Volvo EX60 1 — Problems & Common Faults
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The EX60 is Volvo's new electric mid-size SUV, competing against the BMW iX3, Mercedes EQE SUV and similar rivals. Its technical basis is the entirely new SPA3 platform — unlike the previous architecture, designed from the ground up purely for electric drive, with no option for a combustion engine. The most striking manufacturing detail is so-called megacasting: the rear underbody is produced as a single, large aluminum casting that replaces dozens of welded sheet-metal parts. That saves weight and assembly steps, but likely makes collision repairs to the rear floor more involved after an accident, since the part cannot be disassembled into individual panels. The battery pack is bonded directly to the body structure (cell-to-body) rather than bolted in as a replaceable module pack.
The EX60 is offered in three power levels: a rear-wheel-drive base version with the smallest battery, an all-wheel-drive version with a mid-size battery, and a later flagship all-wheel-drive version with the largest battery, arriving roughly half a year after the other variants. The cells come from two different suppliers (nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry), reducing dependence on a single plant. Volvo covers the high-voltage battery with its brand-standard warranty of eight years or 160,000 kilometers down to at least 70 percent remaining capacity — used-car buyers should have this value confirmed with a current battery certificate once the fleet ages.
On the software side, the EX60 shares its computing architecture with an already-established, larger sibling model. That model struggled with noticeable teething problems at its own launch: introduction was delayed by several months due to driver-assistance software integration issues, and about a year after sales began it needed a software recall over headlight shutters that could close incorrectly. Whether and to what extent similar issues will affect the EX60 cannot be conclusively judged at this point — but independent first-drive reviews of the EX60 itself already point to a few software rough edges: brake blending into the mechanical friction brake that is not always perfectly smooth, and occasional incorrect speed-limit readings from the traffic-sign recognition. Both are the kind of issues typically addressable through software updates.
When buying used later on, it is worth checking not just battery health but also the software version and update history, plus testing the access system: the EX60 has no conventional door handles or car keys at all, relying instead on a smartphone-based digital key with aerodynamic grip recesses — not consistently effortless in early tests. Minor fit-and-finish inconsistencies have also been documented on early-build cars, which is not unusual for a freshly launched platform.
Engine Overview
The Volvo EX60 1 is available with 3 engine variants — from 374 to 680 hp.
The permanent-magnet synchronous motor on the drive axle is an in-house design and runs without a conventional multi-speed gearbox, using a fixed reduction ratio — mechanically simpler than some rivals that buy in their motors. The underbody consists of a large single-piece aluminum casting that replaces dozens of welded sheet-metal parts and stiffens the body structure. On the software side, the drivetrain runs on the same computing architecture as an already-launched sibling model, which struggled with sensor and control-unit teething problems after its own market launch — the manufacturer states those lessons have already been folded into this drivetrain. Classic wear parts such as a clutch or gear selector are absent entirely. The real unknown for such a young drivetrain is the long-term durability of bearings, inverter electronics and the cooling circuit, for which no solid real-world data exists yet.
No known weaknesses documented.
On the all-wheel-drive variants, a second, identical permanent-magnet synchronous motor on the second axle handles torque distribution, controlled purely electronically with no mechanical coupling between the axles. That allows very fine-grained torque distribution but also adds more sensor and control-software complexity than the simpler single-axle drivetrain. Early press drives criticized a not always confident brake blending between regenerative and mechanical friction braking — a point workshops and diagnostic systems should keep an eye on. The battery pack is bonded directly to the body structure rather than bolted into a conventional frame, which can make post-collision repairs in the battery area more involved than with modular packs. Solid long-term data on inverter and motor-bearing durability does not yet exist for this drivetrain.
No known weaknesses documented.
On the all-wheel-drive variants, a second, identical permanent-magnet synchronous motor on the second axle handles torque distribution, controlled purely electronically with no mechanical coupling between the axles. That allows very fine-grained torque distribution but also adds more sensor and control-software complexity than the simpler single-axle drivetrain. Early press drives criticized a not always confident brake blending between regenerative and mechanical friction braking — a point workshops and diagnostic systems should keep an eye on. The battery pack is bonded directly to the body structure rather than bolted into a conventional frame, which can make post-collision repairs in the battery area more involved than with modular packs. Solid long-term data on inverter and motor-bearing durability does not yet exist for this drivetrain.
No known weaknesses documented.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Brake blending near standstill According to the first press test, the handover from regenerative braking to the mechanical friction brake does not always happen smoothly just before standstill, causing a noticeable jolt at low speed. Symptoms: Slightly jerky or uneven braking feel right before the car comes to a complete stop, most noticeable in one-pedal driving at low speed. | Low |
Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 3 weaknesses have been documented for the Volvo EX60 1 (2026–2027). Typical issues affect Brakes, Electronics.
What to watch out for with the Volvo EX60? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Volvo EX60 1 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Volvo EX60 1? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Volvo EX60 1 engine is the most fun? +
Is the Volvo EX60 1 worth buying used? +
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee