Hold to fast first impressions of the 2025 Volvo EX90 and also you may get the improper concept.
In one of many many inherently Swedish elements of this next-generation electrical SUV, it doesn’t flaunt the longer term on the skin, nevertheless it actually wears it nicely inside.
The outside of the Volvo EX90 is what it must be—an evolution from the XC90. Then again, its cabin embraces an excessive minimalist strategy, cozies as much as a touchscreen for practically every part, and syncs up with a software-defined-vehicle future.
In a latest day of up-close time with the South Carolina-made EX90, set to reach this fall, Volvo was huge on the latter time period, and its platform’s origin story rooted in international expertise partnerships with Google, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Luminar. However with the attitude of a number of hours of driving time, I used to be reminded that Volvo hasn’t forgotten within the EX90 about what it does finest—making folks really feel comfy, protected, and pampered, with out overtly flaunting it.
2025 Volvo EX90
Touchscreen’s the important thing touchpoint
There’s no shying away from the 14.5-inch vertically oriented touchscreen system while you get into the 2025 EX90, and also you’ll get conversant in it rapidly. Whereas a 9.0-inch gauge cluster and head-up show assist hold monitor of every part, the touchscreen is the hub for every part and, prefer it or not, you’ll have to toggle by way of screen-based tabs to regulate the mirrors, steering wheel, and seats—though the seats have a middle button to click on by way of the elements of energy adjustability.
For newbies like me, it’s merely not as straightforward as precise adjustment switches. Whereas we’re at it, the directional buttons on the Volvo steering wheel merely don’t supply the form of high-quality precision in adjustment that Tesla’s tactile thumbwheels do.
However drivers could realistically solely want to do that as soon as, and Volvo says that its system is a step forward. Driver profiles correspond to every identified smartphone, together with Telephone as Key expertise, and as somebody approaches the car, pings from 4 to 6 ultra-wideband sensors across the car decide which cellphone is coming into on the driver’s door. If this all goes in line with plan, the driving force enters the car with seats, mirrors, steering wheel, presets, and preferences all set to their liking. If by some probability the automobile guesses improper, Volvo says you possibly can choose these profiles manually. That is one I really look ahead to placing to the check with a household of gadgets.
That introduction apart, Volvo’s newest display screen expertise within the EX90 will really feel acquainted to just about anybody, with a tablet-like interface that locks local weather controls. On the backside of the display screen is a locked row of icons that present a fast navigation to a house display screen, apps, settings, and local weather management particulars. Above it’s a row of contextual icons that may change relying on the present use, whereas above that widgets (for cellphone or audio) present a fast have a look at what’s taking part in or obtainable. The overwhelming majority of the display screen is used for navigation—with a transparent, vertically oriented map show that’s straightforward to look at rapidly (however it’s also possible to add it to the instrument panel). It’s prone to evolve and a lifetime of car updates are coming, and Volvo says it’s going to hold knowledge for navigation and over-the-air updates reside even when prospects let their 5G knowledge subscription for apps and streaming lapse.
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
Volvo EX90 is environment friendly, nimble, and quiet
I spent the day with two totally different Twin Motor Efficiency variations of the SUV, within the prime Extremely trim, each bearing the identical $93,345 sticker worth, in a spec that may . One in every of them supplied a Sand Dune exterior (a really gentle tan) with a Daybreak Quilted Nordico inside, the opposite a tailor-made wool mix inside and Vapour Gray exterior. Each of them wore 22-inch 5 spoke aero wheels.
That is the heaviest, most luxurious EX90 within the lineup, at greater than 6,000 kilos by international-market specs, and this introduced three nice surprises within the driving expertise.
Firstly, by early indications, the EX90 could be very environment friendly for a giant three-row SUV. I averaged 2.7 miles per kwh on a 146-mile loop together with some stop-and-go boulevard driving in Orange County, up and down a demanding mountain street, and a few high-speed cruising at a really quick clip. Then on a loop of about 40 miles that included extra boulevard driving and a few denser afternoon site visitors—slower-moving in all probability being the important thing time period—I averaged greater than 2.9 miles per kwh.
The EX90’s battery pack makes use of lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt cells and provides as much as a gross 111 kwh. Volvo has stated that usable capability is as much as 107 kwh, so based mostly on what we noticed that quantities to a real-world vary proper round 300 miles, with out driving notably slowly or gently.
Volvo’s official EPA rankings for the EX90 are 310 miles with the 21-inch wheels and 300 miles for fashions with the 20- and 22-inch wheels.
The second very nice shock is how gentle and nimble the EX90 drives, contemplating these three rows and 6,000+ kilos. Extremely variations—the one one we drove at this occasion—embrace the air suspension in addition to semi-active (multi-stage) dampers. These additional suspension bits aren’t included in additional reasonably priced Plus variations, so we’ll have to report again sooner or later on whether or not they can keep such prowess within the corners. Within the Extremely, you possibly can choose from delicate or agency for the steering and suspension, independently, however I settled on delicate for each as with that the steering centered extra neatly and the suspension nonetheless firmed up when wanted in tight corners.
The third takeaway, which left me relatively awestruck, was merely how quietly the EX90 rides, whether or not accelerating quickly, touring at excessive pace, or using on the roughest street we discovered alongside our route in principally clean Orange County. Hannes Veen, Volvo’s senior supervisor for propulsion techniques, stated that the staff didn’t use any form of lively noise cancellation or sound manipulation; as an alternative Volvo merely paid quite a lot of consideration to noise insulation and bushings, together with fluid-filled bushings for the motor models.
Whereas that is certainly Volvo’s first home-grown “software-defined car,” it’s additionally home-grown in an engineering sense, with the overwhelming majority of growth executed across the automaker’s headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden.
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
EX90 has fast, satisfying efficiency—with one exception
In its top-trim Twin Motor Efficiency Extremely kind, the EX90 could be very fast and, as is commonly the case in bigger EVs, it felt even faster from the entrance seats than its 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds may recommend. Whereas motor models themselves are the identical throughout the EX90 lineup, Twin Motor fashions make 402 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, mixed, whereas Twin Motor Efficiency variations supply 510 hp and 571 lb-ft. The EX90 favors the entrance motor in regular cruising and far of the time, saving the rear motor for fast launches and traction wants. However a Efficiency AWD mode will entry a relentless (however nonetheless variable) energy circulate to the rear wheels at 19 to 81 mph, accessing extra balanced dynamics. I couldn’t really feel a lot of a distinction, or detect the seamless transition because the EX90 brings its rear motor out and in by way of a clutch.
The accelerator and steering inputs have precision to them, however there was one factor lacking within the EX90’s in any other case finely fettled dynamics. Volvo has opted to offer simply three modes for regenerative braking: off, auto, and on—and the brake-pedal really feel in our check automobiles was downright spongy at a standstill, to the purpose the place it was exhausting to inform when the friction pads have been or weren’t making contact.
The “on” setting is a true one-pedal mode—aggressive sufficient the place you might solely have to press the brake pedal for unanticipated stops—whereas “off” brings a coasting/gliding habits that dials all of the regen out and is like Impartial in a gasoline mannequin. The “auto” setting applies a situational strategy, counting on sensors, however I merely didn’t have sufficient drive time to get a way of that and what I actually was left wanting was a center setting for regenerative braking—one that might progressively scrub pace off extra like a gasoline car in Drive or one gear down.
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90 has luxurious seats and area
Between the 2 automobiles I used to be in, I acquired to pattern Volvo’s two high-end upholstery selections for the EX90. Whereas one in every of them had the Nordico artificial, which mixes in plant merchandise and appears slightly simpler to scrub, my favourite of the 2 was the tailor-made wool mix, which mixes in recycled polyester and borrowed the comfy but breathable really feel of an outdoorsy wool sweater.
It’s simply a simple, comfy area general. A variety of heights and sizes will discover no subject becoming into the primary two rows of seating, and the second features a built-in booster seat for smaller youngsters. The third row is a pinch for taller folks to get into and out of, however we discovered that 6-footers might match behind two successive 6-footers within the first and second rows. Entrance-seat area itself is huge, and the passenger facet has an prolonged footwell that impresses as a ledge for footwear (regardless that Volvo informed me it’s there for security).
Cargo area isn’t but out in U.S. phrases, nevertheless it feels decidedly bigger on this space than the XC90, with the power-folding third row simply tapping into 50.2 inches of cargo flooring from the again of the second row and probably greater than 80 inches for lengthy objects in the event you fold the second row. Volvo teases with the concept of a frunk below the lengthy hood, and whereas it covers a large space it’s shallow and too divided-up by hard-plastic partitions to be all that helpful.
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
2025 Volvo EX90
Lidar, Pilot Help, V2X: A lot to make your world higher
Volvo’s security suite incorporates a lidar sensor for the primary time within the EX90, and it provides its active-safety techniques an extended, extra correct look of the street forward. Volvo says that it might assist minimize extreme accidents by 20%.
Pilot Help is Volvo’s appropriately named driver-assistance system supposed to assist with freeway driving, and it employs all the car’s security sensors round whereas searching for the driving force’s arms on the wheel with capacitive sensors. However as of but, it takes a conservative strategy. Participating it requires a tip down on the shift lever—to the place the “B” setting could be on some automobiles. Drivers can solely take their arms off the wheel for 14 seconds, and whereas one hand could be on the wheel whereas cruising alongside each arms must be on the wheel earlier than it gives an assisted lane change. That form of defeats the aim, I discovered, and it’s very, very cautious about it so it’s merely not a function you’ll be utilizing in site visitors.
Bidirectional charging is coming, by the way in which, within the type of a DC unit from Volvo companion dcbel that may function at as much as 25 kw relying on the state of affairs and is able to backing up the house, peak-shaving, or sending energy again to the grid. Extra particulars are coming quickly.
Now the exhausting half: The EX90, as I examined it in Extremely trim, with the optionally available Bowers & Wilkins audio and 22-inch wheels, prices $94,640, together with the $1,295 vacation spot price. The beginning worth for the EX90 is $81,290. That’s about $6,000 increased than the top-spec, all-wheel-drive Kia EV9 GT-Line, one other three-row SUV that helps bidirectional charging. And it seems that it’ll not qualify for the EV tax credit score, not less than initially.
In the end it looks like Volvo has stored its priorities straight. The EX90 is a very new form of car on the within and innovates in a protracted record of considerate methods. Those that get it gained’t really feel a have to shout that out.
Volvo paid for journey bills in order that we might convey you this check drive evaluate.
