The 2027 Volvo EX60 is the first Volvo built around Google Gemini, a conversational AI assistant that controls navigation, climate, calls, and media without requiring you to touch the screen. This replaces the old menu-hunting approach with natural voice commands, a meaningful shift from how past Volvo infotainment worked. Read on for a full breakdown of how Gemini works, which trims include it, and where to see it in Bluffton.
Every 2027 EX60 trim ships with Google Built-in, and Gemini is the engine behind it. The system sits at the center of the 15.04-inch curved OLED touchscreen, the 11.4-inch digital instrument cluster, and the HuginCore computing platform that ties all onboard software together. Gemini is not an add-on layer placed over a legacy system. It is woven into the EX60's core architecture, which means it can access vehicle functions, Google Maps, Google Play apps, and real-time web information from a single voice prompt.
This matters to buyers in Bluffton and across the Hilton Head area who spend meaningful time on I-95, US-278, and the two-lane stretches between the Lowcountry coast and Savannah. Long drives are where hands-free control stops being a novelty and starts being genuinely useful.
Gemini is a large language model, which means it understands naturally spoken sentences rather than rigid command phrases. You do not need to memorize trigger words. You speak the way you would to a person, and the system parses intent.
A few real-world examples of what Gemini handles without a touch:
Saying "take me to the nearest fast charger that works with NACS" pulls up options through Google Maps, filters for NACS compatibility, and routes you there. The EX60 carries a native NACS charging port, so this query is practically useful from day one.
"It's stuffy back here" directed at rear passengers can trigger the three-zone climate system's rear controls through the voice interface. The system understands context, not just commands.
"Text Marcus that I'm fifteen minutes out" works without dictating precise formatting. Gemini composes the message and confirms before sending.
Asking for "something upbeat for a beach drive" returns a playlist through a Google Play app rather than requiring you to navigate a media menu.
Because Gemini connects to the internet independently of your phone, asking "what's the weather in Savannah for this afternoon" returns a live answer on the instrument cluster or center display.
The HuginCore platform, built on an Nvidia Orin X core computer, gives Gemini the processing headroom to handle these requests at speed, even when multiple functions are active simultaneously. Over-the-air updates mean Gemini's capabilities grow after purchase, with no dealership visit required.
Google Gemini is standard on all four 2027 EX60 trims. There is no version of the EX60 that omits it.
| Trim | Drivetrain | Screen | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| P6 Plus | RWD | 15-inch OLED | 21-speaker Bose |
| P6 Ultra | RWD | 15-inch OLED | 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins |
| P10 Plus | AWD | 15-inch OLED | 21-speaker Bose |
| P10 Ultra | AWD | 15-inch OLED | 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins |
The audio system matters to the Gemini experience because Gemini's responses are delivered through the speaker array. On Plus trims, the 21-speaker Bose Premium Sound system handles voice output clearly. On Ultra trims, the 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system (1,820 watts total) renders voice and audio with noticeably more presence.
Both Ultra trims also add the electrochromic dimmable panoramic roof, which pairs naturally with Gemini's ability to set cabin environment on command, including climate and seat heating, without reaching for a control.
Google Play Store access is included across all trims, meaning you can download streaming apps, and Gemini can launch them by name. Google Maps integration is also full across all trims, with real-time traffic, rerouting, and EV-specific routing that shows estimated battery level at your destination and flags charging stops along the route.
The practical difference Gemini creates is time-on-screen reduction. Volvo built the EX60 with a clean interface philosophy. The 15-inch OLED display uses a fixed bottom menu for climate and settings, a smart sidebar that shows context-relevant shortcuts, and a home screen designed around quick access. Gemini extends that logic into voice: the fewer taps needed, the more focus stays on driving.
For a family loading up for a trip from Bluffton to the Blue Ridge, Gemini handles the multi-stop routing, calls ahead to a restaurant, adjusts rear seat heat for the kids, and queues an audiobook, all before the first interchange. None of that requires a passenger to navigate menus.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included (available via over-the-air update), but Gemini operates independently of a connected phone. This is the key distinction. If your phone battery is dead or you have no signal, Gemini still works because it uses the EX60's own data connection through the Google Built-in framework.
Active noise cancellation, a first for any Volvo, keeps the cabin quiet enough for Gemini to hear low-volume commands clearly, even at highway speeds on roads like US-17 near Beaufort. The system does not require raised-voice commands in most conditions.
The Volvo Cars app extends Gemini's logic beyond the vehicle itself. Pre-conditioning the cabin, checking range, and scheduling charging can all be managed from your phone before you get in, so the EX60 is already configured to your preferences when you open the door.
Most competitors in the electric SUV segment offer voice control, but the distinction is integration depth. Many systems use a voice layer that sends commands to third-party apps rather than to the vehicle's own functions. Gemini in the EX60 controls both, through a single interface.
Google Gemini AI assistant capabilities
Rivian's system and BMW's iDrive voice both handle navigation and media capably, but neither uses a Gemini-class large language model that handles open-ended, conversational requests or connects to live web data without a paired phone. The EX60's HuginCore platform also supports continuous improvement through over-the-air updates, meaning Gemini's language model and vehicle integration can improve on a car already in your driveway.
The 800V SPA3 platform that underpins the EX60's 330-mile range and 19.2 kW onboard charger is not directly related to Gemini, but the same OTA infrastructure that updates Gemini also updates charging behavior, safety calibration, and driver assist tuning. Buyers in Bluffton who want a system that gets meaningfully better after purchase are looking at a legitimate differentiator here.
Volvo Cars Hilton Head serves buyers throughout Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, and the broader Lowcountry. The fastest way to understand what Gemini does is to sit in an EX60 and speak to it. The 15-inch OLED display, the Bose or Bowers & Wilkins audio, and the conversational AI work together in a way that a spec sheet cannot fully convey. Check current EX60 inventory and schedule a time to put Gemini through its paces on a local road you already know.
Yes. Google Gemini is standard on all four EX60 trims: P6 Plus, P6 Ultra, P10 Plus, and P10 Ultra. No trim requires an upgrade to access the AI assistant.
Yes. Gemini runs through the EX60's own data connection via Google Built-in, so it operates independently of a paired smartphone. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available, but Gemini does not depend on them.
Gemini handles navigation through Google Maps, climate settings across the three-zone system, calls and texts, media playback through Google Play apps, and open-ended information queries using live web data. It can also interact with connected home devices.
The EX60 includes active noise cancellation, a first for any Volvo production model, which reduces cabin noise significantly at highway speeds. This improves microphone pickup and reduces the need to raise your voice when speaking to Gemini.
Yes. The HuginCore computing platform supports over-the-air updates that can expand Gemini's capabilities, refine language understanding, and add new vehicle function integrations without a dealership visit. Updates are distributed at no charge and can be scheduled through the Volvo Cars app.
Yes. Google Maps is fully integrated with real-time traffic, EV-specific routing, and battery arrival estimates. The Google Play Store allows you to download streaming and entertainment apps that Gemini can then launch by voice.
Volvo Cars Hilton Head in Bluffton serves the Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, and Lowcountry region. Check current inventory online or schedule a test drive to experience the Gemini system in person.