Jump LinksInfotainment: The Googlification Of Car Interiors Is CompleteRange and Charging: The Real GamechangerThe Volvo tattoo on the back of my leg says I'm a fan of the Swedish brand. But that tattoo isn't of the Volvo Iron Mark, nor is it of anything the brand has built this century. And maybe that's telling of how I feel about the brand; although it's had a few bright spots in the last 26 years, it's seldom had something that left me passionately inspired the same way the old 850 T5-R Wagon did in the 1990s.But times have changed for Volvo, and the brand is embarking on a new era with the 2027 Volvo EX60. And while it may not be a racing-inspired wagon, it is the dawn of a new era for the brand synonymous with safety... and playing it safe. The timing, however, could be make-or-break, as the EX60 arrives at the same time as the BMW iX3 Neue Klasse and Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology, meaning if Volvo can't step up its game like rivals have, the EX60 won't make the splash it needs to.To see whether it has the potential to challenge the iX3 for segment dominance, Volvo invited CarBuzz to its Hällered Proving Ground, north of its hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. Here, we rode shotgun in an EX60 development prototype to get a feel for the newcomer.This First Ride event took place in the closed confines of Volvo's Hällered Proving Ground, proving limited impressions of the new EX60. Ridealongs do not provide a full picture of how a car will behave, and due to the prototype nature of the vehicles experienced, traits are subject to change by the time the EX60 comes to market. Stay tuned for genuine First Drive and Test Drive reviews to come later this year. What Is It? 2027 Volvo EX60 prototype driving at Hallered Proving Ground (2)The Volvo EX60 is all-new for the 2027 model year. Technically, it's a direct replacement for the current XC60 SUV, and the third generation of 60-cluster SUVs. Built on a new ground-up platform (SPA3), the EX60 is Volvo's first dedicated SDV (software-defined vehicle), developed around an in-house-engineered computing system and bespoke software stack coded, developed, and engineered by Volvo, for Volvo.This is more than just an also-ran in the compact luxury SUV segment; it's Volvo taking a bold leap into the future with a vehicle that will quite literally define an entire generation of Volvo products. Design: Splitting The Difference Between SUV And Wagon Volvo's managed to craft an aesthetic that's instantly identifiable, with the Thor's Hammer headlights remaining relevant and identifiable in a sea of lighting evolution that's often difficult to distinguish. But the overall design of the EX60 is somewhat staid, and lacks the immediately eye-catching nature of its fresh BMW rival. However, it's far from ugly, and appears smaller than it physically stands thanks to clever packaging influenced by its EV-first nature.The key points to note are that it looks like a halfway house between a wagon and an SUV, because in many ways, it is. The ride height is the same as the old V60, but the seating position is the same as an XC60. Yet the roof height splits the difference between the two, giving the EX60 a shrunken appearance compared to the model it replaces. But that largely hinges on the wheel size it's equipped with, with options ranging from 20 to 22 inches. The smaller wheels don't fill the arches quite as well, giving the SUV a top-heavy design that may not strike home.2027 Volvo EX60 Prototype at Hallered Proving Ground - static (2)General impressions are positive, though. I liked the overall proportions, and the wheel designs - developed specifically for this model - look good on the whole. The clean front end hides its cameras and sensors rather than having them stick out like the EX90's sore thumb LiDAR array, and the standard glass roof lends a touch of class to even the base models, as do the frameless door windows front and rear, which are an anomaly in this segment2027 Volvo EX60 Design Details (2) Interior: Packaging Magic Comes Standard You can tell Volvo has paid attention to the people that use its cars and packaged the EX60 around them, prioritizing innovative storage solutions, ergonomics, and tech that integrates into your daily lifestyle.The standard panoramic sunroof feels classy, but is cleverly included on even the cheapest models to increase headroom despite a low roofline. Likewise, the standard power-reclining rear seats let those in the back sink into maximum comfort on a budget, and provide ample room for adults to fit without space issues.2027 Volvo EX60 Seating (2)But ergonomically, the EX60 soars, with a focus on removing redundant information and placing everything where you need it. There's no head-up display, but there is a digital instrument screen high up on the dash where a HUD would normally sit, and the steering wheel has been shrunk to almost comically small proportions to ensure it doesn't interfere with your line of sight. And yet that wheel places the diver's hands right next to the touchscreen, with a quick-links set of controls placed within fingertip reach.Don't get me wrong, I still want more physical controls for the climate, as the lone volume scroll wheel isn't enough of a tactile interaction for my liking, and even with hotkeys for quick access and some of the best voice control integration I've experienced (thanks, Google), taking eyes off the road to prod a screen is frustrating, and at odds with Volvo's safety conscious image.2027 Volvo EX60 glovebox and storageWhere the EX60 scores major points for me is in the material quality and storage solutions it offers. As far as the latter goes, Volvo's maximized the potential of the skateboard chassis' flat floor, placing multiple storage bins where a center console would traditionally sit, including a binnacle that can hold an entire briefcase, and a slide-out glove box that replaces the passenger-side bin in favor of more knee room. Cupholders and ventilated wireless charging pads are abundant and in easy reach, too. The trunk features dual-layer storage, with a simple-but-genius 60/40-split load floor enabling access to the lower deck even when you have large objects in the trunk. And there's a frunk too, with a handy yellow maximum load line so you know where the limit is before something goes crunch.VolvoThe material quality is a big plus-point for me, as I previously felt like Volvo's had nice finishes but lacked the depth of quality of rivals from BMW and Audi. This time, things feel different, and the EX60's primary touchpoints are satisfyingly chunky, all while giving off the full Swedish minimalism vibe that oozes warmth and invites you in.Add more buttons, and this is a winner.2027 Volvo EX60 interior Infotainment: The Googlification Of Car Interiors Is Complete Any conversation around the EX60's infotainment will be dominated by two words: Google Gemini. Google's AI interface is baked into the EX60 from the get-go, giving you some of the best voice recognition in the tech game. It's also extremely helpful for those of you like me, who have brilliant ideas while driving and forget them by the time you get home or to work. Now, you can talk to the EX60, take notes, send emails, WhatsApp messages, and even translate those texts. You can ask it to find music based on poorly-remembered lyrics, and it does it all without missing a beat. Even the prototypes I got to play with, with limited functionality, could handle almost any task I asked of them.The biggest disappointment? There's no way to change the name and voice of Gemini to make me feel like Tony Stark and the car like my own personal J.A.R.V.I.S.2027 Volvo EX60 infotainment (5)But what won't disappoint at all is the 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, now sporting integrated headrest speakers in all outboard seating positions. I've long held the Volvo B&W sound systems in high regard, praising the Gothenburg Concert Hall sound experience as one of the best in-car music experiences at any price-point, but Volvo's beaten its own benchmark. Because of the sheer volume of speakers, Dolby Atmos-coded music comes alive, moving around the cabin as it plays. And the headrest speakers come into their own when taking calls, or driving long distances with sleeping passengers, where you can reposition the sound to only focus on certain seats. They even relay in-car conversations, so at highway speeds, you never need to raise your voice, even when talking to the kids in the back seat.Of course, that system is reserved for the top-spec models, but lesser variants still get the Google goodness baked into the 15-inch curved OLED screen. That integration is so complete that it can tap into the car's cameras and other sensors and help you recall traffic signs you missed, speed limits, or even parking information.VolvoI like the interaction, but you know what I'd like more? Physical buttons for climate control that I don't have to navigate menus to access. And physical air vent controls that don't rely on me aiming them via the touchscreen (although the automatic 'follow' function does a pretty good job of adjusting airflow).It's so close to perfect, and a natural extension of the Android lifestyle I already lead (although it will work just as well if you're an Apple user), but I feel like some functions don't need to be nestled in a touchscreen, or controlled via voice, no matter how quick the UI is to adapt to. Stop forcing me to talk to an inanimate object when I can just turn a knob to raise the AC temperature in a fraction of the time.Volvo Powertrain & Driving: Ready To Finally Kiss Range Anxiety Goodbye I've got to preface this section again by saying I was riding as a passenger in an EX60 prototype driven by a Volvo engineer, limiting my ability to judge things like throttle response, braking, steering feel, etc. In such circumstances, the EX60 felt good, though. As with any contemporary EV, there's more than ample power, and the mid-range P10 dual-motor AWD model I was riding shotgun in had more than enough punch, as you'd expect from 503 horsepower and 524 pound-feet of torque. Tipping the scales at around 5,000 lbs, that's still capable of zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, which is quicker than any Volvo needs to be.This middle-child powertrain prototype was also packing adaptive dampers, something base P6 derivatives will forego in favor of frequency-selective passive damper technology. The three modes each gave the EX60 a distinctly different character around the NVH surface tracks and ride and handling circuits, with the softest setting creating a cushy experience that leaned heavily through the corners soaked up harsh broken pavements with a light thud, and needed two bounces after sudden road decompressions to fully settle. At the other end of the spectrum, the firmest of the three modes controlled body motions on compression and decompression with a relative iron fist. But even on broken tarmac, it didn't rattle my fillings loose.2027 Volvo EX60 prototype driving at Hallered Proving Ground (20)Truth told, the typical Volvo owner will never use that setting for day-to-day driving, as it imparts harshness into the cabin enough to make poor road surfaces uncomfortable to traverse at speed. The middle setting is the cliché Goldilocks zone, supporting the EX60 under compression and bringing it back to poise quickly but without unsettling occupants with jarring motions.This setting also handles typical winding back roads best, controlling the substantial heft of the EX60 with poise that far exceeded my expectations. At speeds that would land you on the wrong side of the law, the EX60 felt composed from the passenger seat over undulating surfaces and off-camber changes of direction. The low center of gravity sure helps, but there was a particularly unfussed nature to the way the Volvo engineer was able to tuck it into corners at pace without so much as a squeal from the all-season tires.2027 Volvo EX60 prototype driving at Hallered Proving Ground (10)It may not be at the level BMW drivers expect, but it's a more dynamically talented Volvo than I've experienced in years, at least for an SUV.Where I feel it might have beaten rivals is cabin refinement. Despite frameless windows in all four apertures, there's remarkably little noise piercing the confines of the cabin. Harsh bumps and expansion joints impart a familiar thunk that disappears as quickly as it arrives, but save for a small whoosh around the wing mirrors, the EX60 manages to keep the outside outside, without feeling like a sensory deprivation tank.Volvo Range and Charging: The Real Gamechanger If you've read anything of the EX60's European specs, you'll have seen the magic 500-mile range figure bandied about. But that's based on WLTP testing standards, which even Volvo engineers admit is an unrealistic standard that no one drives to. The figure Volvo is touting stateside based on EPA testing is a range in excess of 400 miles. That's on the P12 AWD, with its 112 kWh (usable) battery. The P6 and P10 make do with 80 and 91 kWh capacities, respectively, affording them up to 310 and 320 miles of range when riding on the 20-inch wheels.Even in the poorest-range configuration, the EX60 claims worst figures of 290 miles between charges - charges that won't take very long. Courtesy of 370 kW charge speeds and 800-volt electrical architecture (P10 and P12 only, 320 kW on P6), a 10-80% charge takes 18-19 minutes, while a simple 10-minute juice-up adds 160-173 miles of range. It's pretty punchy stuff, and right up there with the best in the segment. The BMW iX3 takes 21 minutes to charge, claims the same 400-mile range as the EX60 P12, but only delivers 463 horsepower.2027 Volvo EX60 prototype driving at Hallered Proving Ground (7)And because Volvo's all-encompassing software stack also controls recharging, it will likely improve over time, resulting in incremental gains in recharge speeds and driving range. Verdict & Pricing: The Best Volvo In Years But for me, the biggest talking point is how solid the EX60 feels. I've always found it tricky to explain, but every experience I've had with a Volvo since the last generation XC90 first launched has left me with a strange feeling that the quality was only skin deep. Everything seemed great on the surface, but I had the vague impression of a hollowness beneath that veneer, not helped by the Drive-E engine family's agricultural tones and overall coarseness.That's all changed now. The electric performance is punchy, the ride quiet, and noise insulation close to best-in-class. But physically, this feels like a far more robust product than any Volvo I've driven in the last dozen years. Even in pre-production prototype guise, which one expects to have a few squeaks and rattles, the EX60 feels like a leap forward compared to previous attempts from the brand.The 2027 Volvo EX60 may lack the emotional tug of a 1990's 850 T5-R, but it's finally a Volvo that can go toe-to-toe with BMW and Mercedes again without any ifs or buts about it.2027 Volvo EX60 Cabin