Volvo's New EX60 Is Here and It Might Be the Brand's Most Important EV Yet

• Volvo's New EX60 Is Here and It Might Be the Brand's Most Important EV Yet
• All-new EV platform
• Powered by Google Gemini
• Up to 400 miles of range
• Volvo safety tech
• Price and availability

Volvo just unveiled what could be the most important model in its growing family of electric vehicles. At an event in Stockholm, the Swedish automaker introduced the all-new EX60. Positioned squarely between the compact EX30 and the flagship EX90, this is the automaker's first entry into the midsize electric SUV class -- now the largest, most competitive EV segment globally. Fortunately, it looks like Volvo is putting its best foot forward with EX60, which debuts the brand's latest generation SPA3 battery-electric platform, a generous helping of cruising range and smart dashboard tech powered by Google Gemini AI.

There is a lot riding on this new model. It follows in the footsteps of the gasoline-powered XC60, currently the company's all-time best-selling vehicle worldwide. Replicating that success with an electric equivalent is no small task. Overshadowed by the EX30 and EX90's troubled launches, it's even more important that Volvo get it right this time to win back customer trust. Stack that against an established field of highly desirable competitors and you can see why the EX60 is Volvo's most important electric launch to date. This feels like a make-or-break moment for the brand's EV ambitions.

All-new EV platform

Beneath its Scandinavian skin, the EX60 is the first Volvo built on the automaker's new SPA3 dedicated battery-electric platform. The new platform is quite literally built around the structural battery pack, resulting in a vehicle that is lighter, more tightly integrated and structurally more rigid than Volvo's previous electric or combustion architectures. The EX60 is also the first Volvo car to make use of "megacasting." This manufacturing approach reduces complexity by replacing "hundreds of smaller parts" with larger, recycled aluminum casts. This means less material waste, time, and cost, ultimately resulting in "the lowest carbon footprint for a fully electric Volvo car," equalling that of the much smaller EX30.

From the outside, the EX60 is unmistakably a Volvo with signature design cues like the Thor's Hammer daytime running lights and diagonal slash grille adornment. The five-seat SUV's upright nose, side profile and vertical taillights subtly nod to the brand's sporty wagon heritage with a modern, aerodynamic twist. Overall, it's a clean and very handsome design.

Look closely and you may notice gently sloping roofline, tapered body sides and slick shark-fin-style door pulls that help the electric SUV achieve a slippery 0.26 drag coefficient. For comparison, Volvo's combustion-powered XC60 has a Cd of around 0.35, while the electric Tesla Model X is around 0.24.

Powered by Google Gemini

Inside, the EX60 continues Volvo's Scandinavian minimalist approach, pairing simplicity with technology and complemented by a large panoramic glass roof that floods the interior with light. The dashboard is dominated by a 15-inch curved OLED center display with Google Built-in, which means Google Maps for navigation, the Google Play Store for media apps and, for the first time in a Volvo, Google Gemini as an AI-powered digital assistant. Powering the experience is a Qualcomm AI processor, enabling responsive handling of voice-controlled tasks and deeper integration of Google Gemini directly into the vehicle.

The arrival of Gemini in Volvo's EV brings a more conversational and context-aware experience to the EX60. Drivers can ask Gemini to navigate a hotel address in their email, check whether a particular item or package will fit in the trunk or generate ideas for an upcoming road trip. Volvo says future updates will take this Google partnership further. In the near future, Gemini will be able to use the car's cameras to understand what the driver sees and answer questions about the world outside the vehicle. I'm told that this capability will be opt-in for drivers concerned about privacy. 

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Volvo's interior design is minimalist, but its Gemini-powered dashboard tech promises robust AI assistance.

Volvo Cars

A 21-speaker Bose premium sound system comes standard, while an optional 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system upgrades to improved audio processing, more amplifications and better speakers, including headrest speakers for all four main seats. The EX60 will also be the first Volvo to offer Apple Music with Dolby Atmos spatial audio preinstalled in the dashboard. After being extremely impressed by Dolby Atmos and the Abbey Road Studio mode showcased in the larger EX90, I have very high expectations for the EX60's soundstage.

Up to 400 miles of range

The EX60 will make use of the automaker's newest generation electric motors, beginning production in April 2026 with two electric powertrain configurations. The single-motor P6 spec mates an 83 kWh battery pack with a 275 kW electric motor to deliver an estimated 310 miles of range when equipped with the standard 20-inch wheels. The dual-motor P10 model steps up to a 95 kWh battery, 375 kW combined and an estimated range of 320 miles. Larger 21- and 22-inch wheel options will be available, with a modest impact on range. 

Post-launch, a longer-ranging P12 all-wheel-drive variant will join the lineup, targeting up to 400 miles of range with its 117 kWh battery pack. At 500 kW (670 horsepower) and 583 pound-feet of torque, this P12 spec will also be the quickest version of the EX60, sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. 

Big range is great, but fast charging is the metric where truly great EVs stand apart. Here, the EX60 again looks pretty good. The P6 and P10 models should be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes at an appropriate 400 kW station, while the longer-range P12 takes around 19 minutes to fill its larger battery. For quick roadside stops, drivers can expect to add around 173 miles of range with just a 10 minute session under ideal conditions.

In North America, the EX60 will also be the first Volvo to feature a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port that gives owners direct access to more than 25,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada without the need for an adapter. (Though, I'd still recommend picking up a CCS1 adapter to maximize compatibility with the 10,000 legacy DC fast charging stations across America.) 

Volvo safety tech

Safety is a central part of Volvo's identity, and the EX60 introduces new technology alongside familiar strengths. One of the most intriguing safety innovations is the new multi-adaptive safety belt. Using real-time data from both interior and exterior sensors, the system adjusts belt load based on crash severity and individual occupant profiles, including height, weight, body shape and seating position. In a serious collision, a larger occupant may receive a higher belt load to reduce the risk of head injury, while a smaller occupant in a milder crash could receive a lower load to help minimize rib injuries.

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The lack of a lidar hump atop the windshield signals a shift in Volvo's safety tech strategy.

Volvo Cars

The vehicle's suite of active safety tech and driver assistance features is powered by Nvidia Drive AGX Orin hardware and is designed to receive over-the-air updates throughout its life. The automaker hasn't outlined specific details about the driver assistance suite, but I expect we'll learn how the EX60 evolves the automaker's Pilot Assist lane-centering and adaptive cruise control technologies closer to launch. Notably, Volvo has moved away from the roof-mounted lidar sensor seen on the EX90, signaling a shift in its sensor strategy for this segment.

Price and availability

Orders for the 2026 Volvo EX60 P6 and P10 are expected to open in the United States in late Spring with the first customer deliveries arriving this summer. The P12 should follow soon after that. Each version will initially be offered in Plus and fully loaded Ultra trims, with more affordable Core trims planned after launch. Pricing and standard equipment are still yet to be announced, but Volvo tells me to expect a ballpark of around $60,000 for the "well-equipped" EX60 P10 AWD Plus, which it expects will be the most popular configuration.

Antuan started out in the automotive industry the old-fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. He now has nearly 20 years of expertise and experience behind the wheel of hundreds of cars, including electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen, and traditional combustion vehicles. For each car he tests, Antuan covers more than 200 miles behind the wheel and evaluates driving dynamics; acceleration and braking performance; range; and efficiency. Antuan's goal is to use his extensive car knowledge to educate CNET readers and help with their next car-related buying decision. Whether you're EV-curious, an EV-enthusiast or a combustion-car loyalist, Antuan will bring you the unbiased advice, reviews, best lists and news you need. You can reach Antuan at [email protected]