Paul Murrell tests the 2025 Volvo EX90 seven-seat electric SUV with pricing, specs, ride and handling, safety, verdict and everything the over-50 driver needs to know.
Summary: The new large Volvo SUV is incredibly quiet and comes with good performance and range, but you’re always aware of its substantial weight.
2025 Volvo EX90 seven-seat electric SUV
Pricing: $124,990 (Plus, plus on road costs); $134,990 (Ultra, plus on road costs)
Warranty: Five-years, unlimited km, five-year complimentary service and maintenance package, eight-year battery warranty, five -year roadside assist
Safety: not tested
Engine: dual motor electric
Power: 300kW (Plus), 380kW (Ultra)
Torque: 770Nm (Plus), 910Nm (Ultra)
Battery: 111kWh lithium ion
Maximum AC charging rate: 11kw
Maximum DC charging rate: 250kW
Transmission: single-speed automatic
Drive: four-wheel drive
Body: 5037mm (long); 2113mm (wide); 1744mm (high)
Turning circle: 11.8m
Weight: 2807kg (Plus), 2815 (Ultra)
Towing: 2200kg (braked)
Spare: tyre mobility kit
Energy consumption: 22kWh/100km
Claimed range: 570km (WLTP)
seniordriveraus energy consumption: 20kWh (Plus), 24kWh (Ultra)
[review]
The new Volvo EX90 joins its smaller siblings, the EX30 and EX40 as Volvo moves further into electric SUVs.
Volvo’s stated intention of being all-electric by the end of the 20s (and all-electric in Australia by 2026) has been wound back, meaning there will still be internal combustion Volvos on our roads, and mild hybrid and plug-in hybrids will still be available alongside the new electric models.
The new EX90 sits on the same platform as the Polestar 3 and the ES90. Originally planned to be released locally some 12 months ago, it arrives with a hefty price tag, but justifies it with plenty of standard features.
Starting price for the EX90 is $124,990 (plus on road costs) for the Plus Twin Motor. Sitting above it is the Ultra Twin Motor Performance that’s $134,990. That compares to $128,390 for the XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid and $99,940 for the mild hybrid version. Both the Plus and the Ultra use the same 111kWh lithium-ion battery.
A new experience inside
Volvo interiors have come to be known as particularly nice places to be, working on a very Scandinavian approach that is both stylish and minimalist. Volvo have managed to continue this, even though the interiors have become more eco-friendly, with recycled PET materials doing their best to look like leather.
The first thing you’ll notice in the EX90 is how many things have been borrowed from the Polestar 3, including the steering wheel, instrument cluster, window switches and floating console.
Despite being built in China, assembly and materials feel first-class and easily the equal of Swedish-assembled models.
Buttons and switches have been kept to the absolute minimum. Even adjusting side mirrors and steering wheel height and rake demand you work your way through the touchscreen and then use buttons on the steering wheel. Want to open the rear windows? You’ll have to press a second button because there is just one window button, and you switch it between front and rear window control. You also don’t get a switch to change the drive mode settings; once again, you’ll have to get into the touchscreen and work your way through the menus. It can get quite frustrating, but does make for that aforementioned minimalist interior.
The driver is faced with a slim 9.0-inch digital instrument binnacle that delivers a simplified readout of key information and allows you to choose from a variety of views.
The front seats, as you’d expect from Volvo, are supremely comfortable and electrically adjusted. They also heated, although ventilation and massage functions are optional on the Plus, but standard on the Ultra.
Dominating the dashboard is the 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, configured to look like a floating tablet. With built-in Google software, it offers all the apps you’d wish for, including Google maps and Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard.
The display is crisp and clear, and the whole thing responds to inputs quickly. Of course, with Google Assistant as part of the system, you don’t have to manually press anything, if you choose not to.
The sound system is a beefy 14-speaker Bose system in the Plus, and even better 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround system in the Ultra, putting out a barely credible 1610 watts.
Accommodation in the second row is better than average, and even full-sized adults won’t feel short-changed. The backs of the front seats are scalloped to give passengers even more leg room. The second-row slides to allow additional space in the third row, and each seat individually reclines. In the centre is an integrated booster seat cushion for children over four.
Interior comfort is assured with four-zone climate control, including rear temperature and fan controls. There are vents on the rear of the console and in the B-pillars. Also in the rear are two USB-C ports, complementing the two in the front.
There is a wealth of storage options, as well, with a good space under the front centre armrest, deep door pockets in the two front rows, another space ahead of the centre console, map pockets in the front seats and even a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders for second-row occupants.
However, as is usually the case, the third row won’t cater for anyone much taller than 180cm. Kneeroom back there is at a premium.
Luggage space is quoted at 310 litres with all three rows upright and increases to 655 with them folded. Folding both the second and third rows increases the space to a very useful 1915 litres. Under the floor, there’s another 65 litres and a further 34 litres under the bonnet. There’s no spare wheel, Volvo making do with a tyre mobility kit.
A real heavyweight
Being electric, of course there’s no combustion engine under the bonnet. Instead there’s a small storage area. The battery in the EX90 is a substantial 111kWh lithium-ion unit.
The Plus makes do with 300kW while the Ultra tops that with 380kW. The Plus gets lower torque, too; 770Nm as against 910 in the Ultra. Both are all-wheel drive, while the Twin Motor Performance weights 8kg more than the 2807kg Plus and gets to 100km/h in a very rapid 4.9 seconds, a full second faster than the Plus.
The EX90 is no sports car, and that’s deliberate. Volvo has set out to make the car comfortable and refined. Like all electric vehicles, acceleration is almost startling.
At the launch, we experience a variety of roads, from inner city roads, suburban roads, freeway travel and high-speed country roads. Both the Plus and the Ultra handled them all with supreme confidence. The Plus us fitted with a standard steel spring set-up with passive damping. Wheels are 20-inch alloy and tyres are 255/50 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres designed for use with an EV. The Ultra, on the other hand, wears larger 22-inch alloys while the tyres are 265/40 low profile. The big difference, however, is that the Ultra gets air suspension and adaptive chassis. Oh, and High Definition Pixel LED headlights (if such things are important to you).
Permanently connected 5G means over-the-air updates will occur regularly to ensure the EX90’s software is always up to date.
Steering is quick but doesn’t send through much information about what’s going on under the wheels. Of course, with no engine noise, insulation from road and wind noise takes on greater importance. The Volvo is well insulated from outside noise, helped by a quoted Cd of 0.29.
Our preference is for the Firm setting, rather than Soft; the car feels more secure on the road in Firm while in Soft mode, there is some disconcerting vagueness.
Driver assistance functions are well below the usual Chinese abrupt intervention. Drift out of your lane and a gentle vibration and subtle nudge gets you back on course.
You’ll need to decide which model best suits your needs. And whether you’d be better off buying a Plus by specifying options to fit your expectations.
No ANCAP rating
A strange omission with the EX90 is that it doesn’t currently wear either an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating. However, being a Volvo, it’s safe to assume that safety is well catered for. I certainly appears to have a full suite of safety equipment.
A reassuring familiarity
Repeat buyers will be reassured by the familiar feeling imparted by the EX90; In almost every respect, it’s just like the Volvos they had before. The EX90 will please existing and past Volvo fans, and probably win over a whole new generation.