I’m almost two years into owning a Volvo XC40 T4 Recharge and I’ve already made up my mind: the EX40 will most likely be my next car. The reasons are quite simple: I enjoy just about everything about my XC40 – the comfort, the size, the performance, and the looks. The only thing I wish it had was a bigger battery. Ergo the EX40.
So there’s no reason for me to want anything else. Anything bigger. Newer. Faster. Shinier. Right? RIGHT?!?
This is where the Volvo EX60 caught me a bit off guard. There are some things about it that I find very appealing, starting with range. While everybody is talking about the 810 km figure, I find the entry-level version, called the P6, extremely interesting. Before I give you its range specs, it’s worth pointing out the EX40 (Single Motor, Extended Range) weighs 2075 kg, has an 82 kWh battery and can reach up to 572 kilometers on a single charge.
Volvo has claimed multiple times during the Volvo EX60 presentation that they’ve made significant progress to achieve better range. I’m not going to bore you with all the technical stuff (basically they’ve made a unibody MacBook Pro on wheels), but the spec sheet says the new entry-level Volvo EX60 weighs 2190 kg, has an 83 kWh battery and can achieve up to 620 kilometers without plugging in. Despite being bigger and heavier, the new EX60 is able to go further using basically the same battery size.
There’s other things I like about the batteries inside the new Volvo EX60. For starters, Volvo has equipped the car with the ability to power your house (bi-directional charging). When the power comes back on, the EX60 can draw 22 kW from an AC socket, and 300 kW from a DC station (the more powerful versions can take 400 kW). This means around 4 hours at a home charger (mine is limited to 11 kW, so 8 hours) and 18 minutes at a charging station (10-80%). If you ask me, Volvo could have claimed solving the range anxiety problem without launching the 810 km version.
The interior also caught my eye, because it kept glossy surfaces to a minimum. The steering wheel continues the tradition of not having one million buttons to fiddle with. The driver’s display can also show maps. There’s a central glovebox for easier access.
In the back, the two main seats recline. They also have integrated booster seats – a feature I’m surprised other manufacturers haven’t copied yet. The boot feels gigantic, as I can easily lose two carry on bags under the floor. There’s also storage in the front. The list goes on and on.
The new Volvo EX60 is shaping up to be a hit for the Swedes. If software issues are kept to a minimum, then Volvo is going to have serious work to do to keep up with the demand. The good thing is Volvo promises to update the EX60 so it will become a better car.
Before I wrap up, I have a few complaints about it: it would’ve been nicer to see more buttons under that big central display. I know Volvo is going to encourage drivers to interact with Google Gemini for changing settings on the go, but nothing beats a Jet2 holiday classic physical button. Based on the photos and videos I’ve seen so far, Volvo has also decided to throw away manual controls for the AC vents.
The final thing I’m not so sure about involves the back of the car: in certain lighting conditions, the gap between the spoiler and the stoplights doesn’t appear to align with the small horizontal decoration on the C pillar.
There you have it: the new Volvo EX60 looks so good it’s making me have second thoughts about my next car. I’m sure I’ll come to my senses once enough time has passed. Then I’ll probably test drive it and we’ll be back to square one.
PS: The photos you see here were taken with the Fujifilm GFX 100 II.
