Volvo EX60 vs Zeekr 7X family feud could be decided off-road

The incoming Volvo EX60 electric SUV is shaping up as more than just a successor to the XC60 – it’s also set to ignite a family feud with Geely stablemate, the Zeekr 7X. Particularly if a rugged EX60 Cross Country version joins the local line-up in 2027.

When the all-new Volvo EX60 lands in Australia from December 2026, it will enter a segment already occupied by one of its closest relatives.

The Zeekr 7X, built on Geely Group’s SEA platform and starting from $57,900, has quietly become one of the more impressive electric SUV value propositions on the market.

But Volvo believes buyers shopping at the premium end will still gravitate towards the EX60, despite its significantly higher starting price of $86,990 for the  entry-level rear-wheel-drive P6 version.

“If you're serious about a car in that [premium SUV] category, we would at least expect to be on the shopping list,” Volvo Cars Australia communications director Greg Bosnic said.

“It’s a very competitive market. Without a doubt,” he said, while predicting the EX60 would become Volvo’s best-selling vehicle in due course.

“We're now up to about 85 brands in Australia, approaching 470 models or something – and more and more coming every day. So the choice for the consumer is great.”

While both SUVs sit under the Geely umbrella, the EX60 has been positioned very differently to the value-focused Zeekr 7X.

The Volvo is the first vehicle to ride on the brand’s new SPA3 platform (a key piece of technology that will underpin Volvo’s future EV strategy) and after driving the EX60 overseas, the difference is immediately noticeable.

The EX60 feels like a step up in almost every respect compared to the Zeekr – but it needs to be at that price. Head over to our reviews section for our first drive analysis.

The Volvo Australia comms boss stated that Volvo’s approaching centenary also plays an important role in the brand’s confidence heading into battle with newer rivals.

“We think the EX60 is a game changer in a number of aspects,” Bosnic said, adding “...from a company that has given so much to the automotive landscape, I would imagine at some stage, the heritage, the innovations, the technology, the developments … should put us in good stead with potential buyers in this space.”

Where things could really diverge, where this family feud will get more interesting however, is beyond the bitumen.

It’s understood the EX60 Cross Country variant shown overseas is planned for Australia, tipped to arrive in the second half of 2027.

If – or rather when – it arrives, the EX60 CC would give Volvo something the Zeekr 7X cannot currently match: a more rugged off-road-focused identity with raised ride height and tougher styling.

Bosnic declined to comment on the Cross Country’s local arrival, but Volvo’s history with the badge – particularly on XC60 and V60 models – suggests there’s appetite for a more adventurous take on the EX60 formula.

For buyers not yet ready to commit to full electrification, Volvo will also continue selling the existing XC60 hybrid range alongside the EX60.

“The XC60 continues. The answer is yes,” Bosnic confirmed.

“That transition to an all-electric car company has obviously taken a little bit longer from a consumer point of view.

“Current circumstances are changing the mix significantly, but nevertheless, there are still some people that are not quite ready to go to an all-electric vehicle just yet.

“So we've made a decision to still have hybrids, plug-in hybrids available, should the consumers choose.”

The Volvo EX60 is due in Australian showrooms from December 2026, with a potential Cross Country variant expected to follow later in 2027.

While the Zeekr 7X looks set to continue winning on outright value, the brand expecting 2000 monthly sales, Volvo is betting its combination of heritage, Scandinavian luxury, next-gen tech and possible off-road differentiation will justify the premium.

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