Volvo EX90 Review

The Volvo EX90 is Volvo’s flagship all-electric seven-seat SUV, built on a new dedicated EV platform (SPA2) and positioned above the XC90. Priced from around €83,700 / £80,000 / $81,000, fully loaded models push well past €120,000. After significant software delays since its 2022 reveal, the EX90 is finally reaching customers. Eighteen YouTube channels tested it across the US, UK, Germany, and beyond. Here’s what they found.

Key Specifications

Spec	Detail
Battery	111 kWh (107 kWh usable, twin motor)
Range (WLTP)	Up to 374 mi / 616 km
Powertrains	Single motor RWD (279 hp), Twin motor AWD (408 hp), Twin motor Performance AWD (517 hp)
0-60 mph	5.7 sec (twin motor) / 4.7-4.9 sec (performance)
DC Fast Charging	250 kW max, 10-80% in ~30 min
AC Charging	11 kW max
Architecture	400V
Towing	Up to 2,200 kg (AWD)
Length / Width / Weight	5.04 m / 1.96 m / ~2,700-2,800 kg
Seating	5, 6, or 7 seats
Top Speed	180 km/h (electronically limited)

What Reviewers Agree On

Reading this article: Numbers like [9/18 reviewers] indicate how many of the 18 reviewers mentioned each point. ★ marks near-unanimous consensus (80%+).

Interior Quality and Atmosphere

• [17/18 reviewers] ★ The cabin is a standout. Materials, design, and ambiance create a genuinely calming, premium space. The open-pore wood with integrated ambient lighting drew particular praise. As 163 Grad put it: “Everyone who got in this car immediately felt it. You just come down. It’s like a short vacation.”
• [14/18 reviewers] ★ Leather-free materials (Nordico synthetic leather, tailored wool blend) look and feel premium. Several reviewers said they didn’t miss real leather.
• [13/18 reviewers] ★ The Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker sound system is one of the best available in any car. CarExpert called it “the best sound system I have ever heard in a car” across 20+ years of testing. The Abbey Road Studio mode received consistent praise.

Cabin Quietness

• [14/18 reviewers] ★ Volvo’s claim of “quietest cabin ever” holds up. Car Confections measured 49.12 dB at 55 mph, making it one of the quietest cars they’ve ever tested, including Rolls-Royce models. Autotrader measured ~59 dB at 70 mph.

Ride Comfort (with Air Suspension)

• [14/18 reviewers] ★ The optional adaptive air suspension delivers excellent ride quality. The EX90 smooths out bumps effectively and feels luxurious on highways and long drives. Multiple reviewers described it as “floating” or “gliding.”

Touchscreen Over-Reliance

• [16/18 reviewers] ★ Burying mirrors, steering wheel adjustment, glove box, and fog lights in the touchscreen is a consistent pain point. Top Gear demonstrated the fog light process requires multiple screen taps while driving. Carwow’s Mat Watson found the mirror controls so buggy they wouldn’t respond at all.

Window Switch Design

• [12/18 reviewers] ★ The two-switch toggle system for controlling front and rear windows (instead of four separate switches) frustrates nearly everyone. This was the single most-repeated minor complaint.

Software Issues

• [11/18 reviewers] ★ Early production cars suffered from screen freezes, buggy features, and delayed feature rollout (Apple CarPlay, lidar functionality, some driving aids). Carwow experienced repeated glitches during their week-long test. CarExpert had the screen freeze completely. Nobby On Cars, testing a later build, reported zero issues, suggesting improvements over time.

Third-Row Space

• [14/18 reviewers] ★ The third row is for children or short trips only. Adults over 5’8” will find headroom tight. Legroom is acceptable if the second row slides forward. Multiple reviewers noted the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 offer significantly better third-row space at lower prices.

Lidar Sensor Aesthetics and Status

• [13/18 reviewers] ★ The roof-mounted lidar unit looks like a taxi sign and hurts the design. Volvo is removing it from April 2026 production due to supplier issues. Carwow noted it can damage phone camera sensors during filming. The lidar’s autonomous driving features remain mostly inactive.

Pricing

• [15/18 reviewers] ★ The EX90 is expensive, and historically more than equivalent German rivals. Carwow noted it’s about £10,000 more than a BMW iX like-for-like. Several German reviewers pointed out that the Kia EV9 offers similar practicality at roughly half the price.

Boot Space and Flexibility

• [12/18 reviewers] ★ Boot space is generous: 310L behind the third row, ~655-697L with it folded, and up to ~2,000L with all rear seats down. The deep underfloor storage compartment impressed multiple reviewers. Carwow fit 12 carry-on suitcases under the load cover in five-seat mode, beating the Ioniq 9 and EV9.

Where Opinions Differ

Handling and Driving Dynamics

• Positive [6/18]: Autotrader, Alex on Autos, CarExpert, and others found it surprisingly capable in corners, praising the torque-vectoring rear axle and low center of gravity. Autotrader called it “a bit of a sleeper” and “a laugh” on twisty roads.
• Critical [7/18]: Carwow found the steering “super vague” and said you “can’t fully trust it when pushing hard.” They noted the Polestar 3, on the same platform, handles far better. JÖNOHS said a Mercedes EQS SUV still offers more comfort at similar size.
• Mixed [5/18]: Adequate for its mission but not class-leading.

The split likely reflects test conditions and expectations. Reviewers who drove California canyon roads in the Performance model were more positive. Those comparing directly to the BMW iX or Polestar 3 on European roads were more critical.

Actual Range and Efficiency

• Satisfied [5/18]: What Car? achieved 305 miles in warm LA conditions (25°C, mixed driving). Autogefühl saw 18 kWh/100km in ideal conditions, projecting ~600 km range.
• Critical [9/18]: Carwow saw consumption as high as 54 kWh/100 miles after mixed driving, calculating under 200 miles of real range. ADAC measured 25 kWh/100km in cold German conditions. ELEKTROBAYS saw 31 kWh/100km in winter city driving including battery preconditioning.
• Mixed [4/18]: Acceptable given the vehicle’s size and weight but not efficient.

WLTP claims 374 miles / 616 km. Real range sits between 300-500 km depending heavily on temperature, speed, and driving style. The 22-inch wheels and wide tires significantly hurt efficiency.

Exterior Design

• Positive [9/18]: Clean, recognizably Volvo, handsome in person. ADAC and the car crash review praised the modern evolution of the XC90 look.
• Critical [5/18]: Carwow felt the EX30’s design language doesn’t scale well to this larger body. The “anonymous” look in certain colors drew criticism.
• Mixed [4/18]: Good but not a head-turner.

Reviewers who saw the car in person generally reacted more positively than those judging from photos.

Pros

• [17/18 reviewers] ★ Outstanding interior quality with calming Scandinavian design and premium sustainable materials
• [14/18 reviewers] ★ Extremely quiet cabin, among the quietest in any vehicle class
• [14/18 reviewers] ★ Excellent ride comfort on air suspension, especially on highways
• [13/18 reviewers] ★ Superb Bowers & Wilkins audio with Dolby Atmos and Abbey Road mode
• [12/18 reviewers] ★ Generous boot space with deep underfloor storage and flexible seating
• [10/18 reviewers] Strong safety tech including lidar, interior radar, driver monitoring, and comprehensive active safety
• [9/18 reviewers] Good second-row space with sliding, reclining individual seats and flat floor
• [8/18 reviewers] Google-based infotainment with fast, responsive navigation and route planning with charging stops
• [7/18 reviewers] Impressive straight-line performance, especially the Performance model at 4.7-4.9s to 60 mph
• [7/18 reviewers] Effective one-pedal driving with multiple modes including auto-regen
• [6/18 reviewers] Animated headlights that split open to reveal main beams, a genuine crowd-pleaser
• [5/18 reviewers] Good visibility despite size, with surround cameras and manageable turning circle
• [5/18 reviewers] Strong towing capacity at 2,200 kg for AWD models
• [4/18 reviewers] Integrated booster seat in the center second row, a classic Volvo family touch
• [3/18 reviewers] Cooled wireless phone charger prevents overheating during CarPlay use
• [2/18 reviewers] Windshield washer jets in wiper blades keep the windscreen clear without blocking vision

Cons

• [16/18 reviewers] ★ Too many controls buried in the touchscreen, including mirrors, steering wheel, glove box
• [15/18 reviewers] ★ Very expensive relative to competitors like the Kia EV9 and BMW iX
• [13/18 reviewers] ★ Lidar unit looks ugly and currently provides limited functionality
• [12/18 reviewers] ★ Two window switches instead of four require a toggle button for rear windows
• [11/18 reviewers] ★ Software bugs on early production cars (screen freezes, connectivity issues, missing features)
• [9/18 reviewers] Efficiency disappoints in cold weather or at speed, 25-31 kWh/100km common in winter
• [8/18 reviewers] 400V architecture when competitors offer 800V with faster charging
• [7/18 reviewers] Third row too small for adults, headroom especially tight
• [7/18 reviewers] No panoramic roof shade and no option to open it, cabin heats up
• [6/18 reviewers] Only 11 kW AC charging when some competitors offer 22 kW
• [5/18 reviewers] Heavy at 2,700-2,800 kg, which affects handling and efficiency
• [4/18 reviewers] Flush door handles can be fiddly, pinch fingers, or have delayed response
• [4/18 reviewers] No ventilated seats on some trim levels despite the high price
• [3/18 reviewers] Steering wheel buttons not backlit, hard to find at night
• [3/18 reviewers] Delayed power steering on startup, ~2-3 seconds before assist kicks in
• [2/18 reviewers] Wonky stitching observed on some panels (Carwow)
• [2/18 reviewers] Condensation in tail lights noted on test cars
• [2/18 reviewers] Poor phone call quality with echo and feedback issues (JÖNOHS)

Verdict

The Volvo EX90 is a genuinely luxurious electric SUV that excels at long-distance comfort, cabin atmosphere, safety technology, and audio quality. For families who want a serene, beautifully finished seven-seater EV and can charge at home, it delivers an experience that few competitors match.

The problems are real, though. Software reliability has improved but isn’t fully resolved. The touchscreen-dependent controls frustrate daily use. Efficiency is mediocre for such a large battery, and the 400V architecture is already behind the curve. And the price: for what a fully loaded EX90 costs, you could buy two Kia EV9s that offer more third-row space and faster charging.

Buy it if you prioritize interior quality, quietness, and Volvo’s safety philosophy over raw efficiency and tech polish. Wait or cross-shop if you need strong third-row space for adults, want 800V fast charging, or find the software compromises unacceptable at this price. Volvo’s upcoming 800V update (expected with the next model year) could address the charging gap, making a wait potentially worthwhile.