Volvo’s flagship utility vehicle gets the electrified treatment
Volvo is on track to phase out its lineup of gasoline-powered vehicles by the end of the decade. As that time approaches, there’s a new electric addition for 2025: The EX90 is expected to arrive later in 2024 from Volvo’s assembly plant in North Carolina.
The automaker’s new sevenpassenger battery-electric utility vehicle will be sold alongside the gasoline- and hybrid-powered XC90. Volvo says the XC90 will remain available and will receive at least one last makeover before being retired.
The EX90 and XC90 look similar, but the EX90’s grilleless nose and larger “Thor’s hammer” headlights and taillights (a Volvo trademark) are major differences. The EX90’s flush-mounted door handles pop out and illuminate as the driver approaches the vehicle, and the body panels are made from partially recycled steel and aluminum.
Despite the EX90’s batteryelectric platform (shared with the more premium Polestar 3), the vehicle is practically the same size as the XC. The EX90 is about 7.5-centimetres longer and the differences in width, height and in distance between the front and rear wheels are almost negligible. The same goes for cargo capacities, whether the
rear rows of seats are upright or folded flat, but the advantage goes to the EX90 and its small stowage spot beneath the hood.
The EX90 and XC90 have the same 2,270-kilogram towing capacities.
Dominating the interior is a giant 14.5-inch vertical touchscreen along with a smaller driver’s information display. The giant screen operates the key functions, such as infotainment, navigation and climate functions. A solitary dial on the floor console operates the vehicle’s forward and reverse directions.
Seven-passenger seating is standard, but the second-row bench can be replaced with a pair of high-back bucket seats. Volvo’s focus on sustainability
means that the seat coverings are produced from wool and recycled plastics. There’s no leather to be found.
There are two powertrain choices for the all-wheel-drive EX90, both with front and rear electric motors. The Twin Motor Plus is rated at 402 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, while the Twin Motor Performance increases output to 496 horsepower and 671 pound-feet. Both versions are supported by 111-kilowatt-hour battery packs.
According to Volvo, the Plus accelerates to 96 km/h from rest in 5.7 seconds, while the Performance does it in 4.7. Those are great numbers given the EX90’s 2,800-kilogram heft.
Both systems provide bi-directional charging, which means they can supply power for household lighting and appliances in the event of an outage, or they can charge another EV’s batteries.
At full charge, the base EX90 Plus provides an estimated 480 kilometres of range.
Volvo reports that charging the battery to 100 per cent from 10 using a 240-volt Level 2 home charger will take about 11 hours. Charging to 80 per cent from 10 using a 480-volt Level 3 commercial charger is estimated to take 30 minutes.
The Twin Motor Plus starts at $110,000, which is about $35,000 more than the gasoline XC90. For a base model, it’s well equipped and includes a fixedglass panoramic glass roof and a full range of active-safety technology designed to prevent collisions. There’s adaptive cruise control with lane-centring and active steering assist, longrange pedestrian detection and dual-camera distracted/drowsy driver system with intervention. There’s also radar-based in-car monitoring that alerts when people or pets have been left unattended.
Available in the Twin Motor Plus trim is a Bowers and Wilkins surround-sound audio package with 25 speakers.
As a flagship status model, the EX90 appears to be the complete package in terms of luxury, performance and safety. It might even make you forget about the XC90, which might be the point.
2025 Volvo EX90
Type: All-wheel-drive electric utility vehicle
Motors (h.p.): Front and rear electric (402/496)
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Market position: Closely related to the Volvo XC90 in terms of size and looks, the seven-passenger utility vehicle has considerable luxury content and leadingedge active-safety technology, and more-than-capable standard and optional power systems. Points: Styling borrows heavily from the gasoline-powered EX90.
• Simplified interior lacks control knobs and buttons, which could deter some buyers.
• Decent performance and battery range.
• Base models come reasonably well turned out.
• Volvo’s focus on safety technology is obvious.
Active safety: Blind-spot warning with cross-traffic backup alert (std.); active cruise control (std.); front and rear emergency braking (opt.); inattentive-driver alert (std.); lane-departure warning (std.); pedestrian warning (std.) Base price (incl. destination): $110,000