We like
Styling both inside and out; cabin accommodation and amenity; quiet, comfortable ride; plenty of power in Performance guise; pricing stacks up well against direct rivals

Room for improvement
Weight can limit driving range; some in-screen settings are difficult to access and use; no spare wheel; roof-mounted LiDAR sensor spoils an otherwise clean look

Overview

 

VOLVO’S important newly launched EX90 seven-seat electric SUV has arrived in Aussie showrooms (following its European launch in November of 2024), giving prestige family buyers a choice between the XC90 petrol and EX90 electric model lines from $124,990 plus on-road costs.

 

Available in ‘Plus’ Twin Motor and ‘Ultra’ Twin Motor Performance guise (from $134,990 +ORC), the Volvo EX90 is a more affordable alternative to the Audi Q8 e-tron (from $153,984), BMW iX (from $136,900), and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV (from $134,900), and one the Swedish brand says offers “unmatched safety and refinement levels”.

 

Powered by a 111kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery pack, the EX90 will be offered to Australian customers with two powertrain options, the Twin Motor delivering 300kW of power and 770Nm of torque, and the Twin Motor Performance 380kW and 910Nm.

 

Zero to 100km/h acceleration times are quoted at 5.9- and 4.9 seconds respectively. Top speed is limited to 180km/h.

 

Each permanent synchronous motor is paired with a single-speed transmission allowing a braked towing capacity of up to 2200kg.

 

Range is listed at 570km for both variants, the EX90’s 800-volt electrical architecture offering 11kW AC and 250kW DC charging, the latter allowing a 10-80 per cent top up in 30 minutes,

 

Designed to be the “safest Volvo car ever made”, the EX90 features Volvo’s Safe Space technology combining camera, radar, and LiDAR systems to provide the vehicle with a “real-time, 360-degree view of the world”.

 

Volvo Cars says the EX90 can “see” small objects hundreds of metres ahead, creating time to inform, act, and avoid potential collisions.

 

The sensors also contribute to improve the reliability and overall performance of the EX90’s Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving aids.

 

Inside the cabin, the Volvo EX90 features a Scandinavian-inspired décor with Nordico upholstery, a full-width fixed glass panoramic roof, 14.5-inch infotainment screen, 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, and an array of Google built-in technologies including Google Assistance, Google Maps, and Google Play.

 

The EX90 is also compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and a suite of smartphone connectivity features, including those capable of locking and unlocking the vehicle, and activating a driver’s personalised profile.

 

Further, Volvo Cars says the EX90 underscores its commitment to sustainability via the use of 15 per cent recycled steel, 25 per cent recycled aluminium, and up to 48kg of recycled plastics and bio-based materials – the highest level in any Volvo car to date.

 

The list price of the Volvo EX90 includes a five-year/75,000km service plan.

 

Driving Impressions

 

A lot of electric car makers claim to offer a quiet cabin, but in our experience, few deliver. The hushed mechanicals spruiked by EV makers are often drowned out by unwelcomed wind noise and tyre thrum, resulting in an experience that is very far from premium.

 

But not the EX90… Here is a cabin that is properly quiet, even when traversing the worst roads the Adelaide Hills could throw at it. Large wheels, large tyres, no noise. If Volvo can do it, so can others. Yes, Volvo has officially reset the definition of in-car quiet.

 

And of course, the cabin is a pleasant place to spend time. In typical Volvo style the seats are equal parts comfortable and supportive, the massage function of the high-grade model sampled a decadent treat for weary from seat travellers. It is one of the few cars you get out of feeling better than when you got in.

 

We found the climate control faultless, and the large central screen an attractive feature allowing access to the vehicle’s various controls.

 

Sure, some of these take some familiarisation to find, and can be tricky to use on-the-go. But with Google voice assistance making easy work of commonly used settings, it’s a bother we think many will see past within the first week of ownership.

 

A high-quality Bowers & Wilkins audio system takes advantage of the whisper-quiet cabin delivering crisp, clean tones through 25 loudspeakers. The bundle is tuned to fill the acoustic space of the EX90 cabin completely with rich, three-dimensional surround sound, ensuring there are no hollow points regardless of where you’re seated.

 

Further back, occupants up to 170cm in height are hosted in dual, electric folding seats. With the seats in place there’s a still-useful 377 litres of cargo space available, stretching to 822 litres in five-seat mode, and 1945 litres all told.

 

But beyond the roominess, technology, and quality of the cabin is an important measure of a family car’s worth: calm and confident dynamics.

 

The EX90’s ability to soak up bumps is outstanding, the large diameter wheels heard, but not felt, as they dispatch potholes and corrugations. Body control is likewise impressive, the 2700kg SUV feeling far smaller than its dimensions would suggest, joining superb all-wheel drive grip in threading through corners with formidable accuracy.

 

Steering feel is sufficient for the task at hand, the electrically assisted arrangement light enough for daily duties yet sharp enough to be engaging. The high-definition camera system and parking assistants aid in making the EX90 quite easy to park, an important consideration not only for making the driver look good, but also in protecting those handsome 21-inch wheels.

 

We found the braking action suitable for progressive stops, but in many ways also largely irrelevant. The strong regenerative braking available and useful one-pedal control provides ample stopping power for most day-to-day conditions and can be quickly adapted to in more spirited scenarios, adding a level of enjoyment more often reserved for smaller, sportier electric vehicles.

 

That’s not to say the EX90 isn’t sporty. The Performance variant sampled was quick out of the blocks and had plenty in reserve for overtaking – and we do mean plenty. It’s very easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the legal limit when passing, the effortless acceleration and quiet cabin giving few cues as to just how fast you’re travelling. If you’re moving across from a petrol-powered seven-seater, we think you’ll find the EX90 very brisk indeed.

 

While our time with the Volvo EX90 was rather brief, it certainly left an impression. Whether tackling former Classic Adelaide road-rally stages or cruising comfortably on the motorway, the EX90 is incredibly hard to fault. Even the energy usage on test was acceptable given the pace of the drive, averaging around 22kWh per 100km, or 2.5kWh worse than the claim. Based on that figure, a driving range of just over 500km should be possible without really trying.

 

In short, the Volvo EX90 is the most convincing electric premium seven-seat SUV we’ve sampled to date. It’s not only beautifully finished inside and out, but wonderfully quiet, spacious, and generously equipped. Add to that a polished drive and impressive all-electric performance, and there is very little to criticise here. Let’s see if Australian prestige family buyers feel the same way.