Volvo EX60 Is Here—And It Could Be The Electric XC60 Enthusiasts Have Been Waiting For

Volvo has officially revealed the EX60, the all-electric successor to the XC60 nameplate—and for loyalists who’ve spent years watching the brand inch toward full electrification, this one lands with real weight. The EX60 isn’t a rebadge or a stopgap; it’s Volvo’s declaration that the XC60’s legacy continues on battery power alone, priced at roughly $7,200 less than the outgoing XC60 PHEV.

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The question XC60 faithful have been asking since the EX90 arrived isn’t just about range or charging speed. It’s whether the EX60 preserves what made the Polestar-tuned XC60 variants genuinely rewarding to drive—that taut, composed character that kept it competitive against German alternatives. Early reviews are cautiously optimistic, with Automotive News calling it “a charmer all around.” Whether charm translates to driver engagement is a more nuanced story.

The EX60’s Powertrain Case: Instant Torque As A Substitute For Combustion Feel

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The XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered was a particular kind of machine—a plug-in hybrid that layered a 143-hp electric motor over a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, producing a combined 415 horsepower and a 0–60 time in the mid-four-second range. What made it interesting wasn’t raw output alone; it was the way the combustion engine’s character bled through, giving the car a textured, responsive feel that pure EVs have historically struggled to replicate.

The EX60 makes its case differently. Dual-motor all-wheel drive delivers instant torque from a standing start, and Volvo is targeting performance figures that sit in credible proximity to the outgoing T8 PE. The EX60 is rated for up to 400 miles of range—a number that, if it holds up in real-world mixed driving, would address one of the most persistent anxieties among SUV buyers considering the EV switch. That range figure puts it ahead of most rivals in the segment at launch.

Handling And Suspension: Does the EX60 Drive Like a Volvo Should?

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Polestar tuning on the XC60 wasn’t just a badge—it meant recalibrated dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars, and steering that felt more connected than the standard car’s. The EX60 inherits a platform engineered around a low-mounted battery pack, which drops the center of gravity meaningfully compared to any combustion XC60. That’s a structural advantage that no amount of suspension tuning can replicate in a tall SUV with a high-mounted drivetrain.

Volvo hasn’t yet confirmed whether a dedicated performance variant — something that carries the Polestar Engineered spirit forward — is planned for the EX60 lineup. Given that Polestar now operates as a standalone brand, the relationship between the two companies’ performance credentials is less straightforward than it once was. What’s clear is that the base platform gives Volvo’s engineers more to work with dynamically than the XC60’s architecture ever did.

Price And Positioning: A Genuine Value Shift For The Nameplate

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The pricing story is one of the EX60’s stronger arguments. Coming in below the XC60 PHEV by a meaningful margin—and undercutting several key EV rivals in the segment—the EX60 repositions what the XC60 nameplate costs to own. For buyers who were already stretching to reach T8 Polestar Engineered territory, this is a genuine shift.

Autoweek’s early coverage noted the EX60 is targeting upscale buyers with premium features and the 400-mile capability as its headline number. That combination—lower entry price, longer range, Volvo’s established reputation for safety and interior quality—makes a compelling package on paper. The real test will come when independent long-term range assessments and suspension evaluations arrive. For now, the EX60 looks like the electric XC60 the nameplate’s followers have been waiting for, even if the Polestar-tuned chapter of that story is still being written.

Volvo’s commitment to going all-electric remains firm, and the EX60 is the clearest proof yet that the brand isn’t treating electrification as a compromise. Whether it fully satisfies the driver who loved the T8 PE’s combustion-electric hybrid feel is a question that first drives will answer—but the foundation is more promising than skeptics expected.