Volvo EX60: The Swede Smell of Success?
If there is one thing we Brits love more than queuing or complaining about the weather, it is a sensible, premium SUV. You know the sort: big enough for the Golden Retriever, safe enough to survive a minor apocalypse, and prestigious enough to make the neighbours twitch their curtains in envy. For years, the Volvo XC60 has been the king of this particular castle. But, as Bob Dylan once mumbled, the times they are a-changin’.
Enter the Volvo EX60.
Fresh off the press—and I do mean fresh—this all-electric newcomer has just been crowned the winner of the ‘Reader Award’ at the 2026 What Car? Awards. And here is the kicker: it won this award just one day after its global reveal. That is a bit like winning ‘Employee of the Month’ on your first day at work because you brought in really good doughnuts.
But is the hype justified? Or is this just another silent electric box on wheels? I’ve dived into the details to find out if the EX60 is the car that finally convinces your dad to trade in his diesel.
The Big Reveal: A Scandinavian Storm
Officially unveiled in Sweden on 21 January 2026, the EX60 lands in a world that is already teeming with electric SUVs. To stand out, you need more than just a blanked-off grille and a subscription to Spotify. You need a headline figure that makes people spit out their tea.
Volvo has provided exactly that.
The headline is the range: up to 500 miles.
Read that again. Five. Hundred. Miles. That is not a typo. That is effectively driving from London to Dundee on a single charge, with enough juice left over to find a parking spot and run the heated seats while you eat a celebratory bridie.
For years, ‘range anxiety’ has been the stick used to beat EVs with. "But what if I need to drive to the Scottish Highlands without stopping?" the sceptics cry, despite their bladder usually requiring a stop at Watford Gap. With the EX60, Volvo has effectively taken that stick and thrown it into a fjord. If you can drive 500 miles without stopping, the problem isn't the car's battery; it's yours.
Charging: Faster Than a Greggs Lunch Break
Of course, a massive battery is useless if it takes a fortnight to charge. We have all been there—staring at a charging screen that seems to be counting up in real-time geological eras while the rain lashes sideways.
Volvo claims the EX60 features the "most advanced electric car architecture to date." While that sounds like marketing speak for "we put a bigger computer in it," the numbers back it up. The car supports ultra-fast charging that can take the battery from 10% to 80% in just 19 minutes.
Nineteen minutes. That is barely enough time to queue for a latte and decide you don't actually want a blueberry muffin. By the time you’ve returned to the car and wiped the crumbs off your jumper, you are ready for another 300+ miles. This combination of marathon range and sprinter charging speed is, frankly, the Holy Grail of EV ownership.
And to sweeten the deal? A 10-year battery warranty. Volvo is essentially saying, "We bet this battery lasts longer than your current relationship." It’s a bold move, and one that speaks volumes about their confidence in this new tech.
Design: The "Scandinavian Living Room" on Wheels
Volvo has always been the master of making interiors that feel less like cockpits and more like high-end furniture showrooms. The press release tells us the EX60 combines "natural materials" with a "calming space and clever storage."
In plain English, this means lots of wool blends, recycled plastics that somehow feel expensive, and wood that looks like it was drifted in from a pristine beach. It is the sort of car that makes you want to take your shoes off before getting in (though I wouldn’t recommend driving in your socks; the pedals can be slippery).
The exterior follows the same philosophy. It is aerodynamic, slick, and unmistakably a Volvo. You can expect the signature "Thor's Hammer" headlights, though perhaps now they look more like "Thor's Laser Pointer." It’s handsome in a way that doesn’t scream for attention—it just quietly judges the garish styling of the SUVs around it.
The Award-Winning Family
The EX60 didn't just win the What Car? award in a vacuum. It seems Volvo needs to build a bigger trophy cabinet. At the same ceremony, the little EX30 won ‘Best Interior’ for a small SUV, the XC40 and EX40 picked up awards for family interiors, and the big daddy XC90 won for big families.
It’s a bit of a clean sweep, isn’t it? It suggests that while other manufacturers are busy trying to make their cars play video games or drive sideways like a crab, Volvo has focused on the bit you actually look at: the inside.
Nicole Melillo Shaw, the MD at Volvo Car UK, called the win a "symbol of trust." And she’s right. The What Car? Reader Award is voted for by the public—actual human beings who buy cars, not just journalists who get flown to Spain to drive them. The fact that the public voted this the "Most Exciting New Car of 2026" before anyone had even sat in it is a testament to the brand's reputation.
The Verdict (So Far)
The Volvo EX60 appears to be the Goldilocks car. It’s not as massive as the EX90 (which is lovely, but roughly the size of a canal boat), and it’s more practical than the compact EX30. It sits right in that sweet spot where the XC60 used to reign supreme.
With a 500-mile range, it kills the petrol argument dead. With 19-minute charging, it kills the convenience argument dead. And with a 10-year warranty, it kills the reliability argument dead.
Is it perfect? Well, we haven't driven it yet. It might handle like a shopping trolley filled with bricks. The infotainment screen might bury the climate controls three menus deep (a classic modern car sin). But on paper? It looks like a winner.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Marathon Range: Up to 500 miles is game-changing. You'll need the toilet before the car needs a plug. | The Price Tag: Premium features usually come with a premium invoice. Start saving your pennies now. |
| Rapid Charging: 10-80% in 19 mins. Perfect for a quick coffee stop. | Touchscreen Overload: If it’s like the EX30 or EX90, expect very few physical buttons. RIP, volume knob. |
| Peace of Mind: That 10-year battery warranty is genuinely impressive. | Availability: Launching "later this year." The waiting list might be longer than the queue for Wimbledon. |
| Design: Scandinavian minimalism. It looks better than my actual living room. | The Name: EX60, XC60, XC90, EX90... it’s getting a bit like a game of Battleship. |
Final Thoughts
The Volvo EX60 feels like the moment the electric car finally grows up. It’s no longer a quirky alternative or a second car for city driving. It’s a 500-mile-munching, rapid-charging, family-hauling machine that happens to be electric.
If you are looking to make the switch to electric in 2026, the queue starts here. And judging by the What Car? awards, it’s going to be a long one.
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