Volvo EX90 Review 2024

• New Volvo EX90 is a large luxury electric SUV
• 2023 Volvo EX90 will launched in 2023, priced from £75,000
• Pure electric Volvo EX90 will be sold alongside a refreshed Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid

The new Volvo EX90 is an electric seven-seat luxury SUV that will be the marque’s range-topping flagship when it arrives in 2023. The new Volvo EX90 will see the Swedish company take on electric SUV rivals such as the BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQE. It is the luxury alternative to the new Polestar 3. 

Other rivals for the new Volvo EX90 will include the forthcoming Kia EV9, Audi e-tron and both present and future versions of the Tesla Model X. Volvo believes the new EX90 will be the best and most premium car it has ever launched.

2023 Volvo EX90 prices and release date

The new Volvo EX90 made its global debut in cool downtown Stockholm. It has been revealed almost a year ahead of its market release, which is scheduled for autumn 2023, with UK deliveries beginning in early 2024. Ordering is expected to open in summer 2023.

 The new Volvo EX90 will be a more expensive car than the Volvo XC90 it replaces at the top of the Swedish firm’s line up. When the full range is on sale, prices will start from upwards of £75,000. At launch, the Volvo EX90 will be sold in top-spec Twin Motor guise - and prices will start from £96,225, or £100,555 for the Twin Motor Performance variant. 

2023 Volvo EX90 styling, interior and technology

The new Volvo EX90 successfully evolves the assertive, clean-cut styling of today’s Volvo XC90. It is larger than ever, with a long wheelbase and big, boldly-proportioned wheels. The familiar Thor’s hammer headlights have been reimagined with matrix LED technology – and given a cool pixelated appearance.

Because the new Volvo EX90 is a pure EV, it doesn’t have a traditional grille. It’s now fully integrated into the front bumper, which helps deliver a superb Cd aerodynamic drag factor from just 0.29. The wraparound profile of the front bumper also helps smooth the airflow.

A distinctive feature of the new Volvo EX90 is its roof-mounted lidar sensor. This is standard on all new Volvo EX90, and will enable the delivery of fully autonomous functionality via an over-the-air update, as and when legislation allows. There is also an array of eight cameras, five radars and 16 ultrasonic sensors.

The new Volvo EX90 has more crisply-cut side feature lines, which include a distinctive flowing shoulder line. Retractable door handles enhance the smooth appearance and ultra-flush-fit glass adds to the sophisticated look. Volvo will also offer rear-view cameras instead of traditional door mirrors.

The roofline sweeps gently into the aero-enhancing rear spoiler. The new Volvo EX90 has a new take on the familiar Volvo vertical tail lamps: a set of LED lights sit either side of the rear window, with a C-shaped 3D LED light array being a standout feature below. It will look eye-catching both day and night, and rounds out the elegant appearance of the new Volvo EX90.

The new Volvo EX90 interior is another leap forwards for the firm’s brand new range-topper. It looks really luxurious and high quality, something enhanced by Volvo’s desire to phase out the use of leather in its car interiors. Instead, the new Volvo EX90 is available with plush, warm, wool-blend upholstery. A new trim called Nordico, plus almost 50kg of recycled materials, further press the sustainability message.

The interior of the new Volvo EX90 is built around a large, high-definition 15-inch central touchscreen. This runs Google Android Automotive OS, with built-in Google Assistant, Google Maps navigation and the Google Play app store. It also has wireless Android Auto smartphone connectivity – and wireless Apple CarPlay for those outside the Google ecosystem.

The technology is genuinely cutting-edge. The new Volvo EX90 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon cockpit platform, and offers serious computing power plus high-quality 3D graphics developed with leading gaming company Epic Games. It’s described as “lightning fast” – and audio will be just as immaculate, thanks to a “reference-quality” Bowers & Wilkins sound system with Dolby Atmos tech.

The new Volvo EX90 even comes with phone key technology as standard: an owners’ smartphone can serve as the car key, so they can leave the key fob at home – and it even auto-loads their own personal profile as they enter.

Chief executive Jim Rowan says the new Volvo EX90 will be “the first Volvo car to be truly defined by its software and part of a wider ecosystem, connecting to your home and your other devices. The Volvo EX90 is the start of something new for Volvo Cars in many ways”.

As for the new Volvo EX90’s seven-seat capabilities, they will be better than ever, thanks to the space-efficient new EV platform. Large windows will give an airy feel across all three rows of seats. When the third row of seats aren’t needed, they’ll fold flat into the floor – possibly with electric assistance.

2023 Volvo EX90 batteries, performance and fuel economy

The new Volvo EX90 EV will initially launch in twin-motor all-wheel drive guise. The regular Twin Motor version produces 408PS, for 0-62mph acceleration in 5.9 seconds. The Twin Motor Performance produces 517PS, for 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds. More accessible Single Motor versions will follow later. As with all modern Volvos, the new 2023 EX90 is limited to a 112mph top speed.

The new Volvo EX90 is powered by a huge 111kWh battery. It gives the Twin Motor version a 363-mile EV range; the Twin Motor Performance will have a 360-mile electric driving range. In the most efficient Single Motor guise, it will be capable of travelling for up to 442 miles on a single charge. At a suitably powerful DC rapid charger, it will charge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes.

Based on the new SPA2 pure electric architecture, the new Volvo EX90 will deliver a super-refined and comfortable drive. The batteries will be perfectly placed to give a low centre of gravity, aiding handling, while refinement will be first-rate.  

Driver safety in the new Volvo EX90 is delivered by special sensors and cameras that can gauge eye gaze concentration. It means the new Volvo EX90 will understand if you’re distracted, tired or inattentive – gently nudging you at first, then becoming more insistent if you don’t response. If the worst happens, it will safely stop and call for help.