Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
It’s been a long while since Volvo unveiled its all-electric 7-seater SUV in Stockholm, Sweden two years ago until present day for the actual test drive. Yet, patience and perfection will always take precedence when building a vehicle enhanced with elevated levels of software, technology, and innovations. Built in the US at the Volvo Cars factory in Ridgeville, South Carolina, the flagship SUV maintains its Scandinavian influence, design, and safety while offering another full-size, luxury-electric utility to the marketplace.
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To become familiar with the offerings of the latest EV to tempt our passions for sustainability, we headed to Southern California’s Newport Coast where the international media launch of the 2025 Volvo EX90 was being hosted. The most important news pertaining to the event is that the Swedish EV will achieve 300 miles when outfitted with 20” and 22” wheels and 310 miles when paired with 21” rims. This range seems to be the gold standard since anything less makes you wonder if your vehicle is fit for longer state-to-state drives. Moreover, the e-SUV is powered by one of the most electrifying sound systems I have ever witnessed from Bowers & Wilkins and its new Abbey Road Studios sound mode. Impressive is an understatement.
Volvo says the EX90 embodies the company’s Scandinavian design principle of form following function. The flagship electric SUV is built on an entirely new platform with architecture focused on advanced safety and intelligent mobility. The EX90 is earmarked as the first Volvo to represent a fresh generation of all-electric vehicles while symbolizing the latest evolution of the company’s engineering techniques. When viewing its profile, the EX90 looks graphically digitized compared to the XC90 gas model. Onlookers will know this is an electric vehicle, especially the grille-less front fascia and heavily covered rims for more efficient airflow. Remember that the luxury SUV will attract families, not individuals looking for an uber sporty or ruggedly styled electric SUV. That’s where Rivian comes in!
The Sand Dune EX90 I drove was the assertive Twin Motor Performance AWD model energized by a 111kWh battery and two permanent magnet electric motors distributing 510-horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque. Paired with 5-spoke aero wheels, the dual air suspension allows for a soft or firm ride depending on the topography and style of driving you prefer. In “performance AWD mode,” the front 265/40 R22 and rear 295/35 R22 Pirelli Scorpion tires gripped the asphalt and darted away like greyhounds out of the gate. However, this method will zap your energy quickly. MSRP is $93,345 for the EX90 Twin Motor Performance Ultra and $84,995 for the EX90 Twin Motor Performance Plus. A second powertrain choice is the Twin Motor setup with 402-horsepower that starts at $79,995 for the Plus and $84,345 for the Ultra.
The e-SUV can restore juice from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes using a DC fast charger (up to 250kW). However, EV owners will almost always charge overnight at home using a Level 2 unit such as the $599 ChargePoint Home Flex, which I had installed. Trust me, EV life will be much simpler knowing that your vehicle is fully charged at the beginning of the day. Depending on where you live expect to pay anywhere from $750 to $1,500 for installation from a licensed electrician. Download the ChargePoint app to activate a public charger before arrival and to set up the session payment. Another significant Volvo technology is bi-directional charging, which lets owners utilize the EX90’s battery to power their homes or another EV.
Simple and savvy is the best way to describe the welcoming and holistic interior led by leather-free Dawn Quilted Nordico bio-based seat upholstery. The cabin’s organic feel calms the senses and evolutionary technology satisfies your connectivity desires. A Google built-in 14.5” vertical touchscreen and 9” instrument cluster screen serve as the brains of the EX90, incorporating Google Apps, Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant to change settings such as the temperature. Sound is provided by a reference-quality Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system with Dolby Atmos and headrest-integrated speakers. In Abbey Road Studios sound mode, the depth takes on the studios’ acoustics so the sound plays how the engineers intended it to. The cabin is quiet until you crank up the 25-speaker 3D sound through the lovely metal and designer grilles.
A few more features I enjoyed were the floating center console with extra storage, a large panoramic glass roof, automatic third-row seats that fold quickly, front seat massaging, and white veneer trim. Furthermore, the EX90 is operable through your smartphone, which loads your profile when entering the vehicle. In addition, the EX90 is engineered with natural, responsibly sourced materials. For example, the e-SUV comprises 15% recycled steel, 25% recycled aluminum, and over 105 pounds of recycled plastics and bio-based substances. A few things I don’t like about the EX90 are the digital steering wheel and mirror adjustments operated through the screen. The glovebox button is also on the screen. I prefer physical adjustments just as I prefer physical knobs and buttons for basic operations such as volume and channel tuning. Also, rolling down the back windows is tricky as they share adjustment tabs with the front windows.
As with all of Swedish society, the EX90 is based on safety, a free-flowing mindset, and human-centric technology that creates safer and value-based lifestyles. Specifically, Volvo’s laser-based radar system — dubbed lidar – utilizes eight cameras, five radars, and twelve ultrasonic sensors to accomplish an array of safety tasks such as scanning the road to detect objects in daylight or complete darkness. Inside, sensors evaluate your awareness level and warn if you’ve become tired or inattentive. If the driver doesn’t react, the EX90 will stop safely and call for help. Moreover, the EX90 is brought to life through NVIDIA DRIVE Orin. This impressive core computer advances the ownership experience through AI-based active safety features, driving assistance systems, introductory autonomous driving, and over-the-air software updates. Impressively, the system chip can multitask 250 trillion operations per second.
The future is becoming greener as the mobility sector improves transportation efficiency and sustainability. Of course the EV charging infrastructure has to increase and battery technology needs to improve continuously, yet Volvo is revving up its EV lineup to further the cause.
