Volvo clearly needed this moment. After a shaky EV run of delayed software on the EX90, pricing confusion around the EX30, the brand’s electric future started to feel more theoretical than tangible. The EX60 is where that seems to change, because this is Volvo trying to prove it has learned from its missteps and can now compete head-on with the likes of BMW and Mercedes in the most important segment of the market.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Image credit: Volvo
At its core, the EX60 is Volvo’s electric answer to the wildly popular XC60. Same mid-size, family-friendly footprint. Same “daily life” focus. But beneath, almost everything is new. A fresh SPA3 platform, a gigacast chassis, denser battery packs, and a software-defined architecture built to scale. This is Volvo rebuilding its EV strategy from the ground up rather than patching what came before.
It doesn't look like power will be an the issue for the EX60; it ranges from a 369-horsepower single-motor version to a frankly excessive 670-horsepower dual-motor setup with up to 400 miles of range. For most drivers, the middle P10 trim looks like the sweet spot: strong performance, all-wheel drive, and a range that still clears 300 miles. It also lands right around $60,000, which puts it squarely against BMW’s upcoming iX3 and Mercedes’ next GLC EV.
Where Volvo tries to differentiate is in how this car fits into real life. Charging is fast, under 20 minutes from 10 to 80 percent, and it adopts Tesla’s NACS standard from day one. The infotainment finally feels modern, with built-in Apple Music, a large OLED display, and enough computing power to keep things smooth. Google’s Gemini is integrated too, less as a gimmick and more as a foundation for future features.
That future focus matters because Volvo is leaning hard into software this time. The EX60 skips LiDAR, betting instead on cameras, radar, and NVIDIA’s safety hardware. It’s a calculated move that reflects where the industry is heading: fewer exotic sensors, more reliance on smarter software that can be updated over time.
Then there’s the EX60 Cross Country, which quietly says a lot about Volvo’s thinking. It’s not pretending to be an off-road brute. A little more ground clearance, tougher styling, and all-wheel drive are aimed at snow, gravel roads, and weekend escapes, not rock crawling. It’s a practical extension of the base car, not a marketing stunt.
None of this guarantees success. Volvo is entering a crowded field where BMW’s iX3 promises sharper driving dynamics and Mercedes will lean on luxury and brand pull. But the EX60 feels like the first Volvo EV designed without excuses attached.
If it drives as well as it looks on paper, this could be the model that restores confidence, not just among buyers, but inside Volvo itself.
