Volvo EX60 Electric SUV Debuts This Month—Taking Aim at Porsche

Volvo's rolling out the EX60 electric SUV this month, and it's the first real test of whether the brand can compete with Porsche and Audi on performance and tech without leaning on Scandinavian safety reputation alone. This story, however, is not about its launch but its promises.

The EX60 debuts on January 21 with a structural battery pack—the same approach used in the Model Y to stiffen the chassis and lower the center of gravity—and a suite of adaptive safety features that go beyond what's standard in the class.

The structural battery means the cells aren't just bolted to the floor—they're part of the frame. That cuts weight, improves handling, and frees up interior space because you're not packaging a separate battery tray and subframe. Volvo's betting this construction will give the EX60 sharper dynamics than the boxy XC90, which has always prioritized safety and comfort over cornering. The competition is the Audi Q6 e-tron and the Porsche Macan Electric, both of which lean hard into driving engagement. Volvo needs to match that or risk being the sensible choice nobody wants.

If you check Volvo.com, you will not see anything bar greyed out car shapes; we can only work with notions of its look, mine based on the EX90 2025 for the closest likely approximation.

The safety angle is still there, but it's smarter this time. The EX60 introduces adaptive safety belts that tighten automatically based on driving conditions—cornering, braking, collision risk detected by sensors. It's a world-first feature, and it's the kind of thing Volvo does better than anyone. The question is whether buyers shopping in this price bracket care more about zero-to-60 times or crash protection. Volvo's hoping the answer is "both."

There's no U.S. pricing yet, and no confirmed availability date beyond "2026." European buyers will see it first, which means American buyers are looking at late 2026 or early 2027 before dealerships have inventory. That timing puts the EX60 up against a crowded field: the Macan Electric is already here, the Q6 e-tron is landing soon, and Mercedes has the EQE SUV eating into the same space.

What U.S. Buyers Should Watch For

Volvo hasn't confirmed U.S. specs yet, so range, horsepower, and trim levels are still up in the air. The European version will use an 800-volt architecture for fast charging, which should mean 10-80 percent charging in under 30 minutes on a 350-kW charger. If Volvo brings that to the U.S. without cutting features, the EX60 will be competitive. If they inflate the price to protect XC90 sales, it'll be dead on arrival.

Watch for announcements after the January reveal. If Volvo prices this above $75,000 in the U.S., it's a tough sell against the Macan. Under $70,000, it's interesting and could hurt Porsche's only EV gambit.

My Verdict

The EX60 is Volvo's chance to prove they can build an electric SUV people actually want to drive, not just one that keeps them safe while they're driving something else. The structural battery and adaptive safety belts are promising, but without U.S. pricing and availability, it's vaporware for American buyers. If you're shopping for a mid-size electric SUV right now, don't wait for this—buy the Macan or Q6. If you can wait until late 2026, the EX60 might be worth the patience.