How We Tested

Best of the Year analysts reached out to Volvo to arrange a manufacturer press-fleet loan of the 2026 EX60. An automotive reviewer with decades of experience test-driving vehicles and covering cars for major media outlets drove it in and around the New York City metropolitan area. Another tester also test-drove the EX60 and shared feedback. Together, they assessed the cabin and materials, front- and rear-seat comfort and space, the driving experience, and the technology, including its touchscreen-focused controls, with everyday use in mind.

Best of the Year analysts reviewed Volvo’s entry and submitted materials, published range and charging specifications, and the support for its safety-related claims. At least one sustainability judge reviewed the manufacturer’s sustainability report and noted relevant initiatives as part of the overall evaluation.

What Experts and Consumer Testers Said

One of our reviewers, very well versed in Volvo's technology, was still pleasantly surprised by how far this package has moved. In a segment filling up fast with premium electric SUVs, she found this one stands out on the things you live with every day: an upscale, sleek interior, a generous back seat with ample headroom helped by a low floor, a standard glass roof that ties the cabin to the exterior, super-ergonomic front seats, and a refined, composed drive, all at a starting price that makes it a strong value for what you get. As she put it, "Everything inside was upscale and sleek, the back seat is generous, and the low floor means ample head clearance. A great overall vehicle at a great value for the set."

"Everything inside was upscale and sleek, the back seat is generous, and the low floor means ample head clearance. A great overall vehicle at a great value for the set." -Best of the Year Judge & Automotive Expert

The EX60 debuts what Volvo describes as a world-first multi-adaptive seatbelt, shaped by decades of crash research and designed to adjust its protection in real time. It's the kind of substantive, brand-defining idea that fits Volvo's history, while restyling itself for the electric era. The car does a lot right to make it a vehicle that's pleasant to live with: comfort, quiet, space, and a design that delivers.

It also takes direct aim at the reasons people hesitate on electric. Volvo says the top trim can travel up to 400 miles on a charge, that its 800-volt fast-charging system can add a big chunk of range in around ten minutes, and that starting near $58,400, roughly in line with its established gas-hybrid SUV, it makes going electric feel like a step rather than a leap. Because it's built on a new software-defined platform, the brand says it's designed to keep improving through updates rather than feeling dated the year after you buy.

Controls like climate live only in the touchscreen, and our reviewer found that took real acclimation and stayed frustrating even once she knew where everything was, too many menu layers to reach a basic control. Even so, a reviewer steeped in the brand came away sold, calling it "definitely a winner. As someone well acquainted with Volvo's ecosystem, I was very pleasantly surprised by the upgrade."

"Definitely a winner. As someone well acquainted with Volvo's ecosystem, I was very pleasantly surprised by the upgrade." -Best of the Year Judge & Automotive Category Expert

Best of the Year Bottom Line

If you're shopping premium electric SUVs, the EX60 is one we'd point you to. It nails the fundamentals, upscale and comfortable inside, roomy, refined to drive, and priced to make premium electric attainable, and it backs that up with a real safety innovation and a serious answer to range and charging worries. The one thing to know before you buy is that it leans hard on the touchscreen for everyday controls like climate, so give yourself time to get used to it. Do that, and you've got a refined, well-rounded, great-value electric luxury SUV with Volvo's safety-first character at its core.

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have built their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

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