Several years ago, prospective EV buyers had every reason to feel nervous about how long the battery pack would last. Battery technology has come a long way since EVs went mainstream, though, and a new study out of Sweden puts a number on how much capacity new EVs hold onto after 62,000 miles, or 100,000 km, of driving. The results may surprise you.

The study, run by online car marketplace Carla, went through 9,954 battery tests of EVs sold in Sweden between 2022 and 2026, using a diagnostic tool from AVILOO that measures a pack’s true state of health instead of leaning on the estimates the car itself provides. That distinction matters, because in-car readouts can sometimes paint a rosier picture than reality.

Read: A Seven-Year-Old Tesla Model 3 Survived 380,000 Miles, Its Range Did Not

The Kia e-Niro came out on top, hanging on to an impressive 97.25 percent of its original capacity after 62,000 miles. It shares its 64 kWh battery with the Hyundai Kona, which nearly matched it at 97.18 percent, and the podium stayed within the Hyundai Motor Group family thanks to the Kia EV6 and its 77.4 kWh pack in third place.

Top-Performing EVs

The strongest European EV was the Volvo XC40 and its CATL-sourced 69 kWh battery, which held 94.70 percent of its capacity after 62,000 miles, trailed closely by the Polestar 2 and its 78 kWh CATL pack at 94.35 percent. The BMW i3 and the LG Chem version of the Polestar 2 landed close behind at 93.77 percent and 93.53 percent.

What About Tesla?

The best-placed model from EV leader Tesla was the Model 3 fitted with a 60.5 kWh LFP battery from CATL, retaining 93.34 percent of its capacity. This put it slightly above the Model 3 with an LG Chem-sourced NMC battery at 91.5 percent.

Among the other EVs ranked inside the top 20 were the Audi e-tron 50 and 55 at 93.02 and 92.93 percent, respectively, the Skoda Enyaq iV at 92.88 percent, the Tesla Model S with 92.80 percent, the VW ID.4 at 92.77 percent, and the Tesla Model X at 92.52 percent.

The bigger lesson here is that the old fear of an EV’s battery dying young no longer holds up. Every car in this ranking kept more than 90 percent of its capacity past 62,000 miles, and most owners will not even reach that figure until three or four years of driving. The pack is now likely to outlast the car wrapped around it.

Volvo spent the last few years methodically trimming its U.S. lineup until only crossovers remained. Sedans disappeared, wagons followed, and the company’s strategy seemed crystal clear: Americans wanted SUVs, so that’s what Volvo would sell. Now, however, the company appears to be reconsidering that approach, and the timing couldn’t be more interesting.

More: There’s Still Hope For Volvo Wagons After All

According to Automotive News, Volvo is evaluating a pair of electric midsize cars for the U.S. market that could arrive in 2028, potentially bringing both a sedan and a wagon back to American showrooms.

The vehicles would reportedly be based on Volvo’s new SPA3 platform, the same next-generation architecture underpinning the upcoming EX60. And since the cars are already being engineered for Europe, reworking them for American roads shouldn’t take much effort, according to a person briefed on the talks.

The EX60 features an 800-volt electrical system, allowing for faster charging while supporting a wide range of battery capacities, motor configurations, and performance levels. If approved, the two models would evidently revive familiar 60- or 70-series nameplates, with a rugged Cross Country wagon variant also said to be under consideration.

Read: Polestar Owners Fear A Fisker-Style Resale Collapse After US Ban

While it’s relatively rare to see an automaker adapt a European-spec vehicle for the U.S. market, Volvo believes the feat isn’t too tough to pull off in this case. That said, expectations appear conservative. Combined annual sales are said to be projected at roughly 10,000 units, with pricing expected to begin somewhere in the low-$50,000 range.

Betting On Wagon Nostalgia

If it moves forward with this change, it’s easy to see how the brand could market these cars. Sedans and, most notably, wagons are a deeply ingrained part of how Volvo got to where it is today. As we’ve seen across the industry, brands are eager to monetize nostalgia at every turn. At least this time it sounds like the enthusiasts might benefit most.

Edmunds analyst Ivan Drury told Autonews that he believes Volvo could carve out a niche as a “counter-culture cool” electric wagon, giving buyers an alternative in a segment that has largely disappeared beneath the SUV boom.

There’s another factor working in Volvo’s favor. With Polestar effectively retreating from the U.S. after tariffs derailed its product plans, Geely’s American portfolio suddenly has a sedan-shaped hole in it. A stylish Volvo EV could help fill that gap while keeping customers within the broader corporate family. The move would also hand Volvo retailers some badly needed fresh metal after the brand’s U.S. market share slid to 5.8 percent last year, the lowest it has been since 2019.

Last week brought new that the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security had denied Polestar authorization to sell any of its vehicles in the US beyond the 2027 model year. That might read as good news to pundits who want cars running Chinese-derived hardware and software off American roads, but for people who already own a Polestar, it’s about the worst outcome imaginable.

The decision blindsided dealers. Volvo was recently granted an exemption to keep selling its cars in the United States, despite the fact that those vehicles also carry various hardware and software components sourced from China, which makes the split treatment hard to square.

Read: The US Just Banned Polestar From Selling New Cars, Even The One It Builds In America

Current owners, along with buyers still waiting on delivery of a new model, worry the ruling could drag down the resale value of their EVs, and they’ve started questioning how long Polestar’s service network can hold together. Beyond that, many fear their cars will stop receiving regular software updates and that the onboard technology could fall behind what’s offered in other markets, Reuters reports.

Also: Dealer Is Selling Dozens Of Nearly New Fisker EVs For The Price Of Used Corollas

Meanwhile, some shoppers are welcoming the chaos. They’re betting that sinking resale values will make used Polestars a lot cheaper, and a few are drawing comparisons to the fire-sale prices that followed Fisker’s 2024 bankruptcy.

Could Volvo Step Up?

Polestar

Speaking with the publication, Polestar owner Ryan Rodriguez said he had purchased a 2024 model just weeks before the company’s shutdown was announced. Had he known the ban was coming, he says he would have looked hard at an EV from a different brand instead, and the prospect of warranty trouble somewhere down the line sits with him too.

Owners and dealers may bristle at Volvo landing an exemption while Polestar walked away with nothing, but Volvo’s network is likely to be the thing that keeps existing Polestar models on the road. Karl Brauer of iSeeCars figures Volvo should be able to soften “a lot of the otherwise negative effects” of Polestar getting pushed out of the US.

Not everyone is convinced, however. Owner Bill Baird, who hopes to hang onto his 2024 Polestar for years to come, told Reuters he would think twice before buying another, having already run into trouble getting his car serviced through Volvo dealerships. “I’d be a little wary of that, just for long-term support,” he said.

Polestar says it will continue to operate its 32 existing service centers across the country, all of which are located at Volvo dealerships, although the centers’ long-term viability remains uncertain. The automaker also maintains that all US vehicles will keep getting regular software updates.

Polestar

Polestar can no longer sell new cars in the United States past the 2027 model year. The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security refused the EV maker the clearance it needs to keep doing business in the country, citing the Connected Vehicle Rule. Geely owns a majority stake in the brand, and that Chinese ownership is the reason the rule bites.

Washington has spent months working to block cars built and exported from China, with the Trump administration casting the effort as protection for domestic manufacturing. Polestar just happens to be the latest brand swept up in it.

Also: Biden Tried To Ban Chinese Cars And Tech, Trump Just Gave Volvo The Green Light

The Connected Vehicle Rule, finalized under the Biden administration, bars cars with Chinese or Russian software and hardware in their connectivity systems from the US market on national-security grounds. The fear is data and remote access, a connected car built within Beijing’s reach feeding information home or tampered with from afar.

Software restrictions land first, for the 2027 model year, with the hardware side following in 2030. Automakers need an authorization to sell in America, and while Polestar didn’t get one, sister brand Volvo, also Geely-owned, secured a waiver in May. Lincoln and Buick will have to clear the same hurdle, since both sell Chinese-built models in the States, the Nautilus and Envision respectively.

The South Carolina Problem

Washington’s decision hits hardest on the Polestar 3, the only model the automaker builds here in the United States, assembled at its South Carolina factory since 2024. Those American-made examples don’t stay local either, since they’re shipped across to Europe as well. What happens to that operation now is up in the air.

Also: US Threatens Action Over Pirelli Tech Hidden In Your Car’s Tires

Existing stock is safe for now, with whatever 3 and 4 inventory remains in the States still up for sale. But with the brand effectively locked out of the country, the real question is whether anyone will want one, even with a promise to keep servicing those cars and looking after the people who already bought them.

Europe Was Always The Plan, Says Polestar

Polestar doesn’t appear to be contesting the decision either, and its own numbers might explain why. The U.S. was never where the money came from, with 94 percent of its retail sales in the first quarter of 2026 landing outside America. CEO Michael Lohscheller is pointing what’s left toward Europe and other growth markets. “The automotive industry is entering a new phase, based on regional dynamics,” he said in a statement.

Read: Lincoln’s Best-Selling SUV Could Be Banned In America

“Our strategy reflects that, with Europe being our largest growth engine and our plan to manufacture Polestar 7 in Europe,” Lohscheller continued. “Our record sales in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 show that we are making strong progress, with several new market launches taking place in Europe this year. In addition, we will continue to invest in markets where we have opportunities to continue to grow, like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Canada.”

The Volvo XC40 has aged into one of the most stubbornly durable products in the Swedish lineup. It showed up as a concept in 2016, reached production in 2017, and got a facelift in 2022. A next-generation version is rumored to be in the works, but new spy shots tell a different story for the near term. The current car is lined up for another round of updates, with a possible reveal in 2027.

The hot weather testing season has already started in Spain, and Volvo’s engineering teams are making the most of the demanding conditions. Not long after we caught a facelifted XC60 prototype, our spy photographers have now bagged an updated XC40.

More: Volvo’s Decade-Old XC60 Just Got A Facelift, And Another One Is Already Coming

The lightly camouflaged prototype retains the signature side windows and sculpted profile of the existing model, but the front end has been redesigned. The headlights appear to be slimmer with heavier contours and Thor’s hammer LED graphics, while the revised grille is intentionally hidden under a piece of camo.

The front bumper adopts a cleaner design, doing without the side intakes of its predecessors and adding thicker cladding on the pronounced chin. At the back, the traditional L-shaped taillights are covered in black tape, an attempt to disguise the updated LED graphics.

SH Proshots

Other changes include the flatter surfacing on the tailgate and the smaller reflectors low on the rear bumper. The dual tailpipes poking out of the rear end are just provisional units, and they’ll be swapped for a different design on the production model.

A few spy shots also offer a glimpse inside the cabin. The biggest change looks to be a new portrait-oriented infotainment display, similar to the one in the EX30. Volvo could add new materials and upholstery options, too.

More: A Slate Designer Spent His Spare Time Redrawing Volvo’s Lost Wagon

The powertrain lineup will most likely carry over the existing mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric (EX40) options. The combustion engines might get updates, though, to stay compatible with Europe’s strict emission rules for a few more years. Volvo’s engineers could also tweak the chassis setup in search of a more refined ride.

The XC40’s second facelift should land in 2027, the year the nameplate turns ten. The electric EX40 will almost certainly inherit the same updates, separated by a few styling cues that mark it as the zero-emission one. It competes with the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3, and Alfa Romeo Tonale.

SH Proshots

Volvo’s current lineup leans hard on SUVs, but the brand built its reputation on wagons, and there’s reason to believe it hasn’t given up on them. Neither has at least one of the people who used to design its cars. A former Volvo designer set out to bring the old formula back with a pair of digital concepts, the V77 and XC77, each built around a mix of minimalism and sustainability.

The man behind them is Julien Fesquet, a Los Angeles-based professional designer currently working for Slate Auto. His resume reads like a grand tour of the industry, with stops at Volvo, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, and Ferrari.

More: Volvo’s Prettiest Wagon Returns, But Only A Lucky Few Will Own One

The V77 and XC77 are a personal project, drawing on Bauhaus principles and the work of Dieter Rams, the industrial designer whose thinking eventually shaped the look of Apple products. Both wear a three-door shooting brake body with a low nose and an aerodynamic roofline. Staying true to Volvo’s playbook, the V77 is built for the road while the XC77 adds crossover cues and a lifted stance.

Illustrations: Julien Fesquet

Beyond the compact footprint and genuinely handsome proportions, the concepts trade in clean surfacing and restraint. The low-mounted headlights fade into a covered grille via a digital gradient, and the Volvo emblem has been pared down to a single horizontal line.

More: Volvo 240R EV Study Throws A Brick At Electric Performance

The profile is distinguished by large alloy wheels, supercar-style creases on the front fenders, a flat beltline, and a bi-tone livery with a darker finish for the lower bodywork. The rear section is even more striking, with a glass tailgate surrounded by ultra-slim LEDs. The designer also placed emphasis on the Color, Materials, and Finish (CMF) strategy, proposing the use of recycled materials and an unpainted body for the V77.

Inside, we find two rows of seats and a rather large boot. The V77 adopts a Cream Yellow interior theme inspired by the Volvo 850 T-5R, while the XC77 gets an Orange interior that complements its earthy brown exterior panels.

Illustrations: Julien Fesquet

Fesquet didn’t list any specs, but the absence of cooling vents and tailpipes suggests the digital concepts were envisioned with a fully electric powertrain.

More: The EX30 Is Dead, But Volvo’s Next Cheap EV Is Already On The Way To America

Fesquet told CarScoops: “Volvo is a brand with iconic station wagon, very minimal functional boxy designs in the past. It still has beautiful cars, but it tends to be oriented to more traditional automotive design. I thought it would be interesting to break the modern Volvo codes and imagine what it could look like if it was still a more minimal, functional, and industrial design. Something modern, sophisticated yet boxy, but without forgetting the need of aerodynamic performance. This led to this shooting brake silhouette with a low nose, sleek roof and low ground clearance.”

What About Real Volvo Wagons?

Volvo has recently wound down production of the aging V60 and V90, along with the adventurous XC60 and XC90. Even so, wagon fans aren’t completely out of luck.

Chief technology officer Anders Bell has said the new SPA3 architecture, which debuted underneath the EX60 SUV, can support a range of bodystyles, low-slung models included. Volvo hasn’t confirmed any wagon yet, so the question comes down to whether demand will be there to justify the spend. For now, we wait.

Illustrations: Julien Fesquet

The trouble with a recall is that it only works if the fix arrives before the thing you were trying to prevent. Three months after Volvo pulled more than 40,000 electric EX30s worldwide over a battery fire risk, Thailand’s consumer protection authority has sued the automaker following two local fires.

Earlier this week, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) met with officials from Volvo following two high-profile fires involving the electric crossover. The first fire occurred around March 25 in Bangkok, while the second occurred on May 15, when an EX30 was plugged in and charging at the owner’s home. The fire quickly spread to a Ford Ranger parked next to the Volvo and also damaged the building.

Read: Volvo Pulls 40,000 EVs Back For Costly Battery Replacement

According to the recall Volvo issued in February, both EX30s that caught fire in Thailand had been charged beyond the 70 percent limit Volvo had recommended as a temporary safety measure. This explanation hasn’t satisfied local authorities, who have filed a civil suit and are seeking damages and refunds for owners.

A total of 1,668 EX30s in Thailand are impacted by the recall. Volvo says replacement battery packs have recently arrived in the country from China and will be installed in customers’ cars from May 22. The OCPB isn’t happy that it took three months for these batteries to arrive after the recall was announced and has asked Volvo how it intends to compensate those owners who’ve been unable to use their vehicles normally over this period.

Owners Want Refunds

Speaking with Reuters, a local EX30 owner, Tanchanok Nowsuwan, has suggested that most owners don’t want a battery replacement, and instead want a full refund. The EX30 recall impacts both Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance models.

In a statement issued online, Volvo Car Thailand noted that it will take approximately 3 days to replace the battery packs on each affected model.

“Volvo Car Thailand would like to express our sincere concern regarding the two recent fire incidents involving Volvo EX30 vehicles,” it wrote. “We have closely monitored and thoroughly investigated each case and have promptly provided appropriate support and remediation to those affected.”

That didn’t take long. Just a couple of months after Volvo confirmed it was pulling the EX30 from the US after the 2026 model year, the Swedish automaker has said it is already working on a replacement for its most affordable electric model.

Volvo Cars America president Luis Rezende dropped the news to reporters at the US launch of the larger EX60. While he stopped short of giving real specifics, he did confirm the new model will be priced in the same territory as the EX30. That matters, because the EX30 was originally meant to start at $34,950 before tariffs forced Volvo to add roughly $10,000 to the sticker.

Read: After Just Two Years, Volvo Drops Its Cheapest EV From America

“Very similar, I would say,” Rezende said when asked how the new model would compare to the EX30 on price, though it is not clear whether he meant the pre-tariff figure or the post-tariff one. “It’s going to be an EV that will deliver a lot of good things in a bigger space, but it will also be fun to drive, I can promise you.”

That last bit is the interesting part. The Verge reports that Rezende did not name the model, but evidence points to the next-generation EX40, which is already in development and will ride on the SPA3 platform shared with the EX60. The promise of “a bigger space” also lines up with what we know about the next EX40, which is set to grow over the outgoing car.

What Will It Cost?

Pricing will be key. The current EX40 starts at around $56,000, which barely undercuts the brand-new EX60 at $58,400 before destination. Volvo will have to slash costs significantly if it wants the future EX40 or whatever else it names it to be priced around the same mark as the EX30. Either that, or it’ll have to be a stripped-out, back-to-basics model like the base versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Alternatively, it could be an all-new model that we don’t yet know about.

Either way, Rezende confirmed that the new model will launch in the US next year, so its development must have been underway for quite some time. Volvo is not going to leave the slot empty for long if it can help it.

Following its unveiling in January, the 2027 Volvo EX60 celebrated its North American debut in New York City. The automaker has also begun accepting orders, and pricing starts at $58,400 before a $1,395 destination fee. That’s nearly $20,000 less than the EX90 and $3,100 cheaper than the BMW iX3.

Kicking things off is the EX60 P6 Plus, which features a streamlined design and a minimalist interior. The latter sports an 11.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch infotainment system with Gemini as well as Google built-in. Buyers will also find a 21-speaker Bose audio system, Pilot Assist, and a Safe Space technology suite.

More: Volvo’s New 400-Mile SUV Debuts With One Feature Tesla Owners Will Be Jealous Of

The EX60 P6 Ultra begins at $65,000 and has an upgraded interior with ventilated Nappa leather upholstery as well as a heated second row featuring integrated booster seats. They’re joined by an electrochromic panoramic roof and a 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system.

From 369 HP To 503 HP, And Up To 322 Miles Of Range

Both models are equipped with a rear-mounted motor producing 369 hp (275 kW / 374 PS) and 354 lb-ft (479 Nm) of torque. It enables the crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 5.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).

The motor is powered by an 83 kWh battery pack, providing a range of up to 307 miles (494 km). When the battery is low, owners will be thankful for the 800V architecture and 320 kW DC fast-charging capability, which enables the P6 variants to get 155 miles (249 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes. The battery can also go from 10-80% in a mere 16 minutes. It’s also worth noting that the EX60 has a native NACS port for easy access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

Moving up the trim ladder is the EX60 P10 AWD Plus and Ultra. They retail for $60,750 and $67,350, respectively.

As the name suggests, the P10 features a dual-motor all-wheel drive system. It produces 503 hp (375 kW / 510 PS) and 524 lb-ft (710 Nm) of torque, which enables the EV to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).

Upgrades extend beyond the motors as the P10 has a beefier 95 kWh battery that increases the range up to 322 miles (518 km). Buyers will also find an improved DC fast-charging capability of 370 kW, which provides up to 165 miles (266 km) of range in as little as ten minutes. The EV can also go from 10-80% charge in around 16 minutes.

The EX60 P12 AWD will arrive later with a 117 kWh battery and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system pumping out 670 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) and 583 lb-ft (790 Nm) of torque. This will give the crossover a range of up to 400 miles (644 km) and a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 3.8 seconds.

With all that being said, you can configure your EX60 and order it here.

2027 Volvo EX60 US Pricing

*Prices exclude a $1,395 destination fee

Volvo is deep into development of a redesigned XC40, and the plan is to have it on sale in the US next year. Details are still thin, but its arrival confirms something else. The current XC40 and its electric counterpart, the EX40, are sticking around a little longer, with production expected to run through late this year.

Launched in late 2017 as Volvo’s smallest SUV, the XC40 has aged reasonably well, though it’s starting to feel its years. Updates have been minimal, limited to a single light facelift. The next-generation version is expected to widen its appeal with a plug-in hybrid option, sitting alongside the existing mild-hybrid lineup.

Read: Volvo’s New 400-Mile SUV Has One Feature Tesla Owners Will Be Jealous Of

There is more riding on this update than just keeping things fresh. Dealers are counting on the new XC40 to help steady the brand’s footing in the US. Total sales collapsed 32 percent in the first quarter to 22,651 vehicles, while Volvo’s share of the luxury segment slid to 5.8 percent, its lowest point since 2019. The XC40 has been hit especially hard, with sales down 47 percent to just 3,403 units.

More Updates Are Needed

To help keep the XC40 somewhat fresh for 2026, Volvo updated it with a new infotainment system. But if it wants to recapture buyers, it’ll need to make much more significant upgrades to the next-generation model. Auto News reports that the new EX40 will make a major step forward by sharing its SPA3 platform with the electric EX60.

While a new XC40 is just around the corner, some dealers believe Volvo would be better off prioritizing other models, like the XC60 and XC90, as they’re more profitable. “XC40 is a great car, and we appreciate the updates,” one dealer said, before adding that “the US is a big car market.”

Volvo is already putting effort into its larger lineup. The XC60 received updates last year and is set to be built at the brand’s Ridgeville, South Carolina plant starting in late 2026. The XC90, meanwhile, got a second facelift in 2024, with a full redesign also in development. That said, it may not arrive until 2029, leaving the current model to carry the load a while longer.