Volvo EX60 Review: A Sanctuary On Wheels

Shhh.. Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby drive the best new Volvo in years

Green Lane: Volvo EX60 Review

Jeremy There is a moment, usually late on Friday afternoon, when the frantic energy of the working week begins to untangle. You close the office door, step away from the noise and look for a sanctuary. 

Luxury cars have long promised to insulate us by being loud statement pieces that often focus on performance. But the latest, all-electric Volvo changes that. Like it’s larger EX90 sibling, the more affordable EX60 is a piece of premium Scandinavian design that doesn’t shout for attention.

This mid-size SUV, a rival for the BMW iX3 and Mercedes GLC Electric, is something of a sanctuary on wheels. Slide into the driver’s seat and the Volvo feels less like climbing into a high-tech machine and more like entering a boutique hotel in Stockholm. 

The Swedish automaker has famously mastered the concept of ‘lagom’ – the art of just enough – which is again beautifully evident inside the EX60’s stylish cabin.

Expect a dashboard that is an elegant, sweeping expanse of sustainable materials. Volvo has swapped traditional leathers for premium, tactile textiles woven from recycled products and bio-attributed sources. 

Coolest of all is the steering wheel – it’s small and square! Commonly known as a ‘squircle’, the flat top, flat bottom design is incredible responsive and gives the Volvo a sporty feel. 

Less welcome is the steering wheel-mounted, multi-function toggle that adjusts the steering column position and door mirrors. It’s the EX60’s Achilles’ heel and the only weakness in an otherwise perfect dashboard design. 

The cabin is a space that honours the planet without asking you to sacrifice an ounce of luxury. And while it could do with a few more physical buttons, ambient lighting bathes the cockpit in a gentle, calming glow that helps translate a journey into a thoroughly relaxing drive.

So relaxing is the EX60 that on a visit to five-star Heckfield Place in Hampshire, I can honestly say I was looking forward to the drive home afterwards as much as the food in the hotel’s Green Michelin Star restaurant Marle.

On the open road, the EX60 again sheds the aggressive posture that plagues so many modern SUVs. Built on an advanced, dedicated EV architecture, its proportions are sleek and aerodynamical.

However, beneath this minimalist exterior lies a powerhouse of capability. Armed with an impressive electric range that can stretch up to 403 miles, the EX60 effortlessly eliminates the background hum of range anxiety, turning weekend getaways into a seamless transition.

Our all-wheel drive Ultra edition was near the top of the range at £65,360 but you can bag an entry-level version from £56,860. I doubt many SUVs at this price will move you quite as well.

Jessica The EX60 is an astonishing car – it cleverly blends Scandinavian minimalism with cutting-edge, electric performance. This isn’t just an SUV it’s a mobile wellness hub!

Intuitive Google Gemini AI technology learns your driving habits, while an advanced air purification system ensures every breath is as crisp as a morning in Gothenburg. I loved the curved, OLED touchscreen, with a 28-speaker music system providing the soundtrack.

Not that you need noise in the EX60 because best of all, the Volvo is whisper-quiet. While dual motors deliver effortless power, the only sound in the cabin is a distance hum of tyre on Tarmac. Perfect.

Dr Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, with a PhD in sustainable e-textiles.