Volvo’s EX90 won’t convert the masses to EVs, but it shows the luxury brand’s ambitions

Open this photo in gallery:

Starting at $110,000, Volvo’s new EX90 won’t be the electric vehicle that finally gets the masses to switch away from gas. But, then again, it’s not supposed to be.

Volvo’s quietest car yet and its first equipped with light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors, the all-electric three-row EX90 is intended to be Volvo’s electric flagship, showcasing the Swedish automaker’s green ambitions.

“Safety and sustainability are the two pillars we will be known for,” said Tara Powadiuk, the director of product and technology at Volvo Cars Canada. “And I think that’s because we are a boutique brand – we are not a mainstream brand.”

The EX90 is the fourth fully electric vehicle in Volvo’s current lineup after the EX30, EC40 Recharge (an EV version of the gas-powered XC40) and C40 compact SUVs. The EX90 was designed and built as an all-electric vehicle – there will be no hybrid version.

The EX90 has all-wheel drive (two motors, front and rear), a 400-volt lithium-ion battery with 111-kilowatt-hour capacity and up to an estimated 499 kilometres in range on the standard 21-inch wheels. (The estimated range falls to 483 kilometres with 20-inch and 22-inch wheels).

While smaller wheels often deliver better range, the mid-sized 21-inch wheel, which is an extra $1,500 on the base trim and comes standard with the $5,600 Ultra trim, has a tire that is optimized for range, Volvo said.

It can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes on a 250-kilowatt DC fast charger – or 170 kilometres in 10 minutes.

It is capable of bidirectional charging, which means the car could power your house, charge another vehicle or send power back to the grid – but the feature won’t be available until sometime in the future, Volvo said.

Open this photo in gallery:

For safety, it offers a range of sensors, including five radar, eight cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and lidar, which emits laser pulses to detect nearby objects.

That lidar sensor, which is mounted above the windshield, is there for the future, too. For now, it is in learning mode – it’s collecting data that buyers can choose to share with Volvo – and it could be used to give the EX90 some degree of autonomous driving capability through over-the-air software updates.

Volvo’s not saying what that would look like. Unlike some other automakers, it isn’t making any promises as to when – but the sensors and computing power are there now, it said.

“To make it safe is our highest ambition; therefore, we will actually let it take the time it takes,” said Martin Magnusson, Volvo’s product manager for advanced safety systems.

Volvo won’t say exactly whom it expects to buy the EX90, other than families seeking up to seven seats, comfort, understated Swedish luxury and premium finishes with a sustainable twist. The bulk of the interior materials are either recycled or, like the wool and wood options, come from sustainable sources, Volvo said.

There’s no leather, but you can choose a wool/recycled polyester blend (which Volvo said can handle latte spills) or Nordico, a simulated leather made from recycled plastic bottles and resin from Scandinavian forests.

Open this photo in gallery:

There are two trims: the well-equipped Plus ($110,000 before fees and taxes) and Ultra ($115,500 before fees and taxes), which adds features including active air suspension, massage seats and soft-close doors. The 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system is an extra $4,450; otherwise, you’ll have to make do with the standard 15-speaker Bose system.

So, isn’t the EX90 – which has been taking orders since February with deliveries expected this winter – a little expensive for a family hauler?

The three-row Kia EV9 has a starting price of $59,995, before fees and taxes – and, unlike the high-end EX90, it qualifies for federal and provincial rebates.

But the EX90 is cheaper than many of its luxury three-row rivals – including the Rivian R1S (starting at $111,900, before fees and taxes) and Mercedes EQS SUV (starting at $136,000, before fees and taxes).

Although Volvo previously said that it would have an all-electric lineup by 2030, it confirmed the EX90 is not a replacement for the aging XC90, its gas-powered three-row SUV that comes as either a conventional hybrid or plug-in-hybrid (PHEV).

Volvo recently announced a refresh of the XC90, which currently starts at $79,950 before fees and taxes for the hybrid, and $93,450 before fees and taxes for the PHEV. It is expected halfway through the 2025 model year.

So far this year, about 40 per cent of Volvo’s sales were PHEVs (25 per cent) and EVs (15 per cent).

“The XC90 will continue as the vehicle — we are also seeing a very high percentage of our sales are in XC90 PHEV,” Powadiuk said. “And we’ve got to make sure that we’re delivering the cars that will meet [consumers’] needs.”

The EX90 is built in Charleston, S.C. Volvo will also build EX90s in China for the Asian market.

Tech specs

2025 Volvo EX90

• Base price / as tested: $110,000 / $120,650 plus $2,620 for freight, plus additional fees and taxes
• Motor / battery: Dual 370-kilowatt electric motors, front and rear / 111 kilowatt-hours
• Horsepower / torque (lb-ft): 510 / 671
• Drive: All-wheel drive
• Energy consumption: 2.8 litres equivalent per 100 kilometres, combined city and highway driving on 21-inch wheels; 2.9 litres equivalent on 20- and 22-inch wheels, according to NRCan ratings.
• Charging capacity: Up to 250 kilowatts
• Curb weight: 2,733 kilograms (six seats), 2,747 kilograms (seven seats)
• Range: 499 kilometres (21-inch wheels), 483 kilometres (20- and 22-inch wheels)
• Alternatives: Cadillac Escalade IQ (upcoming), Kia EV9, Lucid Gravity (upcoming) Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S

Looks

Unlike some all-electric SUVs, the EX90′s looks aren’t startling – although the bump above the windshield that hides the lidar takes a little getting used to. It was designed to be aerodynamic – it has a drag coefficient of 0.29, which is impressive for a boxy family hauler. Sure, it won’t turn heads, but it isn’t meant to. One nifty feature: The headlights are hidden behind the daytime running lights, which slide out of the way when the headlights are on.

Performance

For a family hauler, it has decent acceleration – Volvo said it takes 4.9 seconds to go from zero to 100 kilometres an hour. It’s surprisingly stable on winding roads. It’s not a sports car, but it handles confidently and the ride is comfortable. One pedal driving is smooth and, unlike the Rivian R1S, you can turn it off.

Interior

Open this photo in gallery:

There’s nothing flashy inside the minimalistic cabin. Even the accent lighting under the wood trim on the dash is understated (Volvo designers vetoed offering colours). With a flat floor and glass ceiling, it feels open inside – with plenty of storage space and headroom. It is quiet. On the highway, the unobtrusive fan was louder than the road and wind noise from outside. There are no physical buttons and almost every function, including adjusting the side mirrors and opening the glove compartment, is controlled by the centre infotainment screen or by Google’s voice-activated assistant, which doesn’t always get what you’re saying. (When I asked Google to turn down the driver’s side temperature, it turned the heat up to high).

But luckily, the controls on the screen are more intuitive than any other Volvo EV; basic functions, like changing the temperature, are easy to control. Still, a knob in the centre console that controls the audio system is welcome. Plus, there’s a display screen mounted to the steering wheel that will show speed – which is also visible on a head-up display. The seats are comfortable, but they are not cooled – which would have been welcome in the 33-degree California weather. The second-row bench offers a built-in booster seat. The third row is snug for two adults, but roomier than most rivals. In the rear hatch, there are buttons to make the third row fold down (and back up), and to use the air suspension to lower the EX90 closer to the ground.

Technology

Volvo’s driver assist system combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, but it won’t stop at traffic lights or let you take your hands off the wheel like some rival systems. Volvo said extra features could eventually be added over-the-air. There’s a radar system inside that can tell whether anyone is in the rear seats, so you don’t accidentally leave a child behind. You can also use the Google assistant to control Google-compatible devices at home, such as lights. While Volvo will eventually switch to Tesla’s NACS charging standard on its new EVs, the 2025 EX90 still uses CCS. Volvo says it plans to offer an NACS adapter for all its current EVs but hasn’t said when.

Over all, the EX90 is easy to live with. Unlike some previous Volvos, it shows the remaining range in kilometres next to the speedometer so you don’t have to hunt for it. To get in and drive, you can use a fob, a physical key card or a digital key that goes on your phone. There’s no start button. As long as the fob, card or digital key are in the vehicle and someone is in the driver’s seat, the EX90 is ready to go.

Cargo

Open this photo in gallery:

There are 310 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 655 litres with the third row down and 1,915 litres with the second and third rows down. A small frunk (front trunk) holds 34 litres – big enough for the charging cable.

Open this photo in gallery:

The verdict

Quiet, comfy and loaded with safety tech, the all-electric EX90 will haul your family in understated Scandinavian style, provided you’ve got deep pockets.

The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.

Shopping for a new car? Check out the new Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price.