Volvo EX60 review: Has Volvo just built the perfect family EV?

Join us as we take a closer look at the Volvo EX60, the electric family SUV offering one of the longest ranges in the UK

The Volvo EX60 is the brand’s electric alternative to the XC60, AKA one of its most popular family SUVs.

Big shoes to fill.

On paper, it’s off to a flying start. With up to 503 miles (WLTP Comb), it offers one of the longest ranges in the UK. Range anxiety who?

But rivals are catching up fast, and a big range figure alone won’t win families over. It needs to get everything else right too.

Being a Swedish car, there’s a Swedish word for exactly that: Lagom.

It means “just the right amount, not too much, not too little.” In other words, balance, and that’s what the perfect family SUV needs.

So, is the EX60 lagom where it counts? Can it fill the XC60’s shoes and give families the perfect electric SUV?

Let’s find out.

What we drove

• Model: Volvo EX60 P10 AWD Ultra Electric 95kWh Auto
• Body Style: SUV
• Power: Electric (375 kW / 510 PS)
• Battery: 95 kWh
• Range: Up to 410 miles (WLTP Comb)
• Acceleration: 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds
• Colour: Onyx Black 

Specifications correct at the time of publication

Lagom in looks

Nothing is overdone, and nothing is missing. The Volvo EX60 is the epitome of lagom.

At 4,803mm long and 1,635mm tall, it’s a proper family SUV without tipping into intimidating territory.

Frameless doors and flush glazing give it a clean, sleek and modern finish. There’s substance behind the style too. An active front shutter improves aerodynamics, helping it achieve that big range figure.

Ultra trim adds 21-inch diamond-cut alloys, high-definition pixel headlights, tinted rear windows and an electrochromic roof.

Our Onyx Black car suits the restrained design perfectly. It looks premium without trying too hard.

Ground lighting is a nice touch too, especially on dark winter mornings and evenings.

There’s no mistaking it as the XC60’s non-identical twin. The two look very similar, but the EX60 is one mean green machine (in spirit, anyway, since ours was very much black).

Scandi sanctuary for families

Step inside, and the EX60 is a Scandi sanctuary with family life etched into its very being.

A 15.04-inch curved OLED centre display dominates the dash, and most of the controls live here. The catch is that the curve angles parts of the screen away from the driver, which makes them harder to see from behind the wheel.

In front of the driver sits an 11.4-inch digital display.

There are almost no buttons, but thankfully Volvo has kept a physical hazard button; praise be.

There’s also a crystal volume dial and music controls below the screen, so you can still adjust your tunes without digging through menus.

Google comes built in as standard, but the infotainment isn’t the most intuitive. Connecting your phone is easy enough, but getting Apple CarPlay up and running is a bit fiddly.

Comfort is clearly a priority, though.

You get heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, power-reclining rear backrests and three-zone climate control as standard. Ultra trim adds ventilated front seats, four-way lumbar support and a Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

There’s an air purifier on board too, which helps keep the bugs the kids bring home from school at bay. You can also pre-condition the cabin remotely through the Volvo Cars app for optimum efficiency.

With 951mm of rear legroom, ISOFIX points, power child locks and a passenger airbag cut-off switch, it’s a brilliant companion for families with kids of any age.

The boot offers 523 litres with the seats up, rising to 1,647 litres with them folded. Under the floor, there’s extra storage with handy flaps for easy access. There’s also a 58-litre frunk, which is perfect for keeping the charging cables out of the way.

The hands-free tailgate means no struggling with the boot when you’ve got a toddler in one arm and a bag of shopping in the other.

One quirk to know about: During our time with the car, a locking bug made it think someone was still inside when it was empty. Go into the settings, allow the car to lock with occupants inside, and the bug is no more.

The one place Volvo forgot about lagom (in the best way)

Put your foot down, and the Volvo EX60 is as smooth as butter. It’s an easy, comfortable family cruiser.

But power is the one area where the EX60 is anything but lagom.

With 375kW (510PS) and 710Nm of torque, it gets from 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds.

We got stuck behind a slow car on the motorway and put our foot down for a leisurely overtake. What we got instead was serious power and an effortless pass.

It’s fast, but not sports car fast. Think of it as a family SUV with a party trick.

Pilot Assist and Lane Keeping Aid make motorway and dual carriageway miles easy. AWD adds reassuring grip in all weathers.

Around town, one-pedal driving keeps things smooth while helping you eke out even more range.

The 11m turning circle isn’t bad for a car of this size. But its width means narrow country lanes need a little extra care.

Range anxiety who?

The P10 we drove offers up to 410 miles of range (WLTP Comb). In What Car’s real-world motorway testing, it managed around 350 miles.

That’s about 15% below the official figure, but it’s still plenty for a week of commutes and school runs, or a long family road trip.

Need more? The P12 stretches to 503 miles (WLTP Comb), while the entry-level P6 offers up to 380 miles (WLTP Comb).

As with any EV, high motorway speeds and cold weather will cut into that range. The heat pump comes as standard to help soften the blow, using waste heat to warm the cabin instead of draining the battery.

It’s a must in British winters.

Efficiency is solid for a car this size, at 26.1kWh/100 miles combined (WLTP).

When you do need to stop, the EX60’s 800V technology supports rapid charging up to 400kW. That takes the P10 from 10-80% in around 16 minutes, just enough time for a coffee and a loo break.

At home, a full charge takes around nine hours on a three-phase supply. Most UK homes have a 7kW single-phase wallbox, which will take longer, so plan on an overnight top-up.

A 22kW on-board charger means faster top-ups at 22kW public AC points. Plug & Charge also lets you plug in and pay automatically, with no apps or cards needed.

Safety and warranties

Volvo has built its name on safety, and the EX60 comes loaded with kit. However, it hasn’t been rated by Euro NCAP yet. We’ll update this review once it’s been tested.

Standard safety kit includes:

• Collision avoidance and mitigation
• Intersection autobrake
• Pedestrian and cyclist steering avoidance
• Oncoming Lane Mitigation and Run-off Road Mitigation
• Blind Spot Information System and cross traffic alert with auto brake
• Rear Collision Warning and door opening alert
• Emergency stop assist and safety call
• 360-degree camera with 3D view

Ultra trim also adds laminated side windows.

The EX60 comes with a three-year or 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty, whichever comes first. That neatly covers a typical lease term.

The battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. If its capacity drops below 70% because of a defect, Volvo will repair or replace it.

Paintwork and surface rust are covered for three years, and rust perforation for 12 years.

What’s good, and what’s not

The good bits

• Up to 410 miles of range (WLTP Comb), and up to 503 miles on the P12
• 10-80% rapid charge in around 16 minutes
• Seriously punchy, with 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds
• Tactile crystal volume roller and skip button
• 523-litre boot plus a frunk
• Heated front and rear seats as standard

The not-so-good bits

• The infotainment isn’t the most intuitive
• Most controls are buried in the screen
• The locking bug from occupant sensing
• No Euro NCAP rating yet
• A hefty 2,350kg kerb weight
• Ventilated seats and Bowers & Wilkins audio are Ultra only

What’s the verdict?

Overall rating: 8.5

So, has Volvo built the perfect family EV? It’s very close.

Range, comfort, space and design all hit that lagom sweet spot. Power is the exception, and that’s no bad thing.

What stops it short of perfect is the tech.

The infotainment takes some getting used to, CarPlay is fiddlier than it should be, and the locking bug is an annoyance, even if it’s easily fixed.

But does it fill the XC60’s shoes? Absolutely.

It brings everything families love about Volvo into the electric age, with range and charging speeds that make the switch feel easy (and less scary).

The competition is catching up on range, but it’s the full package that counts. For families who want premium comfort and serious range without the flash, the EX60 is just the right amount of everything.

Five reasons to lease

1. Up to 410 miles of range (WLTP Comb) on the P10, and 503 miles on the P12
2. 10-80% rapid charging in around 16 minutes
3. Calm, premium cabin with generous standard kit
4. Effortless AWD performance
5. Practical family space with a 523-litre boot and a frunk

Should you lease the Volvo EX60?

Absolutely, especially if your family needs long range and premium comfort without the showiness.

Its range and rapid charging take the stress out of family road trips. Leasing also means no long-term worries about battery health or ageing EV tech.

Yes, the infotainment has its quirks. But they’re niggles, not deal-breakers.

The EX60 is lagom on wheels: Just the right amount of everything, at a monthly payment that makes sense.