Wagons are suddenly hot as EVs, and Volvo wants a piece

Wagons are making a comeback in electric form. Although Volvo is set to produce its last wagon this April, it could return as an EV.

Is Volvo bringing the wagon back as an EV?

Volvo made it official in December. The final V60 Cross Country will roll off the production line in April 2026, Volvo’s final wagon sold in the US.

Like many automakers in the US, Volvo’s lineup now consists of SUVs and crossovers because that’s what Americans prefer.

That could soon change. Thanks to its new SPA3 platform, set to debut with the new EX60 SUV, Volvo is now able to introduce new body types, including low-riding sedans and wagons.

During an interview with Autocar, Volvo’s tech boss, Anders Bell, explained that SPA3 is built from the ground up for EVs. Unlike SPA2, which was adapted from an ICE platform, SPA3 “opens new possibilities” that enable next-gen Volvo EVs to be more closely sized and shaped to their ICE counterparts.

“We can make [cars] high. We can make them low. It’s all in scalability and this is unlocked by removing the combustion engine, the exhaust, fuel tanks and everything from the equation,” Bell said.

One of the main reasons cars appear wider these days, according to Bell, is that automakers using adapted ICE platforms must increase dimensions to accommodate larger batteries, or they risk sacrificing interior space.

Volvo’s SPA3 platform solves this with the ability to spread battery cells across the floorplan. Since the cells can now be placed ahead of the scuttle, Bell said, “we can put seven kilowatts – at a minimum, probably more – of the pack further forward, while still doing all the crazy Volvo crash stuff.”

Based on SPA2, the ES90 sits higher because all seats and footwells must be on top of the battery. That’s why many EVs based on ICE platforms “look like baby SUVs,” Bell said.

With its new platform, “We can do low. We can do sleek. We can do high. We can do MPVs… It’s all in the cookbook,” Volvo’s tech boss said. However, what Volvo chooses to do “is a different story,” Bell added.

Will it come to the US?

While it’s far from a confirmation, Bell’s comments at least confirm Volvo can develop an EV wagon or sedan if it sees fit.

Would Volvo bring an electric wagon to the US? During the EX60’s world premiere last month, Volvo’s Chief Strategy and Product Officer Michael Fleiss told The Drive to “watch this space” when asked about the return of a Volvo wagon.

Does the US have a market for wagons with bigger SUVs and trucks dominating sales? According to Fleiss, there is.

“Even, interestingly, China is coming up with wagons. It’s hot sh*t right now. So people are really liking wagons,” Fleiss said. 10 years ago, it was a different story, but demand for wagons is growing in Europe, China, and other global markets due to their aerodynamic and efficiency advantages.

While an electric Volvo wagon would likely be aimed at Europe, “why not, if you have one, also sell it in the US,” Fleiss added.

Several electric wagons are already on sale in Europe, including the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer, BMW i5 Touring, Audi A6 Avant e-tron, and Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Will Volvo be next?

Would you buy an electric Volvo wagon over a Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, or Porsche? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.