2027 Volvo EX60 Review

We’re at a curious crossroads these days.

The relentless quest to simplify our lives through technology often results in new, unforeseen complications. My microwave, for instance, has Wi-Fi compatibility, though I’ve yet to fathom a need for it. How many times have you used a public restroom only to become frustrated when a hands-free sensor fails to recognize your hands, leaving you waving wildly in an attempt to get it to work?

The 2027 Volvo’s EX60 is at a similar crossroads, with a slick design and wonderful driving experience that’s mired in frustrating over-simplification. Worse still, a number of the changes seem like they exist for no other reason than the sake of change itself.

Design: 9/10

There are only so many ways designers can restyle a simple two-box shape like this — especially when safety obligations and aerodynamics are factored in. Yet Volvo’s team has somehow managed to hit the trifecta here, making the EX60 look completely fresh and contemporary while meeting the necessary engineering feats and keeping key brand design elements — like the so-called “Thor’s Hammer” headlights — intact.

The proportions are spot-on from any angle, looking decidedly premium but also without the sort of unnecessary adornments or trendy embellishments that’ll quickly go out of style. This is a vehicle that’s going to be as handsome to behold in 10 years as it is today. (For proof, please see any version of the similarly sized Volvo XC60.)

Utterances of Scandinavian design have been done to death when describing Volvo’s interiors, but then they’re so appropriate. The EX60’s cabin presents high-quality materials with interesting textures and suppleness wherever you might come in contact with a surface. The dashboard in this tester wore a tasteful mix of fabric and dark wood trim. The vents are discreetly recessed, and overall simplicity defines the look, with the only real flourishes being the round metal grille for the dash-top centre speaker or the crystal scroll wheel for volume control.

User-Friendliness: 6/10

The downside to all the swanky, simplistic styling is the occasional lack of usability that comes with it. The doors, for instance, look sleek and are unadorned by unsightly handles. But that means getting into the EX60 requires fiddling with a little fin that rises from each door just below the rear edge of the window. Sit down inside, reach for the handle to pull the door shut, and where there’s normally a cut-out in the arm rest, it’s smooth and solid. Instead, higher on the door is a separate ridge that can be grabbed. It’s not intuitive, creates a greater reach to close the door, and is a prime case of “fixing” something that wasn’t broken.

Worse is the process of setting up the steering wheel or exterior mirror positions, both of which require tapping through the touchscreen before using controls on the steering wheel. While these are the sort of mildly tedious functions that you can set and forget, repositioning air flow from the climate system also requires multiple taps and carefully moving your finger on a graphic display to redirect the flow. Meanwhile, if attempted while driving, the safety nannies will remind you to keep your eyes on the road.

At least the touchscreen is placed within an easy reach of the driver and offers bright, crisp graphics and decent responsiveness. It has a built-in Google Gemini AI assistant, which Road Test Editor Dan Ilika found helpful during his first-drive experience. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, though they aren’t preinstalled and must be downloaded after first signing into the Google Play Store, which adds yet more complexity.

Similarly, the EX60 is meant to operate with phone-as-key; but without my phone being registered and connected, it meant I was stuck with a key card that would only lock or unlock the car by touching a panel on the A-pillar. It also had to be placed on the phone charging pad to put the vehicle in gear. This procedure is meant as a backup plan if the phone-as-key situation doesn’t work, but it certainly made me wish for the simplicity of a fob instead.

Equipment: 8/10

All EX60s come reasonably well-equipped with a decent audio system, three-zone climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, and hands-free tailgate operation. There’s an air-purifier that can help keep allergens out of the cabin, too.

A massive panoramic glass roof is standard fare, too, but the electrochromic shade function is optional on the base trim. The top-of-the-line Ultra trim comes with it, but it still made me question why anyone would want a huge, heavy piece of glass overhead that doesn’t even open to improve airflow.

The Ultra gets plenty of other niceties like an upgraded sound system, leather upholstery and standard 21-inch wheels (versus the base model’s 20-inch alloys). One really clever feature is the integrated booster in the rear seats that quickly and easily pops up into place when needed and back down when not.

Safety: 9/10

The EX60 follows Volvo’s long-standing reputation for safety with an extensive list of active and passive features that are standard on both trims. Beyond the now-typical automatic emergency braking and crash avoidance steering assistance, the EX60 notifies the driver of front and rear cross-traffic approaching, plus has pedestrian, cyclist, and scooter warning and self-steering. There’s no hands-free semi-autonomous driving, but the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping will help keep this crossover cruising along on the highway, even in stop-and-go traffic.

Comfort: 9/10

As impressive as the EX60’s appearance is, it’s the comfort it offers that impresses even more. Being an electric vehicle (EV), there is naturally no engine noise, but thanks to the laminated side glass on the Ultra trim, both wind and road noise are virtually eliminated from the cabin, too.

The EX60’s standard adaptive dampers do an astonishing job of filtering out bumps before they reach the cabin. I spent most of the week driving around in the softest setting, revelling in this Volvo’s ability to seemingly levitate over the road rather than be affected by cracked, heaved, and pothole-ridden pavement. For ages, Volvo’s seats have been appreciated for their supportive comfort, even accommodating larger frames, and the EX60’s thrones continue the trend.

Everyday Usability: 8/10

The EX60’s roofline doesn’t incorporate a wildly raked slope in the name of styling. This creates a far more usable interior space for both people and cargo. Front-seat occupants have an abundance of headroom, while the rear seat provides positions for three abreast with the flat floor meaning the person stuck in the middle doesn’t suffer too much.

However, the front-seat area could benefit from more places to store the stuff we all seem to travel with. The glovebox is situated in the lower portion of the central dashboard instead of in front of the passenger. While we appreciate this convenience, there are other vehicles that offer storage there plus a traditional glovebox. The armrest between the front passengers has a tray that slides forward, offering two cup holders and a small cubby for knickknacks, but the console itself doesn’t open like most others.

The rear cargo hold will contain measures 523 L with the rear seats up, but when folded (and accounting for a generous hold beneath the floor), the EX60 can swallow 1,647 L of stuff. Not only does the rear seat split and fold, but the cargo floor itself has a 60/40 split, allowing access to the storage area down there without necessarily needing to empty out the cargo area.

Powertrain: 9/10

All Canadian EX60s (for now) offer the same dual-motor setup, and with 503 hp and 524 lb-ft of torque, the EX60 sets off very swiftly. From a standstill, it’ll hit 100 km/h in a reported 4.6 seconds, with generous passing power available whether at highway speeds, or puttering around town. Some powerful EVs feel like they wallop you in the back with their instant torque, but Volvo has tuned the delivery to be more dignified. It’s still plentiful but not startling, and seems a suitable way to manage that much power in a vehicle like this.

Efficiency: 9/10

The 95-kWh battery makes up the floor of the EX60 and allows a rated range of 531 km when rolling on the standard 20- or 21-inch wheels. This tester was fitted with optional 22-inch alloys that reduce range to 502 km.

During an autumn test, the EX60 managed to reach nearly 500 km with a mix of city and highway driving, and without much effort to do so on my part, at which point I plugged in with eight per cent battery remaining. Next year, Volvo will offer a P12 model with a larger 112-kWh battery that should provide a sizable boost to range.

The 800-volt architecture means it will allow 400-kW DC fast-charging speeds on the rare chance a station that’s capable (and willing) is available. Under those circumstances, a bump from 10 to 80 per cent is possible in just 18 minutes. Plugged into a Tesla charger — the EX60 comes with the automaker’s style port — saw 74 kWh added in 40 minutes (and cost $50).

Driving Feel: 8/10

The EX60 feels like a proper premium machine. It’s at its best cruising along in serene smoothness, but when pressed to hustle on some back road curves, and around some roundabouts, it keeps its composure without necessarily feeling sporty. Grip from the Pirelli Scorpion tires is very good for an SUV, but the steering is numb, and its mass keeps it from feeling truly nimble when transitioning from corner to corner.

Braking is strong when called upon during panic stops, but there is some sponginess before they grab rather abruptly. Still, most drivers who utilize the effective one-pedal setup will find most of their braking will be done through regeneration anyway.

Value for Money: 8/10

The EX60 starts at $77,500, with the Ultra trim ringing in at $84,000 before options and an eyebrow-raising obligatory destination charge of $3,100. The EX60’s pricing fares competitively against its German counterparts, but the Tesla Model Y and the Cadillac Lyriq undercut it.

The Verdict

The drive experience even with modestly-priced mainstream EVs is so good these days that it can sometimes feel tough to justify the considerable cost jump to some of the premium-brand models. With the 2027 Volvo EX60, the style, interior finishes, and buttery-smooth (and silent) drive experience means it feels truly luxurious and worthy of its price. The challenge for Volvo will be convincing buyers that the over-simplification of the user interface doesn’t create more frustrations than they’re willing to tolerate. A less simplified experience would make it much easier to enjoy the EX60’s considerable strengths.