Volvo has been given a hand-up to total automotive electrification in a big way by its
bosses at Geely, the Chinese automotive group that is the parent company of the
Swedish luxury marque.
Both companies are involved in electric vehicle development, including the flagship
large luxury Volvo EX90, which shares some of its technology and the Polestar
3 platform. Geely also produces its own vehicles, such as the Geely Starray Em-1, and
sells a range of accessories for the EX90 through its Geelyevs website.
However, is the swish seven-seater too tall an order for the Chinese newcomer? Volvo
has seen to it that there’s more than a dash of prestigious XC90 DNA in the EV, plus a
combination of class and high tech.
Genuine rivals, such as the Kia EV9 and BMW iX.are few and far between. So
unrepresented is the segment that the bulky Sino-Swedish seven-seater could be seen
as a single step down from the modern metro electric bus.
Available in two variants – the Plus Twin Motor at $124,990, plus on-road costs, and the
Ultra Twin Motor Performance adding another $10,000.
Warranty is five years unlimited kilometres for the vehicle and eight years for the EV
battery. Roadside assistance adds up to five years, with capped price servicing also five
years or 150,000 kilometres.
STYLING
Some elements of the XC90 remain. For example, lighting up front is a Thor’s Hammer
of sorts; and as with most EVs, gone is the grille (no ICE radiator, you see). The future
is firmly in its sights with a no-fuss front and a slight swoop in profile.
Alternatively, the squared-off rear light set-up seems out of place in such a forward-
looking vehicle.
Under the bonnet? A front load compartment provides smart storage of a charging cable
and seldom-used items. A tyre repair kit is easily accessible while freeing up space in
the rear load compartment.
INTERIOR
Taking cues from the Scandinavian living room, the EX90 cabin showcases a modern,
luxurious and uncluttered interior design with high-quality Nordico upholstery options,
the test vehicle in a snow-dome shade.
Up to seven persons travel comfortably with excellent view in individual, ergonomically
designed seats. All seats adjust easily to suit personal preferences.
Each seat on the second row slides and reclines individually to maximise comfort or
further enhance legroom in the third row. And to facilitate getting in and out of the third
row, the outer seat backrests of the second row fold conveniently and the seat can be
pushed forward.
Each rear seat is easy to fold individually into the load area floor. When the third row is
not needed, the seats fold into the load floor at the touch of a button.
There’s versatile space across all three rows, although the third row is tight for taller
grown-ups. Storage space is 377 litres with that third row in use, and a massive 822
litres with only the first two rows in use. All seats folded leaves 1945 litres.
Families are catered for by a cubby under the front centre armrest, deep door pockets in
both rows, a space ahead of the front-centre console, map pockets behind the front
seats as well as a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders in the second row.
INFOTAINMENT
A huge 14.5-inch portrait-style centre touchscreen dominates the dash and is quick to
respond, but the need to dig out buried menus to adjust wing mirrors and other driving-
related functions, including the level of regenerative braking and suspension modes, are
fiddly and distracting.
Occupants are cosseted in expansive lounge-like seats in surroundings finished in pale
wood inlays with the 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system in the Performance
model sporting metal speaker grilles.
Ahead of the driver is a slim 9.0-inch digital instrument binnacle that is shared with a
number of Geely Auto group models, though the EX90’s one is very close in look and
feel to that of the Polestar 3 and 4. It offers a flat and simple readout of key info, and
has a couple of different views including a Google Maps view.
Running Google Built-in software and connected services, it offers native apps like
Google Maps, and Google Assistant as well as access to the Google Play store. And it
gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
Two motor variants are available. The Twin Motor version develops 300kW and 770Nm,
while the Performance ups that to 380kW and 910Nm. Both models use a 111kWh
battery pack (107kWh usable), and there’s a 400-volt electrical system that can take
charging up to 250kW. That means you can get from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 30
minutes with a rapid charger.
SAFETY
The EX90 is equipped with advanced safety features such as lidar, radar, and cameras
for a 360-degree view and provides over-the-air software updates supported by Geely
technology.
It also comes with a lot of preventative safety technology including pedestrian, vehicle,
cyclist detection, intersection collision and oncoming mitigation with brake support; post
impact braking; steering support; driver alert; lane keeping alert, adjustable speed
limiter, blind spot info, with cross traffic alert, front and rear collision warning with
mitigation, hill descent control; intelligent speed assist and door opening alert.
DRIVING
The credit card-style key found it hard to keep up with locking and unlocking the doors.
Patience paid off for the driver. A mobile phone app is a smart alternative.
All EVs are ‘some sort of silent’ but the EX90 is in the medieval monastery class,
including from wind and road noise. The suspension is clever enough to handle hefty
mass on most road surface blemishes, as would be expected from the superior Scandi.
Steering is slow-speed lite – handy for parking this five-metre-plus juggernaut – and
front-and-side visibility are good. The rear view, however, is compromised when the
third row of seats is in use.
SUMMARY
The EX90, part of Volvo’s far too ambitious plan to be all-electric Down Under by next
year along the way to a complete electric world at decade’s end have missed both
targets. With those out of reach the new EVs will be sold alongside refreshed versions
of the brand’s legacy nameplates in mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms of the XC90.
RATINGS
Looks: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Safety: 7/10
Thirst: 7/10
Practicality: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10
Tech: 8/10
Value: 7/10
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Volvo EX90 Plus Twin Motor from $124,990
Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin Motor Performance from $134,990
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your
local Volvo dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance, 1sp auto, AWD SUV)
ENGINE
Electric motor: Twin-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motors
Maximum power 380kW
Maximum torque: 910Nm
DRIVELINE: 1 Speed Automatic Transmission, AWD
BATTERY: 111kWh nickel manganese cobalt
PERFORMANCE:
Driving range: 570km
Energy consumption: (claimed) 16.9kWh/100km
CHARGING:
DC Fast Charge Approx. 30min
AC Charge Approx. 10 hr (3 Phase 230V 16A)
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 5037mm
Width: 2113mm
Height: 1744mm
Wheelbase: 2985mm:
Turning circle: 11.8m
Kerb weight: 2712kg
BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Disc
STANDARD WARRANTY
Five years / unlimited kilometres
Eight years / battery
