This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, analytics and third party advertising purposes as described in our Privacy and Data Processing Policy. You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, or further manage your preferences. To opt-out of sharing with third parties information related to these technologies, select "Manage Settings" or submit a Do Not Sell My Personal Information request.
On November 9th 2022 in Volvo's home country of Sweden, CEO Jim Rowan unveiled the newest fully electric model in Volvo's range: the Volvo EX90. It's the next step in the brand's commitment to selling only fully electric vehicles by 2030.
Where the original Volvo XC90 was a pioneer for the seven seat SUV, the Volvo EX90 will be the pioneer for the electric seven seat SUV. Our Volvo EX90 review will cover all of the information about the model as it waits to go into to production sometime in 2023.
As the new Volvo EX90 will be replacing the Volvo XC90 it's not surprising that it shares several key design points with the outgoing model. The most important thing for fans of the Volvo XC90 is that the EX90 will remain an SUV with seven seats.
In line with other models in the Volvo range, the headlights are designed in their recognisable Thor's Hammer design which has a welcome sequence that runs when you approach the car. It's updated design compared to the Volvo XC90 includes flush-fitting door handles to reduce drag, a blanked off grille, and aerodynamic wheels to create a more streamlined car.
One of the main new technologies integrated into the model is the roof-mounted lidar which can detect objects ahead of the car at distances up to 250 metres during the day or night and alert you of any potential hazards that are in your way.
It's built on the Volvo Scalable Product Architecture platform, SPA2, the same that the current XC90 (and various other Volvo models) is built on and that will be used for the also newly announced Polestar 3 vehicle.
Take advantage of four zone climate control, high level illumination, and cupholders in every row of seats. As a driver you have a heated steering wheel with power front seats, heated front seats and outer second row seats, multi-directional lumbar support, and front seat massage functionality.
You'll also be able to enjoy the largest panoramic roof that Volvo has ever done, giving the cabin extra natural lighting and allows you to experience the elements without being directly in them.
All of this is blended with premium finishes such as Volvo's newly developed Nordico material, a combination of recycled and bio-attributed materials from Swedish and Finnish forests, which has a 70% lower carbon footprint than their current leather offering. Alternatively there is also a premium wool blend available, a great option for all year round that also uses a sustainable material.
As you'd expect from a luxury car with only one trim level, you're being treated to the ultimate comfort in the Volvo EX90.
Regardless of which row your passengers are sat in they'll have more than enough room. The driver and front passenger have 1075mm of head room whilst those in the second row have 1010. Even those occupying the third row of seats will have enough room with 909mm of head room and 811mm of leg room. It's an impressive feat for a seven seat SUV and more than the large Land Rover Discovery offers.
The third row of seats has power folding so there's no need to wrestle with clips and force seats up and down to the right position. Instead the press of a button will allow the seats to fold or unfold themselves leaving you free to organise your belongings.
With all seven seats in use you can expect 310 litres of boot space, 8 litres more than the current XC90, and folding these down will give you 655 litres of boot space up to the glass line. Folding both rows or rear seats down will open the space up to an enormous 1040 litres to the glass line or 1915 litres to the roof, should you need it.
As well as this the EX90 has what Volvo have named the "frunk"; a front loading area with a 34 litre capacity. Volvo are advertising this as the ideal place for the included charging cable to be stored alongside one or two small items. It's a great option if you have all seven seats in use and need a little more storage space.
The Volvo EX90 will offer two all wheel drive electric motor options in its "engine" line up: Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance. The main difference here form its predecessor is that it will only be a fully electric vehicle, no plug in hybrid option available.
The Twin Motor utilises an 111kWh battery which has a usable capacity of 107kWh. Volvo estimates this to give a 363.5 mile range under optimum conditions although real world usage will vary. It's currently unconfirmed, but as a direct replacement for the Volvo XC90 it's likely to also have an eight speed automatic "gearbox" (or transmission) to work with.
The Twin Motor Performance uses the same 111kWh battery although it's estimated range is slightly lower at 360.4 miles. This is due to its increased power of 517hp compared to the Twin Motor at 408 although both make an incredible performance for an electric SUV.
Volvo are committed to being transparent about their commitment to sustainability and work closely with their suppliers to make sure that raw materials are sourced responsibly. They have also introduced blockchain technology which boosts traceability in the cobalt supply chain from the mine all the way through to the car factory.
The EX90 is also fitted with incredible suspension too. Where previously there was optional air suspension this is now included as standard with the Active Four-C Chassis. It has four corner adaptive dampers and the air suspension which is self levelling, has speed dependent ride-height adjustment, and stationary rear lowering.
Your Volvo EX90 will also come with a 6 metre long 3-phase 32amp Type 2/Mode 3 charging cable which will allow a 0-80% fast charging time of only 30 minutes.
It's intended for the Volvo EX90 to currently come in only one trim level: Ultra. This makes your choice much easier as you don't need to compromise on equipment at all.
The exterior of the EX90 will include puddle lights, high gloss black window surround, integrated high gloss black roof rails, a handsfree power tailgate, black auto folding and heated power door mirrors, headlight cleaning, power release and soft close doors, and high gloss black lower door, lower front spoiler, and rear diffuser mouldings.
You'll also have a choice of seven exterior paint colours which will look stunning with the Volvo Ex90's 22 inch 5 spoke diamond cut and high loss black alloy wheels. As you'd expect from a luxury SUV it also has keyless entry and start and front and rear parking assist too.
Inside the Volvo EX90 is equally as full of luxury. An 8 inch steering wheel column mounted driver display will allow you to keep an eye on your car's functions whilst a head-up display in the windscreen will feed you road sign information, your speed, and navigational instructions.
For audio and communication you'll have the ground breaking 14.5 inch portrait centre console touchscreen, a true technological feat inside a passenger car, which allows you to take advantage of the integrated Google Automotive Services that come as standard with a four year subscription.
Entertainment itself is a priority in the cabin with Bluetooth handsfree (as you'd expect in any car), wireless Apple Carplay, 6 type C USBs spaced across each row of seats, and a wireless/inductive phone charger.
The sound system is also an incredible asset. The Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system has 3d sound processing by Dolby Amos, 25 speakers including front headrest speakers and a subwoofer, and a 1610W output. Whether you listen to your favourite artists or take in a podcast whilst you drive you are guaranteed only the best sound quality in the Volvo EX90.
The Volvo EX90 won't be safety rated by external bodies, such as Euro NCAP, until after its release. However, due to the brand’s promise of making safety a priority, Volvo claims that on the EX90 the standard safety is higher than on any previous Volvo car, a huge statement, and that it will learn from the data it collects as you drive to continue to keep you safe.
Current standard safety equipment will include new features such as a driving understanding system which has eye tracking and hands on steering wheel detection. This is matched with a whiplash protection system for the front seats, seat occupancy sensors, and door opening alert to keep the driver and the car itself aware of who's in the car and that they're travelling safely.
You can also expect more recognisable functions such as a speed limiter, hill start assist, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control (named Pilot Assist), blind spot information system with steer assist, cross traffic alert, and rear collision warning and mitigation, road sign information display, and automatic headlight levelling systems.
Volvo cars regularly top lists of the safest cars and have the equipment and date behind it to back up these claims.
Currently, the Ultra Twin Motor is advertised to start at £96,255 whilst the Twin Motor Performance is advertised to start at £100,555. For comparison, BMW iX M Sport models starts at £116,905, Jaguar I-Pace HSE models begin at £75,400, and the Mercedes EQS SUV begins at £129,170. The Volvo EX90 is well priced in the premium electric SUV segment, especially when you look at the technology and equipment that comes with the model.
Volvo also offers a range of accessories and optional equipment that you can add to really make the Volvo EX90 the car that you need it to be. These will alter the price accordingly as you add them onto your model.
As the Volvo EX90 is only available for pre order at the moment it is worth noting that these prices are subject to change before the first models arrive from production.
Thanks to the Volvo EX90's three rows of seats that still allows for a reasonable amount of boot space it makes it an ideal model for family life. It will easily take on rival four wheel drive SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery or the BMW iX thanks to its excellent equipment and ground breaking integrated technology.
We can’t put it any better than Volvo themselves; “…your Volvo EX90 won’t be just a new car, it will be a highly advanced computer on wheels.”
The Volvo EX90 is currently available for pre order with the brand advising wait times of around 16-18 months as production is due to kickstart in 2023. For any further questions or for help with placing your pre-order please don't hesitate to get in touch with our friendly teams at our John Clark Volvo sites in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh.
