Safer by Design: What the 2027 Volvo EX60 Has That the BMW iX3 Doesn’t

Mid-size electric SUVs all promise smart safety tech, but the details tell the real story. The 2027 Volvo EX60 and the 2027 BMW iX3 50 xDrive both target families who want a fully electric SUV with strong protection built in. Only one of them brings a world-first safety belt and a full driver assistance suite as standard equipment.

This guide compares how each SUV protects the people inside it. We look at the restraint systems, the driver assistance features that come standard, and the collision avoidance tech that works in the background on every drive. By the end, you will know exactly where the EX60 pulls ahead.

At a Glance: 2027 Volvo EX60 vs. 2027 BMW iX3 Safety

The Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt: A Volvo World First

Volvo invented the three-point safety belt in 1959. With the EX60, the company gives that idea a major upgrade. The multi-adaptive safety belt is a world first, and it comes standard in the front row of both the EX60 Plus and EX60 Ultra.

A regular safety belt uses a load limiter to control how much force the belt puts on your body during a crash. Most modern belts choose from a small set of settings. The EX60’s belt expands its load-limiting profiles from three to eleven, which lets it fine-tune protection for each person and each crash.

Here is how it works. Interior and exterior sensors read details such as the occupant’s height, weight, body shape and seating position. In a crash, the system also reads the direction, speed and passenger posture, then picks the best belt setting in less than a blink of an eye.

• A larger occupant in a serious crash gets a higher belt load setting to help reduce the risk of head injury.
• A smaller occupant in a milder crash gets a lower setting to help reduce the risk of rib fractures.
• Over-the-air software updates let the system improve over time as Volvo gathers more real-world data.

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada named the multi-adaptive safety belt its Best Safety Innovation for 2026. The jury praised its goal of giving every occupant equal protection, no matter their size, shape or age.

Pilot Assist Comes Standard on Every EX60

Long highway drives are where fatigue sets in. The EX60 includes Pilot Assist on both the Plus and Ultra trims, so every buyer gets adaptive cruise control with steering support from day one.

On the BMW iX3, the base Driving Assistant package covers warnings and steering intervention. Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go and the Steering and Lane Control function, which helps keep the SUV centred in its lane, sit in the optional Driving Assistant Plus package. With the EX60, there is nothing extra to add.

A Safety Suite Built Around Real-World Crashes

Volvo builds its safety tech around data from real accidents. The EX60 runs on core computing and Advanced Sensing Technology, giving it a constant, detailed view of the road around the car. That view powers a long list of standard collision avoidance features on both trims.

• Driver Understanding: watches for signs that the driver is not paying attention.
• Run-off road mitigation and oncoming lane mitigation: help steer the SUV back on course before it leaves the road or drifts toward oncoming traffic.
• Intersection autobrake and cross traffic alert with low speed auto brake: help prevent crashes at intersections and when backing out of a parking spot.
• Rear collision warning and emergency stop assist with safety call: warn trailing drivers of a possible impact and help bring the car to a safe stop if the driver cannot respond.

Connected Safety and Volvo Assistance services round out the package, along with lane keeping aid, road sign information and a 360° camera with 3D view.

Protection Inside the Cabin

Strong restraints need a strong structure around them. The EX60’s safety cage uses boron steel, and inside, the restraint systems work together with the multi-adaptive belts, the airbags and occupant detection.

Both trims include knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, an occupant weight sensor, occupant sensing, whiplash injury protection, an inflatable curtain and side impact protection. Families also get a power child safety lock and ISOFIX mounting points in the rear seat.

The EX60 Ultra adds features that matter for families with young kids and long commutes:

• Integrated booster cushions: standard on Ultra and optional on Plus.
• Laminated side windows: standard on Ultra for extra protection and a quieter cabin.
• High-definition pixel headlights with headlight cleaning: standard on Ultra, while the Plus uses matrix-design LED headlights.

Volvo lists a braking distance of 35 m from 100 km/h to a stop for the EX60.

Which Electric SUV Should Your Family Choose?

Both SUVs come with a solid base of warning systems. The difference shows up in what you get without adding packages and in what simply does not exist anywhere else.

The EX60 gives every buyer a world-first safety belt that adapts to each person in the front row, standard Pilot Assist on both trims, and a deep list of collision avoidance systems built on decades of real-world crash research. For families who put protection first, the 2027 Volvo EX60 is the clear choice.

Book Your EX60 Test Drive at Volvo Cars Mont-Royal

The best way to understand the EX60’s safety tech is to sit in it and feel how it drives. Book a test drive at Volvo Cars Mont-Royal in Montreal, and our team will walk you through the multi-adaptive safety belt, Pilot Assist and every feature that sets the EX60 apart.

Bring your questions about the Plus and Ultra trims, and leave knowing which EX60 fits your family.