GoKawiilThe new Volvo EX60 is arguably the most important car Volvo could launch right now. It’s an all-electric SUV replacing the most popular car Volvo has ever sold. That’s no mean feat already. And having driven around 700 miles in the EX60 so far, I’m already impressed with what I’ve seen.
So why is this car so critical for Volvo? It’s essentially replacing the gas-powered XC60, and that car has been Volvo’s best-selling model ever in the nearly two decades since its launch in 2008. The landscape has changed significantly since then, and the market is more competitive than ever, with a host of Chinese brands (like BYD, Chery, Jaecoo and others) offering vehicles at more competitive prices than most established European brands can match.
It looks great from all angles. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Volvo needs the EX60 to appeal in the same way the XC60 did. As CNET Senior Writer Antuan Goodwin puts it, “This feels like a make-or-break moment for the brand’s EV ambitions.”
Starting at $59,795 (£56,860) for the base P6 model or $62,145 (£59,860) for the longer-range P10, the electric SUV is competitively priced against luxury rivals from BMW, Mercedes and Audi. But with purse strings tightening the world over, the vehicle needs to work hard to tempt people away from cheaper Chinese options.
Thankfully, I think the Volvo has a hell of a lot to offer. I’ve been testing the all-wheel drive P10 model in its Ultra spec ($68,745 or £65,360, on the road), and it’s already rocketed up my list of top cars I’ve tested. It’s big, commanding its place on the road, with a welcomingly roomy interior. It also packs a battery big enough that I can start forgetting about range anxiety.
I really like the small, squared-circle shape of the steering wheel. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Volvo quotes up to 410 miles for the P10, though that’s based on the more generous WLTP fuel consumption and emissions testing; EPA figures in the US put it at 310 miles, which I think is closer to the mark. I drove from the town of Chesterfield in central England to my home of Edinburgh, Scotland — a roughly 265-mile run — on a single charge, starting with 95% and ending with 9%. I’ve not personally had an EV able to hit that sort of range before, especially considering almost every one of those miles was at fast highway speeds, where EVs are always significantly less efficient.
But even if I did need to stop, it wouldn’t have been for long since the EX60 supports 400kW charging, which Volvo reckons will restore about 211 miles of range in just 10 minutes. That’s assuming you can find a 400kW charging station. In the US, the EX60 will have a native North American Charging Standard port, meaning it can charge at any of the 29,000 Tesla Superchargers without an adapter.
Volvo EX60: A comfortable cruise
... continue reading