The EX90 (starting at $79,995) is Volvo’s all-new three-row flagship electric SUV and includes several firsts. It’s the first Volvo EV manufactured in the US, the first with an improved infotainment system, and the first production vehicle to include a LiDAR sensor on the outside and radar sensors on the inside. The EX90 has a subtly elegant interior and achieves the modern EV standard of just over 300 miles of range. That said, its performance could be better, some controls are confusing, and the driver’s display is unusually small. Ultimately, our Editors’ Choice for the segment remains the Rivian R1S, which starts at a slightly lower $74,900.
Drives: Motors, Range, and Charging
The 2025 Volvo EX90 comes in two versions: Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance, both with a 111kWh battery and dual motors for all-wheel-drive (AWD). The Twin Motor produces 402 horsepower (hp) and 568ft.-lb. of torque, while the Twin Motor Performance pumps out 510hp and 671ft.-lb. of torque. The EX90’s EPA-estimated range is 310 miles for models with 21-inch wheels and 300 miles for those with 20- and 22-inch wheels. The EPA-estimated MPGe with 21-inch wheels is 86 for city driving, 82 for highway driving, and 84 combined (and 83/78/81 with 20- and 22-inch wheels).
(Credit: Emily Forlini)
The EX90 has a Combined Charging System (CCS) port on the driver-side rear quarter panel. A Volvo spokesperson said an adapter to convert to the NACS charge port (to use Tesla’s Supercharger network) will be available “at a later date.” According to Volvo, it takes 30 minutes for the battery to charge from 10% to 80% using a Level 1 DC fast charger operating at 250kW and above, 32 minutes at 200kW, 35 minutes at 150kW, and 92 minutes at 50kW. With the fastest Level 2 240-volt chargers, the EX90’s battery is replenished from 10% to 80% in 10 hours, and with the 240/120-volt cable that comes with the EX90 running at the lowest amperage, it takes 45 hours to go from 10% to 80% charge. Since I tested the Volvo EX90 at a press event, I didn’t get a chance to charge it, but the range appeared close to the EPA estimate despite my aggressive driving.
Price and Options: A Well-Equipped Base Trim
The EX90 comes in two trim levels, Plus and Ultra. The Twin Motor Plus starts at $79,995, and the Twin Motor Performance Plus starts at $84,995. Exterior standard highlights include 20-inch wheels with all-season tires, LED headlights and taillights, headlight washers, and wiper blades with integrated washers. You also get gloss-black mirror covers, roof rails, and side-window trim. Interior features that make the EX90 stand out include birchwood accents, four-zone climate control, a fixed panoramic sunroof, heated front and rear seats, LED ambient lighting, Nordico leather-free upholstery made from recycled and natural materials, and translucent climate and infotainment controls.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)
Desirable standard tech features include a 14-speaker Bose sound system, a 14.5-inch infotainment touch-screen, a card-based NFC digital key, Google built-in apps, a heads-up display (HUD), a smartphone-based digital key, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Plus gets innovative standard driver assists such as intersection auto braking, lane centering, pedestrian and cyclist steering avoidance, run-off-road mitigation, and seven interior radar sensors.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)
The Twin Motor Ultra starts at $84,345, and the Twin Motor Performance Ultra I tested starts at $89,345. It adds 21-inch wheels, an active air suspension and chassis, flush door handles with ground lighting, and front-seat side bolsters and massaging functions. Options on my test car included $3,200 for a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system and $800 for 22-inch wheels. With a $1,295 destination charge, the final sticker price was $94,640.
Design: Thor’s Hammer Headlights
The EX90 has a distinct Volvo look inside and out but also stands apart from its older siblings. A highlight is the Thor’s hammer multi-element LED headlights copied from other Volvos. This new version, however, features six elements that make up the hammerhead and 10 that form the handle and serve as daytime running lights. When the full beams are switched on, the hammerhead elements separate horizontally to reveal the headlights. There’s no grille between the headlights, but the nose of the EX90 features the traditional Volvo logo, and the brand’s slanted Iron Mark is notched into the vehicle’s snout behind it. Volvo is the first automaker to include a LiDAR sensor in a production vehicle, stealthily housed just above the windshield. I didn’t detect it at first glance because of the black roof on my test car.
(Credit: Emily Forlini)
Volvo is known for its serenely stylish Nordic interiors, and the EX90 sets a new high bar for the brand with its restrained yet highly refined aesthetic. The Nordico Dawn upholstery gives the interior a light and bright feel, and real-wood accents, translucent controls, and subtle silver trim add to the chic Scandinavian vibe. However, the minimalist theme is taken to extremes in some instances. The driver display mounted on the steering column is conspicuously small compared with most competitors and consequently limited in the info it can display. However, it does provide a good rendering of Google Maps in the driver’s view. The EX90 also follows the frustrating trend started by Tesla of minimizing physical buttons and instead relying on multifunction steering-wheel controls to adjust the side mirrors, steering column, and HUD, which proves distracting while driving.
Performance: More Impressive on Paper Than Pavement
The Twin Motor Performance Ultra trim I tested puts 510hp and 671ft.-lb. of torque down on the pavement, which sounds impressive on paper. While the EX90 isn’t sluggish, it doesn’t have the pin-you-to-the-seat acceleration of the fastest EVs and overall felt more lethargic than its rivals.
(Credit: Emily Forlini)
The Volvo EX90’s dual motors engage to get the SUV sprinting from a standstill. Then, the rear motor indiscernibly deactivates at highway speeds to conserve battery power while still supplying torque when cornering and in curves for a more agile and stable ride. Even so, I could often feel the EX90’s hefty 6,100-pound curb weight on curvy mountain roads. Otherwise, the ride is smooth and quiet during highway cruising, and the cabin is well isolated from road and wind noise.
Infotainment: Evolved and Improved
The 14.5-inch vertical/portrait-oriented display in the center of the dash represents an evolution and improvement of Volvo’s longstanding infotainment layout. Besides a larger screen, the system also responds much faster thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit silicon that runs Volvo’s in-house developed software. Otherwise, the layout remains the same, with fixed icons along the bottom for features such as buttons for Home and Climate Control, icons for recently used apps, the main display, and a pull-down menu at the top that reveals your notifications.
(Credit: Emily Forlini)
As with many automakers and new vehicles these days, Volvo relies on Google to supply core cloud-based connectivity for the EX90 by offering Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play in addition to wireless Apple CarPlay. I found the Voice Assistant amazingly accurate for finding destinations, and Google Maps looked great on the 14.5-inch display.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)
Safety: Cutting-Edge Innovations
Volvo is synonymous with safety and the EX90 includes the obligatory driver assists such as front-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. But it’s the first production vehicle to include a LIDAR sensor associated with autonomous vehicles. A Volvo spokesperson said the sensor will only collect data “that will be used to enable a later activation that will expand the vehicle’s capabilities.” I assume this means it will allow for hands-free driving and improve Volvo’s Pilot Assist lane-centering feature, which I’ve found ping-pongs between the lane markings a bit more than systems in competitor vehicles.
(Credit: Doug Newcomb)
Another innovation in the EX90 is interior radar sensors to detect movements as faint as a baby’s breath to prevent children and animals from being trapped in a hot vehicle. The system will not lock the doors if it detects movement and will keep the interior at a safe and comfortable temperature.
Verdict: A Safe Bet
With its low-key luxury interior, state-of-the-art driver assists for safety, and other advanced tech, the Volvo EX90 is a solid contender in the luxury electric SUV segment. It has a competitive 300-mile range and qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit when leased, and we appreciate its updated infotainment system. However, it’s not as swift as competing SUVs nor as engaging to drive, and some controls are fussy to use. With a starting price of about $80,000 and options topping out close to $95,000, it’s more expensive than the Rivian R1S base model, which, due to its remarkable performance and robust off-road capabilities, remains our Editors’ Choice for three-row electric SUVs.
Cons
The Bottom Line
The 2025 Volvo EX90’s cutting-edge driver assists, low-key luxury interior, and high-tech headlights make it a compelling contender among electric SUVs.
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About Doug Newcomb
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