With Volvo committing to an all-electric future by 2030 – and even earlier in Australia – it has commenced the rollout of its model new suite of electrical autos to exchange present mannequin strains.

Whereas the XC90 might be facelifted as a plug-in hybrid to see it by to 2030, the EX90 is its all-electric successor.

We’ve had the possibility to have a primary drive on the car’s worldwide launch within the USA as a visitor of Volvo.

How does the Volvo EX90 evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volvo EX90 towards equally sized autos.

Volvo

EX90

How a lot does the Volvo EX90 price?

Volvo hasn’t introduced Australian pricing but for the all-new EX90, however we count on it to be across the $130,000 mark earlier than on-road prices.

As soon as we’ve got this data we’ll have a value and specs story, together with an replace to this overview.

To see how the EX90 strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What’s the Volvo EX90 like on the within?

Volvo has gone for a minimalist strategy contained in the EX90’s cabin. Buttons have been banished, and a Tesla-esque strategy has been focused to condense all of the car’s features to the central touchscreen.

One of many major causes the EX90 has been extensively delayed is because of software program integration points. However, in my view, the wait might be price it for the good thing about vertical integration.

Automotive firms usually depend on tier one suppliers to provide all of the electronics and elements to make a car work. There’s a mix of engine modules, infotainment modules, security system modules, central locking modules, local weather modules… the record goes on.

The automobile firm then integrates all of those inside a central expertise stack. Modifications to any of those techniques then requires enter – and extra price – from tier one suppliers. Issues by no means occur in realtime, which is why you usually have to attend till a facelift rolls round to implement adjustments.

With the SPA2 platform that EX90 sits on, vertical integration was the important thing. Volvo introduced as lots of the software program techniques in home as attainable to make sure it was in control of the stack, and it was in control of adjustments and interactions inside that stack. It’s a step change for a automobile firm that has all the time finished issues a sure manner.

And, it’s the first cause the EX90’s launch was delayed a lot.

Consequently, Volvo now builds its infotainment system round Android Automotive OS (not Android Auto), which permits the producer to construct apps and applied sciences across the base working system. The tip result’s a reasonably clean expertise with prolonged performance that may be up to date on the fly with over-the-air updates.

Core to the system is the Google Assistant, which might use cloud-based voice processing to know instructions, and a litany of apps that may be added to the system to additional performance.

Volvo now makes use of an digital key to entry the car. The proprietor can use an NFC card (which requires a bodily faucet, and appears like a bank card), their telephone, or an Apple iPhone particular key.

Volvo admitted it was nonetheless working to refine this expertise. We had numerous events the place we couldn’t begin the car or change gears with out exiting and getting into once more.

Volvo has been inventive with the woodgrain in entrance of the driving force and entrance passenger. The wooden panelling options cutouts which are invisible throughout day time. However at night time they provide a delicate backlight within the cabin that brings a good looking atmosphere into the fold.

We are going to get two variations of the EX90 in Australia, with the bottom that includes wool mix seat trim the costlier mannequin that includes a leather-style materials. We don’t know what the Australian automobile seems like, and are uncertain whether or not the seats are literally leather-based or an artificial association.

Sitting on the identical wheelbase because the XC90, the EX90 provides respectable leg- and headroom within the second row for adults. I’m 185cm tall and located ample knee-, head-, and toe room. The second row additionally slides to supply further lodging for third row occupants.

On the storage entrance you’ll discover a decent-sized centre console up entrance with uncovered storage beneath the quantity management. There’s additionally a pair of cup holders and twin USB-C ports for charging. The wi-fi charger additionally options air vents with cooling to make sure your telephone doesn’t overheat whereas charging.

The second row options decent-sized door bins and extra USB-C charging ports.

Within the third row, there’s sufficient room for youths and adults under 175cm in peak. After I tried to suit, I discovered an absence of head- and kneeroom. With the second row pushed ahead it was extra accommodating, but it surely did then compromise the quantity of accessible area for second row occupants.

Creature comforts within the third row embrace extra USB-C charging and cup holders.

Surprisingly there’s additionally loads of room behind the third row for small baggage above the cargo ground and sufficient room for cables and odds and ends beneath the cargo ground.

There’s a frunk out there with sufficient room for a small set of groceries or charging cables.

To see how the EX90 strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The EX90 might be provided with two dual-motor drivetrains initially.

Charging comes within the type of three-phase AC as much as 16A and DC charging at as much as 250kW. Volvo claims a mixed WLTP driving vary of between 570-614km.

To see how the EX90 strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

How does the Volvo EX90 drive?

One of many large advantages of not supersizing this chassis is that the EX90 feels similar to an XC90 to drive by way of its dimension. Producers have gone loopy with large wheelbases – assume over 3000mm – that afford extra space within the cabin however compromise dealing with and journey because of the expanse of area between the wheels.

Straight out of the gates the EX90 is silent. Sure, all EVs are silent, however that is next-level quiet. The steering is gentle at low speeds – however not overly gentle – and visibility out the entrance and sides is nice. Volvo missed a chance to incorporate a digital rear-view mirror, given visibility might be compromised when you’ve got occupants within the third row.

A welcome addition to the cabin is a display screen forward of the driving force. It’s a small show that provides key metrics like velocity, vary, navigation show, and the operate of the semi-autonomous techniques. 

We have been within the high-specification Extremely grade for our transient drive across the Newport Coast space of California. The very clean roads meant the journey was glorious, even on 22-inch alloy wheels. That’s not one thing you possibly can usually say a few Volvo on large wheels.

That’s due to an air suspension setup with adaptive damping. Whereas it soaked up bumps superbly, it did attain its limits on steady undulations and areas the place the suspension couldn’t reply fast sufficient to fulfill sudden adjustments in street high quality. We’ll be eager to see how this fares on Australian roads after we get it again house.

A fast stint throughout the Ortega Freeway to Lake Elsinore gave us a chance to select up the tempo. The Efficiency AWD setting permits the car to go from an open differential on the rear axle to a semi-closed association due to a dual-clutch on the rear motor.

It provides sharper throttle response and mimics a limited-slip differential to realize higher efficiency. Whereas it was spectacular, there was no escaping the kerb weight. You’re sitting at round 3000kg with passengers on board, and you actually start to really feel the load because the velocity picks up and the corners tighten.

It’s not the top of the world, but it surely’s a matter of physics you possibly can’t escape with a car this dimension. 

The opposite component of physics you received’t get away from is the power use. Relying on how and the place you drive, it would devour over 20kWh/100km. So whereas the 111kWh battery is large enough to benefit from vary, there’s solely a lot you possibly can obtain when the mass nears 3000kg.

We examined the semi-autonomous driving features on the freeway and round suburbia. Across the suburbs it labored okay however lacked the arrogance you’ll discover from Tesla’s semi-autonomous drive modes, however in the end you shouldn’t be utilizing this expertise across the suburbs.

The place it did present promise was on the freeway, the place it felt assured and in control of the place it was headed. It by no means felt uncontrolled or did belongings you wouldn’t count on it to do.

The EX90 makes use of a litany of sensors that embrace LiDAR, which is a laser-based distance measurement software that creates a 3D render of its surroundings to precisely place the car and provide extra correct self-steering performance. It’s the orb trying factor you see above the windscreen.

What do you get?

Volvo has but to verify specs for the Australian-market EX90.

Is it protected?

The Volvo EX90 has but to be examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Whereas native specs have but to be confirmed, the EX90 is accessible with security gear resembling:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Pedestrian and bicycle owner steering avoidance
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Pilot Help
• Encompass-view digital camera

How a lot does the Volvo EX90 price to run?

Volvo has but to verify service pricing for the EX90.

The corporate at the moment backs its autos in Australia with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, and its EV batteries with a separate eight-year guarantee.

CarExpert’s Take

Sadly we nonetheless don’t know pricing for the EX90 so it’s arduous to evaluate how compelling this might be as a value proposition. However, we do know that it’ll be in-built China for the Australian market. 

That may imply price efficiencies and will imply it places Volvo in a very good place to compete with issues just like the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and Kia EV9.

There’s additionally hope Volvo will provide a assured resale worth possibility when the car goes on sale in 2025 to assist with depreciation; one thing that could be a large speaking level in the mean time with electrical autos.

We count on the EX90 to be priced across the $130,000 mark, with the entry stage unlikely to take a seat inside the luxurious automobile tax threshold for an FBT-free personal novated lease.

Both manner, we’re trying ahead to having a drive of the EX90 in Australia when it lastly lobs. It has the promise of providing a really premium car in what’s going to quick turn into fairly a crowded market.

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