Get ready for a thrilling comeback! Volvo’s sleek, low-riding estate cars might just be making a return, thanks to the brand’s innovative SPA3 platform. But here’s where it gets controversial: in a world dominated by towering SUVs, is there still a place for these classic designs? Let’s dive in.
Volvo’s new SPA3 platform, designed specifically for electric vehicles (EVs), could signal a shift back to the elegant, low-slung saloon and estate models that once defined the brand—think the S60 and V90. And this is the part most people miss: the SPA3 isn’t just another platform; it’s a game-changer in engineering flexibility, allowing EVs to sit closer to the ground while adapting to future market demands.
Currently, five out of Volvo’s six model lines are SUVs, and even the sixth—the ES90—sits as high as a typical crossover. Volvo executives have previously hinted that the focus on high-selling SUVs left little room for traditional saloons and estates in their upcoming eight-car lineup, especially after phasing out petrol models like the S60, S90, V60, and V90. But the SPA3 platform, debuting with the new EX60, is rewriting the rules.
One of its most groundbreaking features? The battery capacity no longer dictates the vehicle’s height, a limitation that has long plagued EV design. Volvo’s Chief Technology Officer, Anders Bell, explains that because the SPA3 was built from the ground up for EVs—not adapted from an internal combustion engine (ICE) platform—it offers unprecedented freedom in component placement and design scalability.
“My role is to provide options for the company,” Bell told Autocar. “We can make cars high or low—it’s all about scalability. By removing the combustion engine, exhaust, and fuel tanks, we’ve unlocked new ways to build the platform’s structure.” This flexibility even addresses why modern cars are getting wider: adapted ICE platforms often force battery packs to expand widthways to increase capacity. The SPA3, however, allows next-gen Volvo EVs to mirror the width, height, and silhouette of traditional ICE cars.
Here’s the secret sauce: the front crash structure isn’t designed around an engine, giving engineers more room to spread battery cells across the floorpan and ahead of the scuttle. This means the battery doesn’t have to be confined within the wheelbase. The SPA3 also moves the meeting point between the battery and the front crash structure forward, allowing for better weight distribution without compromising Volvo’s legendary safety standards.
But is this enough to revive interest in low-riding estates? With SUVs dominating the market, Volvo’s move could be seen as a bold gamble—or a nostalgic nod to its roots. What do you think? Are low-riding estates still relevant, or is the SUV trend here to stay? Let us know in the comments!
