Mat Watson reviews the new Volvo EX60: why is this the best car in it’s class?

This is the new Volvo EX60, and it’s the car which stole the BMW iX3’s thunder. That car launched with 500 miles of range, then the EX60 came along with 503 miles of range. How’s that for one-upmanship?

As well as the iX3, the Volvo EX60 needs to beat the new Mercedes GLC EV. After a week and a few hundred miles in the Volvo, I think this is the best car in its class.

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Let’s start with the way it looks. It’s more like a slightly bigger version of the EX30 rather than a shrunken EX90, and that’s a good thing. I like the Thor’s Hammer daytime running lights and the smooth front end, and the clever little fins disguising the door handles make it look sleek down the side. The rear lights are cool as well – it’s a much better-looking car than the iX3.

That theme continues inside as well. Volvo knows how to design an interior, and I love the EX60’s cabin. The dashboard looks clean and minimalistic, without being too plain. The seats are also gloriously comfortable, and the materials all feel super plush and expensive.

It’s a shame that everything is controlled through the central touchscreen, but at least it’s really responsive and easy to use thanks to the Google-based software. The digital driver’s display is also clear, and it sits in your direct eyeline above the steering wheel which removes the need for a head-up display.

I also love the Bowers and Wilkins sound system on this range-topping Ultra version. The standard 21-speaker Bose setup is good, but the upgraded setup sounds phenomenal.

Interior storage is a bit strange, but there is plenty of it. The glovebox is in the middle, making it easier to reach, and there’s a wireless charging tray just above it. The centre console doesn’t open up either, it slides out like a drawer to reveal your cupholders.

It’s still a practical cabin though, and it’s roomy in the back seats as well. There’s loads of head and legroom, and you can alter the angle of the backrest to get even more comfortable. The ISOFIX anchor points are easy to get to as well, and I like the covered cupholders in the central armrest.

My daughter, however, doesn’t like that the rear windows don’t go all the way down. At least she has two USB-C charging points back there to keep her iPad charged up.

The boot is 523 litres, which is three litres more than the BMW iX3 to match the three miles of extra range.

Alright, so I don’t think Volvo did that deliberately, but I do know that I managed to get nine suitcases in the EX60. That’s one more than I got in the iX3, so that extra three litres is clearly working overtime.

So what’s the EX60 like to drive? Well it’s not especially sporty, but that’s not what you expect from a Volvo. It’s just a very relaxing, comfortable cruiser.

It’s really quiet on the motorway, thanks in part to the double glazing you get as standard, and the suspension is really soft without feeling wallowy. It doesn’t quite glide down the road like a Mercedes GLC does on its air suspension, but it’s not far off.

The seats are really comfy as well. I could go for miles in this car, not just because it’s comfortable, but because it’s also efficient.

This particular EX60 has the slightly smaller 91kWh battery pack delivering 403 miles of range according to official tests. whereas the 503-mile version has a 112kWh battery.

Over 300 miles, I averaged 3.8 miles per kWh, which equates to a real-world range of around 350 miles. That’s around 30 miles more than I got from the BMW iX3.

So how much does all this cost you? Well, the Volvo EX60 starts from just under £57,000, around £4,000 more than a BMW iX3 and £1,500 more than a Mercedes GLC EV. However, the version I’d get is the P10 Ultra, just like the car I have here, and that costs over £65,000.

That’s still a couple of grand more than the equivalent iX3, but it’s around £3,000 less than a similarly-equipped Mercedes GLC EV.

Despite the price difference compared to the BMW iX3, I still reckon you should go right ahead and buy the new Volvo EX60. It’s more comfortable, more efficient, nicer inside and better-looking than the BMW. It really is the best car in its class.

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