Volvo

EX90

The Volvo EX90 is the company’s new flagship model and is a fully electrified seven-seater that boasts a great driving range as well as bold styling and a wealth of on-board technology.

Test Drive

Volvo EX90 – First Drive (2024)

The larger-than-life XC90 has carried the Volvo flagship banner for a number of years now and done an exceptional job in the process. But now it’s time for a change and that means a look to the future for the Swedish carmaker.

And so, we get to the all-electric EX90, a seven-seat, family-sized SUV that boasts bold styling, a wealth of on-board technology and performance capabilities to rival any challenger within the sector. And, possibly the main feature for many EV drivers, the range is in excess of 370 miles between charges.

At launch, the EX90 is only available in high-end Ultra specification with a standard model costing £96,255 and the Performance version topping the scales at £100,555, making it Volvo’s first passenger car to pitch in at £100k.

Both versions feature a 111kWh battery pack and have twin motors – one on each axle – for all-wheel drive. The standard EX90 has 408hp with 770Nm of torque which results in a 0-62mph time of just 5.9 seconds. Move up to EX90 Performance and you get 507hp with a whopping 910Nm of torque and that shaves a second off the 0-62mph sprint at 4.9 seconds. Both models have a maximum speed of 112mph.

We opted for the range-topping EX90 Performance for our test drive through the Californian hills and along the Pacific roads which meant it faced 10-lane highways, twisting hill climbs and descents, winding country roads and some busier built-up routes.

The vehicle certainly has a commanding road presence with its bold styling. The front end features a smoothed-out grille area and this is flanked each side by the now-traditional Thor’s Hammer signature daytime running lights.

There are dark tinted windows, soft close doors, a fixed panoramic sunroof, integrated roof rails and striking 22-inch black alloy wheels.

When viewed from the rear, the boxy shape emphasises the vehicle’s practicality and there are C-shaped rear lights each side of the powered tailgate.

Move inside and the cabin oozes class and sophistication with the finest upholstery and upmarket materials throughout. You will quickly notice the cabin’s minimalist layout with very few physical buttons and that means the 14.5-inch portrait infotainment screen acts as the nerve centre and access point to many on-board features. You even have to use it to open the glovebox and, in tandem with steering wheel controls, to adjust the door mirrors.

The screen is sharp and responsive and there are built-in Google services so you can ask questions about almost anything as you drive along! One issue at launch is there are a number of features missing and they will be introduced gradually via over-the-air software updates. This includes Apple CarPlay (which I rely heavily upon) plus some advanced driver assist systems.

But that aside, there is plenty of tech to explore within this state-of the-art vehicle, such as the navigation set-up, DAB radio, handsfree Bluetooth and a brilliant 25-speaker Bowers and Wilkins music system that delivers pitch-perfect sound.

The powered seats can be heated and offer a selection of massage settings and it’s worth noting that unlike its smaller sibling, the EX30, which came under fire for a lack of readout screens, the EX90 has both a compact eight-inch driver display screen and a head-up display.

Despite its billing as a practical family SUV, the EX90 can certainly put in a shift on the performance front too. It may weigh in at 2.7 tonnes, but its agility when firing through twisting mountain roads cannot fail to impress. It’s perfectly grounded with minimal sign of body sway no matter how enthusiastically you push on.

It’s a very confident highway cruiser and the agility in busier town centre traffic also impressed with the excellent driver visibility proving another plus-point of note. It’s possible to increase the level of regenerative braking with the option to select between Auto and One Pedal Driving settings, and then when faced with the open road, there is a Performance mode that gives the car added zip.

The instant pace and constant stream of power make overtaking slower vehicles a simple task and this rapid acceleration is also beneficial when joining a stream of fast-flowing traffic from a slip road.

The cabin is beautifully refined with Volvo engineers introducing class leading soundproofing, and with a choice between Soft or Firm settings, the suspension can be stiffened or cushioned to preference.

Comfort levels are exceptional and that goes for passengers in rows two and three too. With space for three adults in row two there will be no complaints about leg, elbow or head room. Then these seats can be slid forwards, tilted and folded to offer easy access to the pair of back seats. Adults can fit in these, but ideally, they are best suited to youngsters, especially on longer journeys. There are heated seats in row two, plus a number of USB-C ports and six cup holders.

The boot is accessed via a large, powered tailgate and, with all seats in an upright position, there is storage space for 310 litres of luggage. Drop the rear seats (automatically via boot switches) and that limit increases to 655 litres and with just the front seats in use, the capacity is 1,915 litres.

If you plan to carry heavy or awkwardly-shaped items, the boot height can be raised or lowered (again via boot controls) and there is extra storage space under the boot floor, as well as a frunk beneath the bonnet.

In addition, there are a number of convenient storage options scattered throughout the cabin and these include door bins, a glovebox, a large centre console box, seat back nets, trays and a wireless charging pad.

With family getaways in mind, the EX90 can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to 2.2 tonnes. And with all-wheel drive, boggy terrain shouldn’t pose any issues either.

When it comes to charging, the EX90’s 111kWh battery can be boosted from zero to 100 per cent using a 7.6kW wallbox in 15 hours, or a 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes 30 minutes via a 250kW fast charger.

All in all, the EX90 is a fabulous replacement for the XC90 and brings the company’s headline act model bang up to speed with modern day guidelines.

It’s not without a few teething issues and early customers may be quite frustrated to find features initially missing from their £100k car. And personally, I would like more physical buttons rather than being too dependent on a touchscreen for simple tasks. But those gripes aside, this car really lays down the gauntlet to the more recognised premium brands out there.