I’ve been in the new Volvo EX60 that beats BMW’s iX3 with its 503-mile range

Volvo has revealed its new EX60, an all-electric mid-size SUV that represents a significant step in the brand’s transition away from petrol and diesel power – and I’ve been in it.

The new EX60 has been designed from the outset as an electric car to sit alongside Volvo’s biggest seller, the combustion-engined XC60. The EX60 is at the heart of Volvo’s future electric lineup – it combines long range, rapid charging, next-generation software and updated safety systems.

However, the XC60 is far from over. According to Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson, it will go on as long as customers need it, and could be replaced itself with a new model developed jointly between Volvo and its Chinese owners Geely.

Volvo is rightly very proud of the new technology the EX60 is built on, with Samuelsson saying that the tech enables Volvo to offer the EX60 for the same price as a plug-in hybrid XC60. The SPA3 architecture will be used for new all-electric Volvos, and can be used on cars from the size of the EX30 all the way up to a potential vehicle that’s larger than the EX90 flagship model.

SPA3 offers improved efficiency, reduced complexity and lower manufacturing costs – giving the same margins for Volvo as the XC60 – while allowing vehicles to improve over time through software updates. The company says this approach will underpin all its future electric models.

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Volvo claims the EX60 sets a new benchmark for the brand – and its stats measure up well against its biggest rival, the new BMW iX3. In its longest-range P12 configuration, the all-wheel-drive EX60 can travel up to 503 miles on a single charge – a few miles more than the iX3’s 500-mile claim.

Other versions of the EX60 offer shorter but still substantial ranges, with the entry-level P6 rear-wheel-drive model quoted at up to 385 miles, while an all-wheel-drive P10 mid-range version is rated at up to 410 miles. Volvo says these figures are intended to remove remaining concerns around long-distance electric driving for family car buyers.

Charging performance is another key focus. Volvo says the EX60 can add up to 211 miles of range in just 10 minutes when connected to an ultra-fast 400kW charger – BMW claims up to 231 miles after 10 minutes for its iX3 model. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent is quoted at around 19 minutes for the longest-range EX60.

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My first impression of the EX60 is that it’s a premium SUV that will be able to compete with the very best. The quality inside is impressive, the usability of the tech has been improved over old models and the stats look great, too.

The view from the driver’s seat is good with several traditional Volvo features. There are innovative storage spaces, thought has gone into the touchscreen usability and the clever integration of Google Gemini AI tech gives the brand a big boost, too.

The boot has lots of room and some clever features to make the space as flexible as possible. Meanwhile there was plenty of room when I was sitting in the back, with the seat set up for someone my size (at close to six-foot-tall). The flat floor in the back adds to the feeling of spaciousness, while the integrated child booster seats are one of many hugely useful, family-friendly features.

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Håkan Samuelsson, who returned as chief executive of Volvo Cars earlier this year, said: “The new, all-electric EX60 changes the game in terms of range, charging and price and represents a new beginning for Volvo Cars and our customers.

“With this car, we remove all remaining obstacles for going electric. This fantastic new car is also a testament of what we are capable of at Volvo Cars, with an all-new product architecture introducing new key technologies – mega casting, cell-to-body and core computing.”

As Samuelsson said, the EX60 introduces several new manufacturing and engineering technologies for Volvo. One of the most significant is cell-to-body battery construction, which integrates the battery cells directly into the car’s structure rather than housing them in a separate pack. Volvo says this increases energy density, reduces weight and improves charging performance, while also lowering the car’s overall carbon footprint. The EX60 is also the first Volvo to use large-scale aluminium “mega casting”, replacing hundreds of smaller components with fewer, larger castings to reduce material use and production complexity.

As a result of all this, Volvo claims the EX60 has the lowest carbon footprint of any electric car it has produced so far, matching that of the smaller EX30.

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Software and digital systems play a central role in the EX60, too. The car is powered by Volvo’s new core computing system, known as HuginCore, which processes data from the vehicle’s sensors and supports driver assistance, infotainment and over-the-air updates. Volvo says the EX60 is its most intelligent car yet and the first to launch with the Google Gemini AI assistant integrated into the vehicle. This is designed to allow more natural voice interaction, with drivers and passengers able to speak conversationally rather than relying on fixed commands.

Volvo says the infotainment system has been designed to be faster and more responsive than before, with quicker access to key functions and reduced lag when using navigation, media and voice controls.

The EX60 will also be the first Volvo to offer Apple Music with Dolby Atmos pre-installed, using a new 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system that includes speakers in the headrests of the front and rear seats.

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Of course, safety remains a core element of the EX60’s positioning. Volvo describes the car as one of the safest it has ever built, with a strengthened safety cage using boron steel and a wide array of sensors that monitor the road, other vehicles and the driver. A new multi-adaptive safety belt is designed to offer more personalised protection for front-seat occupants whatever their size and shape, while the car’s software-defined architecture allows safety systems to improve through updates.

The EX60 has been designed to balance familiarity with a clear shift into Volvo’s electric future. While it’s clearly a Volvo with proportions closely mirroring those of the outgoing XC60, the EX60 features shorter overhangs and a smoother overall profile designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Volvo says details such as a low, clean front end, a gently sloping roofline and carefully sculpted body sides all contribute to a drag coefficient of 0.26, helping to maximise driving range without compromising everyday usability. Signature Thor’s Hammer lighting has been reinterpreted for the electric era, while flush surfaces and tightly integrated details are intended to give the car a more modern, technically focused appearance.

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The rear of the EX60 has also been developed with aerodynamics in mind, with tapered surfaces and clean light graphics designed to reduce turbulence as air flows away from the car. Volvo says this approach allows the EX60 to maintain the upright, confident stance expected of a mid-size SUV, while still delivering the efficiency benefits needed to support its long-range figures.

Inside, Volvo has focused on Scandinavian design principles with natural materials and muted colour palettes and an emphasis on clean lines and a reduced number of physical controls.

A squared-off steering wheel has a slim driver display in front of it with a landscape-oriented central touchscreen. The flat electric platform allows for a long wheelbase and a completely flat floor, which Volvo says translates into increased rear legroom and a more open feel for passengers. Storage solutions have been integrated throughout the cabin, including large door bins, a spacious centre console and additional compartments designed to suit family use.

Alongside the standard EX60, Volvo has also revealed the EX60 Cross Country, a more rugged model that draws on the brand’s long-running Cross Country line. First introduced in 1997, Cross Country models are intended to offer a more robust appearance and some very mild off-roading ability.

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“The EX60 Cross Country is the EX60 for anyone with a ‘go anywhere’ attitude,” said Erik Severinson, Volvo’s chief commercial officer. “Built to do more and see more, the EX60 Cross Country embodies not only the sense of exploration but also a reflection of achievement. We basically invented this segment, and we felt the EX60 was the perfect next Volvo to get the Cross Country treatment.”

Compared with the standard EX60, the Cross Country version sits 20 mm higher off the ground, with air suspension allowing drivers to raise the ride height by a further 20mm if required. At higher speeds, the suspension can lower the car automatically to improve stability and efficiency. Volvo says this flexibility is designed to suit drivers who regularly switch between motorway journeys and rougher surfaces.

The EX60 Cross Country features unique wheels, wider wheel arches, stainless-steel skid plates and distinctive Cross Country branding. A new exterior colour, Frost Green, is exclusive to the model and is inspired by Scandinavian landscapes. Despite its tougher appearance, Volvo says the Cross Country retains the same core electric technology as the standard car.

The EX60 range will be offered with three main powertrain options, known as P6, P10 and P12. The P6 is rear-wheel drive, while the P10 and P12 use all-wheel drive. Volvo says the P10 will be the first Cross Country variant to become available, followed by the longer-range P12.

The first EX60 deliveries in the UK will be in ‘late summer’ with the P6 model in mid-spec plus trim costing £56,860, undercutting BMW’s new IX3 which costs from £58,755. However, that entry-level BMW claims 500 miles of range, which is well ahead of the EX60’s 385 miles.

Ultra spec for the EX60 adds £5,500 to your bill and gets you that Bowers & Wilkins audio system, an electrochromic sunroof and HD Pixel headlights. Moving from the rear-drive, 385-mile P6 model to an all-wheel drive, a 410-mile P10 version costs another £3,000.

Finally, if you want the 503-mile P12 model with all-wheel drive and 0-62 performance in 3.9 seconds, that will add £8,000.

Closer to the car’s launch, Volvo will announce details of Volvo Care – a lease package that can take care of insurance, maintenance and even home charging costs.