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By Jonathan Crouch

Volvo's EX60 mid-sized EV crossover may look conservative but its technology is anything but. Jonathan Crouch takes a look...

Ten Second Reviewword count: 65

The EX60, despite its relatively introverted styling, is actually by far the most advanced Volvo the Swedish brand has ever made. This upper mid-sized premium EV crossover is essentially the electronic alternative to the company's combustion XC60 all-time best-seller, but there's an advanced level of technology and design here that's from a completely different era. As is essential given the standard set by German competitors.

Backgroundword count: 263

Volvo's EX60 redefines its brand. Here, we going to find out why. Volvo's history can effectively be divided into four eras. The first is the solid, safe last-century brand your dad will remember. The second began with the take-over of the company by Chinese giant Geely in 2010, who bank-rolled the SPA architecture undergirding the host of models that followed. Things got into choppier waters when that platform was evolved into the SPA2 EV chassis used by Volvo's first large full-electric model, the EX90, initially plagued with problems. But that's all in the past now because Volvo's very different fourth era starts right here with this car, the EX60. It could hardly be more important. It's arguably the most significant Volvo since the very first one, the OV4 of 1927. Which might surprise you if you're thinking of this mid-sized electric crossover merely as the EV alternative to the brand's combustion XC60. It is that, but at the same time, this model represents completely new era of design. With the introduction of a very different SPA3 platform that features new construction methods and provides for a family of next-generation motors and advanced battery technology. Nothing is carried over from any previous model, but almost everything will be to the new Volvos (and Polestars) that will follow this car. But then nothing less than a complete re-think would have done for car tasked to compete with segment rivals as good as the second generation BMW iX3 and the latest EQ version of the Mercedes GLC. Is the EX60 at that level? Let's find out.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 413

As you'd expect in the class, there's a choice of single motor or dual motor powertrains. And Volvo offers no fewer than three battery choices and two suspension set-ups; you're not short of choice. Things kick off with the entry-level rear-driven single motor P6 version, which has a 369bhp EESM motor energised by an 86kWh battery pack offering a drive range figure of up to 384 miles. Volvo though, expects most EX60 customers to opt for the mid-level P10 variant, which adds a front-axle ASM electric motor and uses a larger 95kWh battery pack energising a 503bhp total output, enabling a 0-62mph time of 4.6s (1.3s faster than the P6). Range is up to 49 miles (similar to a Mercedes GLC EQ but a little down on the BMW iX3 xDrive50). At the top of the line-up is the EX60 P12 AWD, which has an enormous 117kWh battery able to set a new class benchmark range figure of 503 miles. This variant's two e-motors together develop 671bhp and power the car to 62mph in 3.9s. There's a brake regen system with a 'One Pedal Drive' setting. And with the dual motor models, there are 'Range', 'Off-Road' and 'Performance' drive modes. As for suspension, well there's a choice between passive or optional adaptive dampers. Unless you go for the alternative 'Cross Country' version (which sits 20mm higher), a variant available in air-sprung form. With the air springs set high, you get a further 20mm of ground clearance. As you'd expect, 'Cross Country' derivatives can only be had with a twin motor AWD format. Handling should be aided by the fact that this EX60 has a more rigid body than any EV Volvo before it. This is thanks to its 'cell-to-body' battery design which sees the cell packs mounted directly into the frame of the car. And a 'mega-casting' production method, which means that large component parts are produced as single pieces rather than lots of individual components bolted together. The stiff new SPA3 platform also helps. Like the Neue Klasse and MB.EA platforms that undergird this model's BMW Mercedes rivals, this new-era chassis allows for a completely fresh level of electronic driving tech, in this case using Nvidia's DRIVE AGX Orin set-up and Qualcomm computing power. All the driver assistance and vehicle control systems are controlled by new generation computing set-up called 'HuginCore' which, according to Volvo, empowers the car 'to think, process and act' and is capable of 50 billion operations per second.

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