Jump LinksIt appears Volvo learned a valuable (but expensive) lesson about the US luxury market when it introduced the all-electric EX30 availability and deals compact crossover a few years ago. Yes, frugal Americans love a good deal, and the initial base price of $35,000 should have moved the metal. But too many shoppers were disappointed by the EX30's quirky, spartan interior, glitchy infotainment, and intrusive driver-assistance systems. A global recall due to the risk of high-voltage battery fires didn't help. The short-lived EX30 is departing late this year, so there are deals to be had while supplies last. It was a costly experiment, but Volvo deserves credit for raising the conversation about how affordable a new EV could be - because there's a new Volvo in town.If the EX30 and the three-row EX90 represented the first chapter in Volvo's EV saga (hindered by software and supply-chain issues and tariffs), then the all-new two-row EX60 premium crossover begins the second, with Gothenberg trying to ensure a smooth launch. With first US customers taking delivery of the EX60 by late summer, it's too early to assess this crucial launch for the Swedish-Chinese automaker. But after extensive seat time in the EX60 in Barcelona proper, and to the west through the hills of Catalonia, we find the new entry to be more polished, more ergonomic on the inside, more enjoyable overall - and with more range and more advanced technology than both the EX30 and EX90, which actually cost an extra $20,000, depending on trim level.First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on CarBuzz for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon. What Is It? 2027-volvo-ex60-profileIf the EX90 proved too large and expensive for many Volvo shoppers and the EX30 was too small and downmarket, the EX60 successfully finds the middle ground where just about every premium and mainstream brand has fresh product for eager EV intenders. The two-row all-electric EX60 crossover (in Aurora Silver and Forest Lake Green above) is the first Volvo springing from SPA3 (Scalable Product Architecture) underpinnings to be shared with the Polestar 7 and other future battery-electric vehicles (both larger and smaller).The first two EX60 models expected in the US are the single-motor rear-wheel-drive P6 and dual-motor all-wheel-drive P10 variants. A P12 AWD model with more power and range will come later this year, followed by the EX60 Cross Country for model year 2028, offered with P10 or P12 powertrains. Exterior Looks: Smooth Surfaces Up Front, Sharp Edges In Back Every automaker has a unique styling language, and so much of Volvo's brand heritage revolves around safety to the point that drop-dead good looks have taken a back seat to functionality. But there's a dash of Scandinavian flair, like the distinctive Thor's Hammer headlamps, which take a slightly different form for the new EX60. The design team needed to prioritize aerodynamics, which explains the smooth hood and fascia and the gentle downward tapering of the roofline to the liftgate.The back end of the EX60 is arguably the best execution yet for a Volvo EV, with sharper edges serving as a counterpoint to the smooth surfaces up front. The sharpest edge is seen looking straight on from behind the car, where the vertical brake lights meet up with a beltline that is barely noticeable at the A-pillar. But by the time that ascending line reaches the upper edge of the brake lights, that surface connecting to the D-pillar and liftgate is darned near horizontal, like square shoulders. Emphasizing that zig-zag are the upper tail lamps, flanking either side of the rear glass.2027-volvo-ex60-rear-lightsFrom the side, the EX60 is bound to be confused with dozens of other similarly proportioned crossovers that dominate American roads. While at first glance the EX60 doors may appear to be slabby, a closer examination finds crimps that emphasize the wheel wells, and above the rocker panel is deeper sculpting that gives the EX60 a more athletic stance. The frameless sideview mirrors are sleek and minimalist (for aerodynamic purposes) while maximizing mirror surface area, to improve safety, of course. The wing-shaped exterior door handles are also cleverly packaged – jutting up from the base of each window like stealthy dorsal fins painted black to visually disappear. A button on the wing's surface releases the door. Interior: Spacious, Upscale, Ergonomically Improved The EX60 interior is pleasingly laid out to feel like a sanctuary, uncluttered by a lot of knobs or conventional switchgear, which is a fairly common design aesthetic for upscale EV interiors. But there's a lovely, knurled metallic rotary volume knob just below the main screen, flanked by hard buttons to select audio tracks. The lack of exterior door handles is matched by no interior door handles, too. That job falls to the soft upper edge of the armrest on the door panel. It's funny how quickly the mind figures that out. The second row is spacious enough for three reasonably sized adults; the driver's sight lines are unobstructed; and the large panoramic fixed glass roof has an electrochromic coating allowing it to be set for clear or translucent (see below).Tom Murphy / CarBuzz / Valnet As we've noted before, the EX60 is the first application of Volvo's multi-adaptive seatbelt (front row only) - there's no word on when the second row might get this technology. And there's a new "squircle" steering wheel with thumb toggle switches that are handy for changing volume and audio tracks and adjusting adaptive cruise control speed. There are other buttons on the steering wheel for cycling through optional views for the gauge cluster, and even a starred button to shut off the warning chimes when speed limits are exceeded.No propshaft running the length of an EV means more interior space, and Volvo capitalizes on that by freeing up room where a center console would normally reside. Yes, there's a center armrest, and it hides the spring-loaded cupholders that will push forward between the front seats when needed. And how about the purple carpeting in our test vehicle with the off-white upholstery?Tom Murphy / CarBuzz / Valnet Infotainment: A Rare Safety Misstep Corrected There aren't many times when Volvo can be called out for a feature that compromises safety, rather than enhancing it. But here's a problem with recent Volvos, from the EX30 and EX90 to the current XC60 and XC90: the positioning of the vertical central display screen. On the whole, this tablet configuration in these previous models is OK, but Volvo doesn't want it standing too tall above the instrument panel for fear of blocking forward visibility.Tom Murphy / CarBuzz / Valnet Problem is, previous vehicles had the main menu bar at the base of the screen, forcing the driver's eye down near the center console and then having to reach downward to change climate or audio settings. Every interaction like that is taking the driver's eyes dangerously off the road. The horizontal orientation for the EX60's 15-inch curved OLED screen (pictured above) solves this problem because it's positioned higher on the dashboard, and certain controls are now placed along the vertical left edge of the screen, keeping the driver's eyes focused closer to road level.2027-volvo-ex60-door-openThe touchscreen is fairly intuitive for accessing vehicle information, connecting smartphones, adjusting drive settings, and yes, starting the sequence to change the angle of the sideview mirrors and steering column, via the steering wheel thumb controls. There just wasn't room for those dedicated buttons. There was room, however, for four window switches on the driver's door.A digital key gets you in the cabin, and there's no button for starting or turning off the EX60. If you need help figuring out anything (or want to know who's favored to win the Stanley Cup) just say "Hey Google" and you'll find the Google Gemini AI assistant to be as conversational as you like. Maybe you don't like talking to bots, but it's better than leafing through an old-school owner's manual. Powertrain & Driving: So Many Options If Range Is Paramount With so much near-instantaneous torque in modern EVs (354 lb-ft in the base EX60), it's hard to find fault with the drive experience in just about any of them. No, the EX60 will not be cross-shopped with a Porsche Taycan GT or a 1,234-horspower Lucid Air Sapphire. But any Volvo loyalist ready for the all-electric switch-a-roo should find the EX60 to fit the bill – never feeling underpowered, accelerating onto the freeway with ease, and capably hugging the road with its low center of gravity, making for great fun on the upper-altitude twisties.If one-pedal driving is your thing, you can do it in the EX60, which helps recover brake energy to the high-voltage battery in low or high setting, or you can shut it off completely and coast like in a conventional combustion car.Volvo The EX60 offers three powertrain configurations, three battery sizes, and two DC charging rates, which sounds confusing but the progressive steps from P6 to P10 to P12 make sense, especially on the pricing front. There are only a few bits common among all three, namely the 19.2-kW onboard charger, 800-volt electrical system, the single-speed transmission, and the motor powering the rear wheels. But even that rear motor is tuned differently, from 275 kW in the P6 to 225 kW in the P10 and 300 kW in the forthcoming P12.AWD comes by way of a 150-kW front motor for the P10 (for 375 kW combined), while a 200-kW front motor cranks up P12 combined output to 500 kW.After driving both the P6 and P10 versions of the EX60, it's hard to view the RWD P6 as a significant step down. So, you can get the AWD P10 if you need it in cold climates, but you could save some money and be perfectly happy with the RWD P6. In every configuration, the EX60 feels enormously rewarding and surefooted. The standard fixed double-wishbone suspension comes with frequency selective dampers, while an adaptive suspension is optional on the P10 and P12 offerings. An air suspension will be standard on the more rugged EX60 Cross Country.VolvoNote that battery offerings range from 80 kWh (of usable energy) for P6 to 91 kWh for P10 and 112 kWh for P12, with each capable of at least 310 miles of range with 20-inch rubber. This straightforward packaging allows shoppers to easily dial in the capability they need. While the BMW iX3 offers at least 383 miles of range, it's about 600 pounds heavier than the EX60 P6 (4,661 pounds), due to the heavier battery. EV shopping is a series of tradeoffs. Verdict & Pricing: EX60 Checks All The Boxes There are two more boxes to consider as you choose between the base Plus and Ultra trim levels of the EX60. Plus comes with loads of standard features, such as sustainable Nordico upholstery, a power tailgate, power child safety locks, side impact protection, inflatable curtain airbags, knee airbags for the front row, heated front seats, power reclining rear seatbacks, power adjustable front seats, HD Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, USB-C ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, a raft of driver-assistance technologies, and over-the-air updates.The EX60 is Volvo's first software-defined vehicle, which means those OTA updates are simple, and the automaker is hoping to offer a meaningful new feature each quarter for the next two years. Beyond that, software-defined vehicles enable subscription services for advanced features that customers need to pay for, perhaps autonomous driving tech in the future.Ultra trim gets Nappa leather or Nordico upholstery with ventilated front seats, power four-way lumbar support, and Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system. Note that a well-appointed AWD P10 Ultra is priced under $70,000, significantly undercutting the price of the bigger, three-row Volvo EX90.We can't be certain whether the EX60, which was designed in Gothenburg and assembled in Torslanda, Sweden, will make money for Volvo in the tariff-tinged US market. But the company has done a great job creating attractive pricing options that can be dialed up or down, whether your priority is luxury appointments, lots of power, extended range, or all of the above.2027-volvo-ex60-side-1A base RWD P6 model starting under $60k is indeed a capable, upscale EV that easily outguns both the EX30 and EX90 on just about every front, while stacking up favorably to similar new offerings from other European luxury brands, especially based on price. No one knows where the EV market is headed in the US. But if pent-up demand triggers a resurgence here, Volvo is well positioned with the EX60.
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