exactly the type of car most people are looking for.
It’s a big step forward for Volvo
Buyers can choose between P6 single-motor rear-wheel drive, P10 dual-motor all-wheel drive, and dual-motor P12 specifications with a larger battery. With a 117-kilowatt-hour battery (112 kWh usable), Volvo says the P12 will have an EPA-estimated range of up to 400 miles with the smallest 20-inch wheels available (21-inch and 22-inch wheels will also be available). The P10 can travel up to 320 miles with a 95 kWh battery (91 kWh usable), and the P8 is expected to travel up to 310 miles with a battery capacity of 83 kWh (80 kWh usable).
The EX60’s SPA3 architecture also includes 800-volt charging, allowing dual-motor models to charge up to 370 kilowatts (the single-motor P6 reaches a maximum output of 320 kW). Volvo estimates that an EX60 can achieve a range of up to 211 miles with the most powerful DC fast chargers. With bidirectional charging, up to 22 kW of power can be delivered.
The performance figures are also impressive, although not such a big improvement over previous Volvo electric vehicles. The EX60 P12 has 671 horsepower and 582 pound-feet of torque and goes from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, according to Volvo. The P10 has 503 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, enough to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in an estimated 4.6 seconds. The single-engine P6 has 369 hp and 354 lb-ft, still enough to reach 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. As with other Volvos, the EX60 is limited to 180 km/h as part of Volvo’s ongoing safety campaign.
It is structured differently
A stylish but familiar look hides major technical changes. The EX60 looks like an enlarged EX30, but the larger size gives it a more SUV appearance, especially if you opt for the more rugged Cross Country model. It adds a layer of trim around the bottom of the body and sits 0.7 inches higher (the air suspension raises it another 0.7 inches).
The size is also quite conventional. At 189 inches long, 74.7 inches wide and 64.5 inches high, the EX60 is 3.7 inches longer than the current Volvo XC60, about the same width and about an inch lower. That’s still well within the compact SUV limit that most new car buyers prefer. The additional length and 116.9-inch wheelbase (4.2 inches longer than the XC60) are likely due to battery packaging requirements.
But unlike all previous Volvo electric vehicles, the EX60 features a cell-to-body construction. The battery cells are mounted directly to the vehicle structure, without the modules and additional packaging of traditional battery packs. This helps reduce weight and simplifies manufacturing. This is made possible by a new cell design from Volvo, which also likely contributes to the EX60’s impressive range.
The EX60 chassis is also built from several large “mega-castings”. These reduce the number of individual parts that have to be welded together to form a complete vehicle, which theoretically streamlines the manufacturing process and reduces costs. However, mega-casting is still a new process that represents a risk compared to traditional production methods. Repairability is also an important issue.
It has top-notch computing power
Volvo was among the first automakers to adopt Google’s Android Automotive operating system and offer integrated Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play Store apps as part of their infotainment systems. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Volvo is also adding Google Gemini integration, following other automakers like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen on the AI hype train. Volvo promises a natural language interface that eliminates rigid commands and the ability to query the car for things like hotel recommendations and whether potential purchases will fit in the cargo space.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit Platform system-on-a-chip handles the infotainment functions and offers more processing power than any of Volvo’s previous production cars. Nvidia’s Drive platform (which also includes a system-on-a-chip, the Drive AGX) offers the same for driver assistance features. They are connected to the specially developed electronics to form what Volvo calls HuginCore architecture. Named after one of the pair of ravens from Norse mythology that serve as the wandering eyes of the god Odin, Volvo says it leaves significant scope for future software improvements via over-the-air updates.
There is a tough job ahead of us
Volvo is already accepting orders for the European market. The start of production in Sweden is planned for this spring, with delivery in Europe following in the summer. US launch timing and pricing will be announced at a later date. As good as it looks on paper, the EX60 will face stiff competition when it launches.
The EX60 is a major step forward for Volvo, but European rivals are making their own strides in electric vehicle efficiency, range and charging. The BMW iX3 is also aiming for a range of 400 miles, and the electric version of the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class could get pretty close to that range too. Like Volvo, the German brands also want to create electric analogues to their most popular models with these new EV SUVs.
Most mainstream automakers have had a few false starts with electric vehicles at this point, but with the EX30’s value proposition destroyed by tariffs and the EX90 failing to deliver on some promised tech features, Volvo needs a mainstream hit more than its rivals. Can the EX60 deliver?
