Volvo EX90 review: Luxury seven-seat SUV enters the electric age

The Volvo EX90 represented a significant step for the Swedish brand, effectively translating the familiar XC90 luxury SUV formula into a fully electric, technology-focused flagship.

At more than five metres long and weighing close to three tonnes, this is an imposing family SUV, although Volvo’s restrained styling avoids the visual excess of some luxury rivals. Clean surfaces, distinctive Thor’s Hammer lighting and flush door handles give it a contemporary appearance without abandoning the brand’s established identity.

Inside, the EX90 embraces Scandinavian minimalism. A large portrait-oriented 14.5-inch touchscreen controls most vehicle functions, accompanied by a compact digital instrument display. Materials are generally excellent, with soft-touch surfaces, attractive trim finishes and an emphasis on sustainable upholstery.

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However, Volvo’s determination to eliminate physical controls isn’t entirely successful. Even simple adjustments can still require navigating touchscreen menus, making some functions unnecessarily distracting on the move.

Where the EX90 particularly impresses is passenger accommodation. All Australian models feature seven seats, with generous space across the first two rows and a third row suitable for children or occasional adult use.

Electric operation for the folding rear seats adds convenience, while the flat floor and numerous storage compartments enhance everyday usability. Boot space is understandably limited with all seven seats occupied, but expands considerably when the third row is folded.

On the road, the EX90 delivers the effortless performance expected of a premium electric SUV. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system provides strong acceleration, with the Performance variant offering particularly impressive straight-line pace.

Yet outright speed isn’t really the EX90’s defining characteristic. Its greatest strength is refinement, with exceptionally low noise levels, smooth power delivery and a relaxed long-distance character.

Air suspension helps isolate occupants from rough surfaces, although the substantial weight becomes apparent through tighter corners and over larger road imperfections. Steering is accurate rather than particularly engaging, reinforcing the Volvo’s preference for comfort over sporting pretensions.

A substantial battery provides competitive touring range, although real-world consumption inevitably rises at highway speeds or when carrying a full complement of passengers.

Volvo’s extensive safety equipment is another attraction, incorporating sophisticated driver assistance systems and a roof-mounted lidar sensor designed to enhance environmental detection.

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The EX90 isn’t without shortcomings – the dependence on touchscreen controls, substantial its dimensions and price count against it, while some electronic systems can feel less polished than the underlying vehicle.

Ultimately, the EX90 is most convincing as a luxurious, exceptionally quiet and spacious family transporter rather than a driver’s SUV.

For buyers seeking seven-seat electric practicality wrapped in understated Scandinavian luxury and Volvo’s traditional prioritisation of driver and passenger safety, it makes a compelling case, added to which it has been named Wheels Best Large SUV: Luxury and Best Large SUV: Electric over the past years.

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Specs