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Volvo's first dedicated electric model arrived with enormous expectations. Instead, at least here in Canada, the EX90 three-row SUV barely lasted a year, knocked out by a one-two punch of cooling EV demand and an ongoing trade war with the United States. Something tells me the 2027 EX60 is going to write a very different story. The XC60 recently surpassed the legendary 240 as Volvo's best-selling model of all time. Consider the EX60 the electric evolution of that success story. Straddling the line between compact and mid-size, the EX60 rides on Volvo's all-new SPA3 platform, utilizing a cell-to-body battery design that integrates the battery directly into the floor structure. The result is fewer components, lower weight, and more usable battery capacity in a smaller footprint. Battery sizes range from 83.0 to 117.0 kilowatt-hours (gross), eclipsing the EX90's maximum 111.0-kWh capacity. How the EX60 uses that energy has improved as well. The largest battery belongs to the forthcoming P12 model, which arrives shortly after launch. Not only does this dual-motor variant produce an astonishing 670 horsepower—more than any Volvo in history—it also delivers a projected driving range of up to 640 kilometres. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, the EX60 can recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 16 minutes when connected to a suitably powerful DC fast charger.
At launch, Canadians will receive the EX60 P10, which produces a still- impressive 503 horsepower and delivers an estimated 514 kilometres of range courtesy of a 95.0-kWh battery. That's the version I spent the day driving through Barcelona and into the hills surrounding the city, here in top-spec Ultra trim. American buyers will also receive a rear-wheel-drive P6 model. Like most modern EVs, the EX60 requires little more than a flex of your right foot to merge effortlessly with highway traffic. Acceleration builds smoothly and linearly, with Volvo engineers carefully tuning the throttle response to avoid the abrupt jerkiness that can plague powerful electric vehicles at low speeds. Several regenerative braking settings are available, ranging from barely noticeable to full one-pedal driving. The latter became my preferred setting in the mountains, providing enough deceleration to manage this 2,810-kilogram crossover in most situations without touching the brake pedal.
"Smooth, refined, practical, and only set to improve over time, the EX60 is Volvo's strongest argument yet for saying goodbye to gasoline.”
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