Volvo’s flagship electric SUV, the EX90, is here, and it is precisely how you’d expect a Volvo to be — stylish, safe, and powerful.
The EX90 electric SUV is not an unexpected release — the automaker has been teasing it for a long time. But finally, we have the first look at the EX90, an SUV that should give Volvo an upper hand over the German competition and be a serious rival to Tesla. The EX90 is one of the few three-row electric SUVs on sale, which could translate into superior selling numbers.
Volvo proudly says that this is the automaker’s safest model up-to-date, but it won’t surprise us if it’s also the safest SUV on planet Earth. The EX90 features a bundle of sensors, cameras, radars, and LiDAR on the roof — backed by high-performance computers. The system will give the driver a 360-degree view and provide a very accurate and precise vision to avoid accidents altogether.
From the outside, the EX90 doesn’t look too dissimilar to the XC90, which is a seven-year-old model now. However, the internal-combustion model is still a svelte-looking SUV, and the EX90 does enough to look more modern. Overall, it’s a beautiful and minimalistic design with some interesting details. For instance, the headlights have DRLs that can open to reveal the main lamps, giving the electric SUV a futuristic vibe. Besides, Volvo focused on making the body as slippery as possible – the EX90 has a 0.29 Cd drag coefficient.
Despite sharing the design with its older brother, the EX90 sits on an all-new platform, crucial to maximizing battery capacity and range. Indeed, Volvo’s first electric three-row SUV features a 111-kWh battery pack, giving the large EX90 an estimated 300-mile range. Moreover, the battery supports quick charging, taking it from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes.
Like in most modern EVs, performance won’t be an issue – even the entry-level model boasts a dual-motor powertrain producing 408 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, enough to bring the EX90 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than six seconds. However, Volvo will also offer a Performance model, which packs 496 hp and 671 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of just 4.9 seconds.
But Volvo being Volvo, has also focused on making the EX90 as eco-friendly as possible. Thus, 15% of the SUV is built from recycled steel and 25% from recycled aluminum. Recycled plastics also feature, with over 105 pounds of them, along with biobased materials integrated into the design.
Like in every Volvo car, the EX90 has a minimalistic interior with almost no buttons and a large 14.5-inch screen in the middle. But it’s what’s behind the display that matters, at least according to the Swedish automaker. Namely, the EX90 comes with gaming-PC-level computer power, including NVIDIA DRIVE AI platforms Xavier and Orin and Snapdragon® Cockpit Platforms from Qualcomm Technologies.
The system even uses the latest Unreal Engine 3 from Epic Games for better visuals, alongside an Android Automotive operating system skinned by Volvo. As such, the EX90 will come built-in with Google Assistant and Maps while supporting numerous other apps from the Google Play Store. The driver can unlock the EX90 with a smartphone and get profile-specific apps on the infotainment. And iPhone fans won’t need to worry, as the infotainment also supports wireless Apple CarPlay.
Passengers will also enjoy a high-quality 25-speaker (including headrest speakers) Bowers & Wilkins audio system that supports Dolby Atmos for surround sound.
“The Volvo EX90 is our vision of a large family SUV in the electric age,” says Volvo CEO Jim Rowan. True to his words, the EX90 sets standards for the coming electric SUVs by boasting a wide array of impressive safety features and technology.
Pre-orders open now, and Volvo says that a “well-equipped model” will cost you around $80,000. Deliveries start in 2024.
Gallery: 2023 Volvo EX90
