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Pros: impressively refined to drive, spacious interior
Cons: comes with a luxury price tag
Volvo EX90 Design
Volvo has gone from the brand that was “boxy but good” to a premium option that’s more understated than most. The EX90 is the company’s flagship electric SUV, playing a similar role to the combustion-engined XC90. A reductionist design is in keeping with its electric foundations, yet it remains instantly recognisable as a Volvo.
It’s just 84mm longer than the XC90 and is 41mm wider, although - partly due to optimising aerodynamics to prolong the range - the EX90 is 27mm lower — you’ll barely notice it. The design does away with fussy creases and lines, opting instead for a solid, almost monolithic look and it’s one that works very well. One of the only talking points is the prominent bump atop the windscreen. While it might resemble something that should say ‘Taxi’ on it, it is home to the Volvo’s LiDar system that will be rolled out at a later date to support more advanced driver assistance features.
Volvo EX90 Interior
Some say that less is more and the cabin of the Volvo EX90 definitely adopts that as its mantra. Its look is one of clean lines and tasteful materials. The optional light ‘Tailored Wool Blend’ upholstery looks fantastic though it’s probably not as practical for some as the standard Charcoal Nordico upholstery.
All of the secondary controls are centred around the 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen. It runs a Google Android-based operating system with many of the search engine giant’s native apps baked in, such as Google Maps and a voice assistant. A wide range of other apps are available through the Google Play Store, also accessible through the system, while smartphone mirroring is also possible.
In front of the driver is an eight-inch digital display that keeps its graphics and layout on the minimal side. The front seats are very comfortable, as are those in the second row. There’s ample legroom and headroom for adults there and, while two adults can fit in the third row, those seats are better suited to shorter journeys or small children. Even when all seats are in use, the EX90 holds 245 litres of luggage, increasing to 669 litres when the third-row seats are folded flat. Drop the second row and cargo capacity swells to 1,288 litres and is complemented by a further 80 litres of stowage under the bonnet.
Volvo EX90 Performance & Drive
There are two powertrain options available for the Volvo EX90 in Ireland: the Ultra Twin Motor and the Ultra Twin Motor Performance. Both versions use the same 107kWh (usable energy capacity) battery, with the former’s motors producing an output of up to 408hp. At the car’s launch we only got to sample the more powerful Ultra Twin Motor Performance, which has up to 517hp and 910Nm of torque—plenty even for a car tipping the scales at as much as 2,712kg.
Despite that hefty weight and impressive power output stats, the flagship Volvo is reasonably efficient, with the official combined energy consumption figure of 21.1kWh per 100 kilometres, and a combined WLTP driving range of between 570 and 614 kilometres. Equally good is the peak 250kW DC rapid charge rate, while it’ll manage up to 11kW on a suitable AC outlet too.
But numbers are one thing and driving is another. Pleasingly, the EX90 is very, very nice to drive. From the first few metres of at the wheel, it is obvious just how well put together the Volvo is, and within the first ten kilometres it leaves an impression of fully justifying its price tag.
Driving around the wide streets of Los Angeles at the car’s launch wasn’t quite representative of how it will perform in the tighter confines of our roads closer to home, but nevertheless it does feel easily manoeuvrable at low speeds, even though it lacks the rear-wheel-steering system that features on similarly sized premium and luxury SUVs from other marques.
Moving away from urban centres the Volvo is quick to ply on speed, but even in the Twin Motor Performance model, the acceleration is brisk but not uncomfortably headrest-testing. Somewhat deceptive is how serene the Volvo is, thanks partly to generous amounts of sound insulation and acoustically optimised glass. Even when cruising at motorway speeds the cabin demonstrates the kind of low noise levels one might typically expect of a Rolls-Royce or the very best German saloons.
In its comfort setting, the adaptive suspension does a consummate job at soaking up surface imperfections. Should the mood take you, switching to the sportier mode does bring more of that performance to the fore, also stiffening up the suspension. It’s easy to feel the change as it happens in milliseconds, though the EX90 is better overall in the soft suspension setting. In either mode, the Volvo feels totally planted and with motors on both axles, traction never feels in doubt, adding to its stable performance on-road.
Volvo EX90 Pricing
The Volvo EX90 has a starting price of €117,910 excluding delivery and related changes, and that is for the Ultra Twin Motor. If you want the Ultra Twin Motor Performance, the price starts at €122,910. Both versions come with a high level of standard equipment, including 22-inch alloy wheels, Volvo’s Pilot Assist — an advanced form of adaptive cruise control — a heat pump, adaptive air suspension and four-zone climate control.
Carzone Verdict
The Volvo EX90 has been a long time coming, but on first impressions it has certainly been worth the wait, and while it’s far from cheap, it does a better job than most others of justifying its price. Not only is it a lovely car to drive, but it also retains almost all of the practical and safety features that made the XC90 such a hit and wraps the whole lot up in a very desirable package.