With the electric EX90, Volvo aims for new standards in sustainability and safety. We discover how it drives and what it offers in our test.
From one extreme to the other, one might say. Indeed, the last time we talked to you about Volvo it was on the occasion of the test drive in the freezing Sweden of the electric EX30, the most compact model in the range. A few months later, we return to the subject to tell you about another electric car, considerably larger (it is over 5 metres long…), with 7 seats and power outputs that can exceed 500 of the "old" horsepower. We are talking about the Volvo EX90, the brand's first electric flagship, an SUV like the other recently renewed model, the XC90, similar in concept (and in dimensions) but entirely different in content (the powertrains in this case are combustion-engined, Plug-in hybrid or mild hybrid to be precise).
The two, EX90 and XC90, also resemble each other externally, but the similarities end there; in substance the EX90 is born from an entirely new project, on a native electric platform, with all the advantages in terms of efficiency, space, innovation, active safety (among the best in the sector) and much more that we will see further on. Built at the South Carolina plant in the United States, the EX90 strengthens the electric model offering of the Swedish brand, which closed 2024 with 175,194 electric cars sold, a +54 per cent increase compared to 2023.
Let us return for a moment to the numbers, which matter when making a choice: the Volvo EX90 is 5.03 metres long, nearly 2 metres wide (1.96 metres), and 1.74 metres tall — a dimension to bear in mind both if you have a 1970s garage and if you live (and drive) in the city. And the weight… 3,390 kilograms fully loaded, a critical aspect for an electric car, as we have seen on many occasions when discussing the phenomenon of "gigantism", but we are talking about an SUV for modern Bradford families (who, as those who remember the 1980s TV series will recall, used to travel in a Volkswagen Bulli). An electric car that can be recharged in 32 minutes (up to 250 kW) or, at home, in around 10 hours (a Mode 3, Type 2, three-phase charging cable (6 metres long) is supplied as standard).
A car with 2 electric motors, an electric range of over 700 kilometres, all-wheel drive for safer travel even on snow, with remarkable performance (but a top speed deliberately limited to 180 km/h, like all new Volvo models — an example of "civility" and safety) and notable comfort (especially if you opt for the active-controlled air suspension, 2,750 euros well spent…). A car, again, with a significant price tag, starting from €85,250 and, as in the case of the model we tested (EX90 Ultra, Twin motor, 7 seats), reaching over €112,000; among the possible alternatives, two other electric cars: the Kia EV9 (comparable in passenger capacity with 6 or 7 seats) or the BMW iX (for performance and power).
Circularity and sustainability are two other words that describe the Volvo EX90 well. Starting from the production processes, as you will read further below in the life cycle analysis (LCA). Or more simply from the choice of interior materials, innovative and increasingly "circular" such as Nordico, a fabric made from recycled vinyl, PET bottles and cork stoppers, or like the wood details on the doors sourced from FSC-certified sustainably managed forests in Sweden and Finland.
Digging through the data declared by Volvo, further virtuous choices come to light: "15 per cent of all plastic materials used in the EX90 comes from recycled or bio-based sources; the floor mats are made from Econyl, a polyamide fabric obtained from recycled nylon sourced in part from fishing nets recovered from the seabed. The steel and aluminium used for the EX90's bodywork are also partly recycled, at 15 and 25 per cent respectively. But that is not all. Volvo has declared the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, a date by which the manufacturer has committed to having its entire value chain climate-neutral.
But let us return to the EX90, a 7-seat SUV (another aspect it shares with the hybrid XC90, compared to which it is however far more innovative — indeed the flagship of Volvo's future). Aesthetically the two also resemble each other, with the electric model recognisable above all by its front end, free of visible air intakes. Another "detail" invisible to the eye is the enormous 111 kWh battery concealed in the floor, along with the dual electric motors that together power the integral 4×4 all-wheel drive. On styling, as always, we leave the judgement to you, merely noting that the design makes the EX90 look more compact than it actually is. More interesting to know is that this is the Volvo most similar to a Tesla ever built, in the sense that the EX90 too is governed by remotely updatable software that effectively keeps the car's functions up to date — or improves them — throughout its entire lifecycle. Like a mobile phone, to put it simply.
In describing the "circularity" of the interior materials, we omitted the most striking impression upon climbing aboard. Namely the Scandinavian atmosphere, to be translated as a look that is both fresh and intimate at the same time, bright and comfortable. Perhaps far from the more eye-catching interiors of brands such as BMW or Mercedes, but of a quality. As on the EX30, here too certain aspects have been simplified and some may raise an eyebrow (given the price…): the absence of a blind for the enormous glass roof, the not-very-practical buttons for the rear windows, those for adjusting the door mirrors…
It takes a little time to get in sync with the EX90's controls, to figure out how to manage all the functions from the large 14.5-inch touchscreen — again similar to the EX30 and not always intuitive to navigate across the various menus (see climate control, heated seats, or opening the passenger-side glove compartment). If you're a Google fan, however, you'll feel right at home (including your saved destinations from your phone). It should be noted that certain omissions (such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or the ability to adjust adaptive cruise control following distance) appear set to be resolved with future updates.
Before looking at how the EX90 drives, let's take a quick look at life on board. Actually, let's start with how you get in: to open the doors you either use your phone or a rechargeable "tag" that you place on the same wireless charging pad used to charge your smartphone. Passenger space is generous and flexible (the seats slide and fold easily), even if the third row seems better suited to short trips. The rear boot — accessed via a hands-free electric tailgate — is a decent size (at least when travelling with five people), and is complemented by a small frunk under the bonnet, handy for storing charging cables. Comfort is further enhanced by an air quality monitoring system that purifies the cabin air when needed.
The EX90 is currently available in two versions, both with dual motors: we tested the Twin Motor AWD with 408 horsepower (300 kW); a more accessible version (single motor and smaller battery) is expected to join the range during the course of the year. Whichever version you choose, the battery pack is the same (total capacity of 111 kWh).
What does the EX90 offer on the road? Comfort and silence, first and foremost — what we at LifeGate have long called "driving serenity", one of the indicators that make up our Mobility Revolution rating. This quality is further enhanced by the excellent seats and the elevated driving position. True, the weight is considerable, but the power of the two electric motors almost nullifies that physical fact, making the EX90 easy to drive in all conditions. As already mentioned, changing driving modes isn't always intuitive — adjusting regenerative braking, for example, requires navigating the large touchscreen interface. But with prolonged use, everything should become second nature.
What you appreciate straight away, on the other hand, are the adaptive air suspension systems, which transform this large SUV into a very relaxing, quiet and vibration-free car. The standard equipment also includes adaptive cruise control, capable of automatically adjusting speed and braking, although during our test it wasn't possible to adjust the following distance — as mentioned, this issue should be resolved in production models. As for real-world electric range, you can count on around 500 kilometres in mixed use.
We close with safety — always a hallmark of Volvo. In the case of the EX90, the "magic word" is Lidar, a system that interacts with sensors, cameras and radar to make the assisted driving features highly effective. We're talking about systems such as lane-keeping assist, speed limit recognition, and driver attention monitoring — which, if necessary, can pull the car over and bring it to a stop in the event of a sudden illness or a bout of drowsiness; the American magazine Time named this system among the Best Inventions of 2024 in the Automotive category.
But the list of safety features is very long. Among the most innovative is the "Pedestrian and cyclist steering avoidance" system, which — even in total darkness — can detect other road users up to 250 metres away, and the Passenger Detection system, which uses radar sensors positioned inside the cabin to detect whether a child or an animal has been left on board; in this case the doors do not lock and the car alerts the owner with a notification, before — should it turn out to have been a deliberate choice — keeping the climate control system active.