Growing up, my mum was a ‘big car’ person. Not quite American pick-up truck big, but certainly sizeable enough that you wouldn’t want to end up sandwiched beside it in the Waitrose car park. This inevitably meant that I spent hours-upon-hours being ferried around in vast vehicles, hoisted far above the ground with an aerial view fit for a king. Ever since, I’ve had an affinity for larger models. So, when H! Fashion were invited out to Barcelona to test drive Volvo’s all-singing, all-dancing, fully-electric EX60, I leapt at the chance.
The Spanish metropolis made for the ideal setting to give the mid-size SUV a whirl. Bustling city streets and busy boulevards questioned the car’s manoeuvrability, while sweeping mountain roads allowed for cinematic pedal-to-the-metal moments.
After the somewhat stressful stages of navigating Barcelona’s roundabout system (or lack thereof), one could really settle into the car’s ergonomic, ventilated Nappa leather seating and warming aesthetic – aided by the flow of sunlight streaming through the glass roof. Inspired by the Scandinavian outdoors, the EX60’s interior promises an airy, light driving experience, flanked by a swanky core computing platform that coordinates everything from routes to infotainment (perfect for lengthy road trips in lands unknown), and a built-in premium Bose or Bowers & Wilkins speaker system of your choosing in the headrests. All to be enjoyed while perched behind the sleek, square wheel that offers a wider view of the road ahead.
In true Scandi style, functionality was clearly key here. There is enough storage for the essentials (the boot has 634 litres of space), without the cavernous compartments that inevitably become graveyards for whatever the kids have stuffed inside. The faff-phobic car also boasts a HuginCore system that empowers the car to think, process and act, in addition to conversational AI. Want to stop off via some scenic beauty spots en route or whack some Madonna on? Simply ask Gemini.
Safety has long been Volvo’s bread and butter. The EX60 introduces the brand’s world-first multi-adaptive safety belt, designed to help lower the risk of injury in the case of a crash. How does it work you ask? The snazzy piece of tech yields data from interior and exterior sensors to adjust belt tension. It feels slightly alien at first, being futuristically cocooned into the seat, but it’s a reassuring innovation – particularly for women, who remain more likely than men to be seriously injured in frontal accidents despite wearing a seatbelt.
© VolvoMoving onto the exterior. While Volvo remains the go-to choice for family cars, the EX60 is far from being unsexy. Available in a range of tempting tones including Frost Green, Ice White and the ever popular Aurora Silver, the car is finished with handless doors, stainless steel skid plates, matte black claddings, wheel-arch extensions, megacasting aluminium and headlights inspired by Thor’s hammer. There’s nothing a touch of muscle power can’t fix.
As for the fun stuff? For those with a need for speed, you shan’t be disappointed as the car has a governed top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h) across all variants. Three battery options are also available, and ours, the mid-spec P10 AWD, with 510hp and 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, felt brilliant when hitting the motorway. Plus, there’s no need to fret about battery life, as a 10-80 per cent charge takes just 19 minutes. On that note, a key point for the environmentalists among you advocates, the car has both the lowest carbon footprint and highest amount of recycled content of any Volvo model to date. Sleek, speedy and sustainable wrapped up in one smooth-looking design.
© VovloFor those seeking a family car that ticks every box, the EX60 is difficult to fault. It’s refined without feeling fussy, practical without sleeping in style, and reassuringly quick when the road opens up.
But beyond the attractive design and clever technology, it’s the badge on the bonnet that wins me over. My dear mum, who I previously mentioned, survived a serious crash in a Volvo – which ended up crushed beneath a faulty crop sprayer. Ever since, the brand has represented something far more valuable than horsepower or head-turning looks: peace of mind. After a day behind the wheel of the EX60, it feels as though Volvo has managed to carry that same commitment to safety into a thoroughly modern, all-electric package. Some loyalties are built over a test drive. Mine started much earlier.
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