Heading thousands of kilometres to the other side of the world, Ian McLaren has joined Volvo in Los Angeles for an exclusive preview of the all-new and all-electric EX90. Here are some initial thoughts after clocking some mileage in the flagship SUV.
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Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance Fast Facts
- Price: TBC
- Engine: 111 kWh battery with dual electric motors
- Transmission: two-stage, single-speed
- Power: 380 kW
- Torque: 910 N.m
- Driven wheels: all
- 0-100 km/h: 4.9 seconds
- Top speed: 180 km/h
- Claimed range: 600 km
What are we driving?
A pinnacle model for Volvo Cars, the EX90 is essentially an all-electric sibling of the flagship XC90 SUV. Sharing the same SPA platform and, indeed, wheelbase length as its recently updated sibling, the EX90 introduces a renewed focus on luxury and perceived build quality for this Swedish brand, while also showcasing several integrated driver assistance systems and technologies destined to play a significant role in the future of passenger car motoring.
Why is the Volvo EX90 significant?
Volvo is a brand with a long-established mandate to steadily shift its portfolio to all-electric propulsion. While a product the size of the compact EX30 continues to cause a stir in markets like South Africa, you only need to spend a day navigating the roads around Los Angeles – where everything is bigger – to understand Volvo’s willingness to showcase its newest wares in the form of a family of vehicles the size of the EX90/XC90 to all-important markets like the US and China. To this end, the EX90 will be assembled near Charleston, South Carolina, in the USA (where South Africa will source its cars) and Chengdu in China.
Volvo has also incorporated expertise from companies such as Google, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Luminar, Dcbel and Bower & Wilkins into its newest flagship product. This includes software, infotainment technologies, semi-autonomous driving and safety systems, bi-directional charging solutions and premium quality in-car audio.
What’s new on the Volvo EX90?
Longer, wider and considerably heavier than its modern XC90 sibling, the EX90 is distinguishable via bespoke styling that includes a closed grille (with active louvres in the lower tier for cooling), distinct signature LED lighting, aero-optimised forged alloy wheels and a neatly executed rear end. The bulge at the top of the windscreen houses the car’s integrated LIDAR technology.
Both EX90 Twin Motor derivatives have a 111 kWh battery (107 kWh usable) and an electric motor on each axle for all-wheel drive go-forward. While the entry-level version offers 300 kW and 770 N.m (capable of a 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds), the Performance model carries software that increases these outputs to 380 kW and 910 N.m of torque, respectively. With a claimed maximum usable range touching 600 km, the EX90 can accept a 250 kW DC charge.
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Accessed via either a paired mobile phone or slim key card, the EX90’s interior feels suitably premium and well put together. A standout feature introduced in the updated XC90 is a crisp new 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Android software and laden with Google-linked operating systems, including Maps, Spotify and a voice-activated Assistant. Apple CarPlay is among the features destined to be included long before the car arrives here in early 2025.
With the transmission lever moved to the steering column to free up space on the car’s centre console, I was also grateful for the fitment in the EX90 of a 9-inch digital instrument display for pertinent driving information (including navigation), as well as the option of a head-up display – two items sorely missed in the EX30.
Available in a 5-, 6- or 7-seat configuration, South Africa will likely receive the latter; with 50:50-split third-row seats that fold (electrically) into the luggage floor when not required.
What does the Volvo EX90 cost?
South Africa is set to receive both versions of the new Volvo EX90 in the second quarter of 2025. Local pricing is yet to be confirmed but, based on where the current XC90 range is positioned, I assume Volvo Cars South Africa is hoping to price the EX90 range between R1.7 and R2 million.
Also unconfirmed is the specification levels South Africa will receive.
What is the Volvo EX90 like to drive?
Including a substantial (optional) panoramic glass roof and a battery pack that alone weighs in the region of 700 kg, the first thing to note is the EX90 Twin Motor Performance I drove at the car’s international launch in Los Angeles likely weighed close to 3 tons. That said, the availability of 910 N.m of torque, a notably well-insulated cabin, the fitment on my car of optional air suspension and a selection of LA’s smoothest road surfaces conspired to make this Volvo feel brilliantly composed in most driving conditions. Most impressive is how this adaptive suspension manages body roll – although, admittedly, a third of the EX30’s mass is sited low within its packaging.
In normal driving modes, the EX90 relies on its 180 kW front motor, with the 200 kW rear item poised to contribute. Mated to this aft motor is an electrically controlled torque vectoring system capable of transferring drive seamlessly between the two rear wheels. While I initially assumed this was for the benefit of enthusiastic driving (and thus a bit misplaced in a 3-ton family SUV), this setup also aids low-speed manoeuvrability, including parking.
While our launch route was likely designed to factor in this vehicle’s usable operating range, the knowledge that we had more than 500 km of battery range available before setting out in the morning had me feeling altogether less anxious about running out of charge along the way.
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Whether for its current configuration or the prevailing conditions, I welcomed the altogether more considered and less intrusive workings of Volvo’s newest advanced driver assistance systems (including lane-keeping assistance and driver concentration monitoring) in the EX90 compared with the EX30.
Verdict
As per its mandate, the EX90 feels suitably premium and sophisticated. Its all-electric powertrain offers a compelling blend of noteworthy usable range and impressive performance and, especially when riding on air suspension, this new flagship Volvo feels both assured and easy to pilot in all the conditions that an expensive 7-seat family SUV will be found.
Based on the above observations, it’ll be interesting to note how much standard specification Volvo Cars South Africa will be able to include within a still-hopefully compelling asking price for the EX90. While I’m making requests, this Swedish brand’s latest collaboration with Bower & Wilkens has resulted in one of the best in-car audio setups I’ve experienced.
Also encouraging is that by the time the EX90 arrives in South Africa, many of the still-in-the-works software updates scheduled to be added to this package will be finalised.
