2025 Volvo EX90 review
A hugely popular car brand is offering Aussie motorists an unmatched driving experience in what could be the best electric SUV yet.
A few years ago, Volvo was supposed to only have this car – the EX90 seven-seat electric SUV – at the top of its model range.
Now? Things have changed. The fully electric three-row EX90 is here, and it’s going to sit alongside the existing (and hugely popular) XC90 family SUV, which will continue on with petrol power.
Volvo is just one example of a brand making bold claims about going all electric, before reverting to a different strategy because buyers don’t necessarily want that.
For those who do want a plug-in powered family-friendly large luxury SUV like this, though, there may be none better on the market in Australia.
That’s because the EX90 is the consummate Volvo experience – plush, refined, comfortable, practical, and safe. It just happens to be fully electric.
With a massive 111kWh battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel drive as standard, the EX90 is a big unit with a big amount of push on its side.
The base model Plus has 300kW/770Nm, while the range-topping Ultra outdoes some supercars with its 380kW/910Nm outputs.
MORE: Motoring giant stuns with ‘Temu Toyota’
Not that you’d need to speed in a car like this, but the 0-100km/h times are 5.9 and 4.9 seconds, respectively. Immensely quick, for a family high-rider.
It’s likely not going to tickle your pickle as much as some other vehicles for this kind of money if you love to drive, but it is effortlessly powerful.
It is heavy though (circa 2800kg without any occupants), and it can feel that weight when you’re trying to pull it up at an intersection, with a long brake pedal action.
MORE: Car prices could plummet under Dutton
But there is an adjustable single-pedal driving mode, so you can use the regen brakes to do most of the stopping for you by driving it on the accelerator alone.
One thing that might take more getting used to for the driver is the steering, which is artificially over-assisted, to the point that, initially at least, it feels a little tetchy when you change directions.
The ride comfort, though, is very much that – comfortable, despite a tendency to bounce a bit at the back axle.
Volvo has a strong design ethos, with the EX90 clearly falling in line with the other bookend in the EV range, the EX30.
It’s almost like that model is a “Honey, I shrunk the kid” example of this, from the outside at least.
And if you’re wondering what the pod on top is? It’s a LIDAR system that can monitor the car’s surroundings.
MORE:Wild Uber plan to get rid of your car
Inside is a similar story, at least in the front row, with a familiar minimalist vibe where a dominant portrait-style touchscreen is the focal point of the cabin. It’s the control centre, with built in Google tech so you can talk to it to get help, directions, or use the integrated wireless CarPlay if you prefer. There is Google Maps for online NAV, and YouTube for when you’re waiting for it to recharge (35 mins 10-80% at 150kW, in case you’re wondering).
Second row space is roomy and comfortable, with multiple ventilation options and climate management for rear riders, but disappointingly the brand doesn’t offer sun shades in the back for shielding little occupants from glare. There are ISOFIX points in the window seats, though, and the second- and third-row have top-tether points for all positions, meaning this could be a big family hauler for big families.
Just check if your fam can fit, because the third-row space is a little tight for adult-sized humans. It does have adjustable vents and a reasonable view out, though. And if you’re not using those back-row seats, you can raise and lower them electronically – a plus for shorties who mightn’t be able to reach pull-tabs in other SUVs.
The boot space is generous as well, with 365L claimed space behind the third-row, and 655L with the rear row folded down (to the parcel cover).
VERDICT
It’s a clever and comfortable family EV for those who want that kind of car, and while it’s not the most thrilling to drive, it arguably doesn’t need to be for a seven-seat Volvo. To that end, this car nails the brief.
4 STARS
AI road cameras coming to one state
Drivers in one state will be monitored by artificial intelligence cameras.
‘We’re gonna tax’: Wild plan for Aussie SUVs
Aussies could end up paying $24 per hour for parking if a proposal for a “Paris-style” fee system goes ahead.
Shocking images of horror bus crash
A bus driver has been seriously injured in a crash in Adelaide, with horrifying images revealing the extent of the collision.