The Volvo EX60 Rethinks Everything You Thought About EVs
This smart new electric SUV thinks of everything.
Last week, Volvo rolled out its newest EV, the Volvo EX60, a 5-passenger all-electric SUV that takes design and EV driving to the next level.
I have to mention design alongside the news about the driving range, up to 400 miles, because as impressive as that is, the style in this SUV is simply gorgeous. Clever storage, novel door handles, a handbag bin, a new multimedia screen, a split deep-well cargo floor, and a large frunk. And a starting price under $60,000.
A quiet ride and never getting gas is a luxury in itself, but this mid-size SUV takes it up quite a notch.
So what’s so different about the Volvo EX60, the new electric version of the Volvo XC60, that might make you rethink EV driving? Let me count the ways.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
1: The Driver’s Seat Feels Modern and Evolved
Slide into the front seat, and you see it instantly: the steering wheel is flat on top and bottom, lending a modern and evolved feel; the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel allow you to wave a finger for whatever you need.
There is a small driver display screen and in the center of the dash, a large screen that is one of the clearest, crispest screens I’ve ever seen. Above it on the dashboard is a round Bowers & Wilkins speaker that anchors the sound in the car. High-end models will also have speakers built into the headrests of the front and rear outboard seats. Everyone will have a concert hall surrounding them.
Read: Volvo C40 Recharge Electric Car: Pure Power in a Stylish Package
2: Design Details Set This SUV Apart
When you slide into the EX60, really take in the bolstered seats and perforated leatherette pattern; it’s inspired by Grenen, where the Baltic Sea and North Sea meet at the northern tip of Sweden. The two bodies come together but don’t mix, creating a distinct pattern that Volvo’s designers replicated with the perforation. The seats evoke the mid-century modern look of the seats, and the cabin is filled with light from the panoramic sunroof; with the push of a button, the panel can shift from clear to frosted to screen out the sun.
These details add to the open feel of the cabin, as do the clever storage solutions that tuck away when not needed. Volvo took a note from its other EVs and added the same sliding center console with a slide-out cup holder and, below it, a bin that is perfect for a handbag. This seems to be a feature that Volvo is dedicated to, and we can’t applaud it enough.
There’s also a bin that pops out from the lower dash, sort of a vertical glove box, but larger and more convenient. It’s a great hiding space and also a good place to tuck away paperwork or other key information.
Read: Get to Know this Name: Volvo EX90, Volvo’s First Fully Electric 3 Row SUV
3: Google Gemini Is Waiting to Talk With You
While the touch screen is large and crisp and begs to be touched, you don’t have to. You can simply say “Hey Google” and ask for what you want. But this system, the first to use Google’s Gemini AI, is far more advanced than prior versions; it’ll actually have a conversation with you.
The system is designed to learn, so it can follow a conversation, understand when you change your mind, and offer options. For instance, you can ask it to play that song about coffee by that female singer, and it will figure out what you’re talking about—try getting your husband to do that.
It can also take detailed instructions around messaging, reservations, or discerning complex information. And, the system can be updated over the air, so as the system advances, you’ll see those changes roll out in real time.
Read: Why I bought a Volvo XC90 to Replace My Minivan
4: The Rear Seat is Larger and Roomier than Ever
It’s always a surprise to get into the rear seat of a 2-row SUV and find that you can cross your legs even behind a tall driver. But you can. You can also install one, two, or three rear-facing child car seats, or two or possibly three tall passengers.
This is because the battery pack sits under the passenger cabin, and it’s longer and wider than the Volvo XC60, so there’s more passenger space.
5: Smart Storage is the Rule
In addition to the front cup holders and vertical glovebox, the Volvo EX60 has a nicely sized cargo area, with about 22 cubic feet of cargo space. But there’s a split floor that allows access to the deep cargo well for even more storage, and a nice space in the frunk when you need it.
Then, there are little details, like phone pockets on the seat backs for rear seat passengers, a shelf that holds and charges a phone in the front cabin, and pockets in the doors. All of it is very subtle so as not to take away from the overall look and feel of the cabin.
6: A Clever Manufacturing Trick Makes This Car Easier to Build
Volvo is very committed to making this EV thing work. So one of the things they did was consolidate some of its manufacturing to reduce the components, and make them out of lighter-weight aluminum. Called mega-casting, this will also reduce the number of parts that can break or need to be replaced. Which is also the idea behind Volvo’s battery structure.
7: These Batteries Are So Smart
As Volvo rethought the way it assembles the parts of its cars, it also rethought how it assembles its batteries. As with the industry, the battery cells, which use about 30% recycled metals, are packed into a ‘skateboard’ that forms the bottom of the car. Volvo was able to improve the efficiency of the batteries so they take up less room and create more passenger space.
Below the batteries are the computer cells that are the brain of the car; locating them next to the battery pack makes them more easily accessible if they need attention.
Best of all, Volvo says the EX60 is designed to need little to no maintenance, thanks in part to the battery and computer design. Which is great news.
8: The Volvo App Makes it Even Smarter
Of course, with new cars, the app is everything. And with the Volvo EX60, this is true, too, but it really will be the key to life. The app will allow “plug and charge” charging, which can be done at more than 20,000 Tesla Supercharger plugs. The EX60 will feature the NACS style charge port, but an adapter can be used access older J1772 outlets at any charging station.
And, you can use the app to start, lock, and unlock the EX60, making it easier to access than ever.
9: Volvo Reinvented the Seatbelt—Again
In 1959, Volvo’s engineers had a novel idea: Create a restraint system that would prevent passengers from being thrown from the car in the event of a crash. The idea, the 3-point harness, has saved untold millions of lives in the 66 years since.
But with the Volvo EX60, Volvo took the opportunity to further evolve the seatbelt, adding an adaptive mechanical system that is connected to the driver monitor to adjust the restraint force to the size of the passenger. That means that a large passenger or driver will have enough force to hold him or her to the seat in a crash, but not so much that they are injured by the seatbelt. And a smaller passenger? The system will adjust to her size, too, so she is only held back by as much force as necessary to keep her safe.
Right now, this system is only for the front seats, but it will likely migrate to the rear seats at some point, as well as to Volvo’s other cars. And, smartly, it can feed back data to Volvo’s engineers who can make adjustments to the system via over-the-air updates.
10: Three Versions Let You Pick Your Power and Range
There are three powertrain options available: a rear-wheel drive 369 HP version that delivers 310 miles of range; a dual motor AWD version that delivers 503 HP and 320 miles of range; and a powerful dual motor AWD model that will deliver 670 HP and 400 miles of range, putting it in Lucid Air territory.
Volvo will also offer a Cross Country version designed for off-road trail riding, deep snow, and adventure. There are still more details to learn about the trims and options, but from what Volvo is showing so far, it’s all very impressive, and makes me
The Volvo EX60 will be available for order in the US this Spring, and Volvo says pricing will start somewhere in the $50K range, with nicely optioned models available for $60,000. With the average price of a new car in the US sitting right at $50,000, the luxury-filled Volvo EX60 gives a lot of pause for thought. And for considering all the reasons that maybe an EV should be in your driveway, after all.
More About:Car Culture