2027 Volvo EX60 First Ride: Inside One of the Most Important Volvos in 100 Years

In some ways, the all-new 2027 EX60 we’re riding in is carrying Volvo’s entire reputation in its trunk. For a brand that’s about to celebrate its centennial, Volvo really, really needs its coming all-electric midsize luxury SUV to be hit along the lines of the similarly sized, gas-powered XC60, which was far and away Volvo’s bestselling vehicle worldwide in 2025.

But the headwinds are strong. Fresh competition from the likes of BMW and Mercedes is threatening to undercut Volvo’s larger global ambitions, while cheaper internal combustion powered models continue to entice buyers with their familiarity. Set against the backdrop of the tech issues that plagued the rollout of its flagship EX90 EV, is Volvo still moving too quickly? Or are its progressive moves about to pay off in a big way?

We took our first ride in a 503-hp version of the 2027 EX60 P10 at Volvo’s proving ground in Sweden to get a clearer picture.

The Volvo EX-What?

In Volvo’s electric lineup, the EX30 and EX90 serve as bookends of sorts. The EX30 is incredibly small inside and starts below $45,000, while the EX90 starts above $80,000 and is an electric luxury three-row SUV.

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The sensibly sized EX60 fits in the middle and starts around $60,000 with AWD. That’s right in line with EV-powered rivals including the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology. But compared to a base-engine Volvo XC60, it’s about $9,000 more expensive.

We could tell you about the 2027 EX60’s up-to-400-mile range or its new horizontally oriented touchscreen, but this is what you really need to know: It will succeed if it can entice enough XC60 buyers whose leases are ending to go the electric route.

Get In

Before you even step inside, the EX60’s contemporary feel begins with stubby “wing grip” door handles located just below the window glass. The 2027 EX60’s black handles are easier to use than the Tesla Model Y’s flush handles but not as practical as the XC60’s standard pull-out handles. When you’re shooting for 400 miles of range, every aerodynamic advantage counts.

Volvo kept the EX60’s seating position similar to that of the XC60, but the interiors are nothing alike. The electric EX60 feels airy thanks to a multifunctional center console that creates open space and will shine in a showroom visit. The interior also manages to feel luxurious; it’s not so minimalist as to feel bland like some Teslas have in the past.

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Its 11.4-inch instrument panel display is positioned closer to the windshield than in the EX90, and the 15.0-inch touchscreen is—at last on a Volvo—horizontally oriented. This allows for easier interaction even before you ask Google Gemini, an AI assistant, to send you a recipe for BBQ wings for tomorrow’s big game.

More buttons and knobs would still be appreciated, however. Even a couple for fan speed would eliminate the need for three on-screen taps while you’re driving. Sometimes a song is just too good to interrupt with a voice-activated command.

Punch It!

We’re not even in the most powerful EX60, and it’s clear with multiple throttle jabs how quick the P10 is. From the passenger seat, it never seems out of control or overly dramatic, but that 503 hp is definitely felt. The EX60 P10 has more than sufficient passing power that doubles as a “watch this” demonstrator for passengers, thanks in part to its claimed 4.4-second sprint.

Whether you use the standard or performance driving modes, you get the same 503 hp both ways—some EVs restrict the full power to a drive mode or a button that gives you 10 seconds of extra quickness.

Below the 2027 EX60 P10 we rode in, the base EX60 P6 will make 369 hp and accelerate to 60 in 5.7 seconds, while the P12—a later debut—will make 670 hp and launch to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, according to Volvo. Quicker electric luxury EVs exist, but regardless, that type of speed is bonkers for a family-oriented Volvo.

From the passenger seat, we didn’t sense the same brief wide-open throttle delay we reported early on with the 2025 EX90. But of course, the ultimate test will be when we get an EX60 in for our complete testing regimen.

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Before that happens, we can tell you that the 2027 EX60 uses a revised steering system with a ratio that’s 10 percent quicker than that of the XC60. That means tight maneuvers will require a bit less turning of the steering wheel. It’s the sort of thing Tesla has used to give its cars a sporty feel. On the opposite side of the spectrum, we’ve complained about how slow steering in Cadillac EVs makes parking lot maneuvers more work than it should be.

Customize Your Driving Experience

Like the EX90, the EX60 offers different one-pedal driving experiences. The EX60 offers standard braking feel with minimal regen, a light one-pedal driving mode that will eventually get you to a fairly smooth stop, a more aggressive mode (for those used to Rivians), and an auto mode that adjusts based on what the cars it senses ahead of you are doing. This freedom of choice is exactly what we want to see from an EV’s regenerative braking system. Based on our limited passenger experience, everything seemed well-tuned.

We also experienced a moderately quiet cabin. Volvo spent a lot of time working on quietness, and even in our test SUV’s 22-inch wheels wrapped in summer tires, it was fairly hushed. Anyone exiting a non-PHEV XC60 will find it super-quiet.

The ride quality was also good from what we could tell, letting in a bit of the road but isolating the cabin well. Your mileage may vary, however: U.S.-spec cars will ride on all-season tires, which could alter the ride and handling balance.

Only the later-release 2028 EX60 Cross Country will be available with Volvo’s air suspension, but the EX60 P10 we experienced had three settings each for the steering and suspension.

OPEN GALLERY

We messed with these on-screen settings a bunch and could definitely feel a difference between the softest suspension setting and the firmest while being driven around Volvo’s test track. As with other cars featuring this type of customizability, it allows you to find what you like and then leave it there for the rest of the time you drive the car.

What Did We Learn?

Based on our time riding in a 2027 EX60 P10 AWD at Volvo’s testing facility in Sweden, this electric luxury SUV shows real promise. We wonder how the ride and handling balance will change on all-season tires, however, and we’re curious if those slick 22-inch wheels will have a negative impact over rougher American roads.

Ultimately, if the EX60 has a smooth, bug-free launch, that will go a long way toward Volvo gaining back its good reputation, which took a hit in the wake of what went down with the EX90. The EX60’s fantastic interior flourishes should seriously impress buyers, while its exterior style is only slightly less alluring to us than the less aerodynamic XC60 gas models.

Where that leaves us is twofold. First, we’re ready to actually drive the 2027 EX60 for ourselves on all-seasons. Soon, please.

Bigger picture, the 2027 Volvo EX60 shows huge potential. The price premium over a base XC60 gas model is sizable at the moment, but that will shrink once the EX60 P6 base model arrives. Our brief time in the new EX60 shows how automakers like Volvo are making it increasingly enticing for luxury SUV consumers to consider swapping gas for electric.