Now we have pushed the Volvo EX90 a number of occasions on a number of continents, from the sunny seashores of California to the unforgiving topography of the frigid Swedish Laplands, however that is the primary time we’ve introduced Volvo’s newest SUV to our dwelling turf, which ought to construct a greater image of the way it performs on a extra relatable stage. On acquainted roads at acquainted speeds, it’s right here that we will lastly dive deeper into how the EX90 matches into our way of life and unveil its quirks and probably some annoyances.
We’ll begin with the nice, the areas of the car that we now have grown to like and recognize. Our take a look at car, draped within the beautiful Vapour Gray, seems picture-perfect in a suburban panorama, and the white and beige inside is beguiling. Pundits usually evaluate Volvos to IKEA however that’s not relevant right here. The EX90 is extra Restoration {Hardware}. This can be a six-figure SUV in any case, beginning at a steep $115,600. But, the cabin justifies it totally from the fragile pores and ridges of the sunshine ash wooden that stretches throughout the dashboard, to the fashionable seats which are extra alluring and cozy than a top-of-the-line Herman Miller. There are even Bowers and Wilkins audio system embedded into the headrest that complement the opposite 25 audio system, which produce 1610 watts, and Dolby Atmos floods the cabin with crisp encompass sound that elevates modest audio high quality to the next grade of readability.
The vertically-oriented touchscreen is lag-free and implements Google integration, that means you should utilize the Volvo such as you would your Android cellphone or Google Residence. You’ll be able to verbally ask Google to take you dwelling, flip down the temperature, or seek for the closest charging station. The convenience of use and low studying curve make transitions into the EX90 easy and intuitive. There are a number of high quality of life options as effectively, such because the parking cameras that show the gap to the item in centimetres so you possibly can park with extra accuracy, as a substitute of listening for the rising quantity of distracting audio chirps and beeps.
Our favorite characteristic that isn’t talked about sufficient is the air high quality sensor and air air purifier. Sure, most automobiles have cabin filters that preserve out dangerous particulates however the EX90 takes filtration to the subsequent stage. It displays for dangerous allergens and particulates each inside and outdoors the cabin, and shows detailed details about the degrees of widespread allergens detected, akin to pine, ash, birch, cottonwood, elm, and maple. We don’t even know what Graminales are. For somebody who suffers from seasonal allergic reactions, with the ability to monitor these invisible but irritating particles exterior is a blessing. But the quantity of element is immense, akin to receiving bloodwork outcomes and making an attempt to decipher their that means on your well being. This Volvo takes care of you with out asking. Security may be very on-brand for the Swedes however it’s these little touches that elevate the EX90 from simply one other electrical equipment to a sentient, caring device that transports you in a big security internet.
The simplicity and subsequent cleanliness of the cabin is like moving into an upscale furnishings retailer. The dearth of buttons and switches, the modest use of digital screens, and the general airiness and spaciousness provided by the light-coloured supplies lend a way of ergonomic and practical goal relatively than the flashy, gimmicky, and extroverted designs provided by the BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE. Slightly than making an attempt to beat the Germans at their very own recreation, Volvo decides to play by its personal guidelines and goal a extra nuanced purchaser searching for a refined household SUV that doesn’t skip out on the posh facilities just like the distinctive massaging seats and full suite of driver help options.
Then we get to the dangerous. There are a couple of minor quibbles and ergonomic foibles that didn’t look like an enormous deal throughout our earlier transient drives, however they’ve surfaced into fruition and turn out to be exacerbated after day by day use. First off are fundamental person capabilities, ones that used to have a devoted change or lever. For the sake of simplicity and clear designs, these have all been delegated to the touchscreen. Some options make sense for this, like heating and air flow, navigation, and audio controls, however some don’t, like steering wheel or aspect mirror adjustment. To regulate the steering wheel or mirrors, one should get to the primary menu, click on on Driver Changes, choose the specified choice, and use the touchpad controls on the steering wheel to regulate it in its 4 instructions. On the brilliant aspect, this choreography is usually completed a few times when first receiving the car and subsequently saved to the reminiscence settings. However you then understand this decluttering pattern has additionally migrated to opening the trunk and the glovebox – these are unacceptable in our guide and require a devoted button. You’ll be able to’t use the voice command perform to function them both.
The window controls aren’t a lot better. Entrance occupants solely have two switches that management the entrance home windows, and there’s an alternating button beneath which switches the perform to the rears. One can get acclimated to this rapidly however there may be such a factor as overengineering a perform that was excellent from the get-go. This seems to be primarily for the sake of simplifying the visible facets of the inside however with out contemplating the ergonomics which are sacrificed in consequence. Sadly, the Volvo EX30 additionally implements this window perform. No operable sunroof or ventilated seats, both.
Spending extra time with the Volvo EX90 has unveiled a number of ergonomic annoyances and foibles, but additionally a deeper appreciation of its design and in-cabin well being options, from the supportive seats to the detailed cabin air purifier. The EX90 is barely in its first mannequin yr and it’s widespread for the vanguard offspring to be underdeveloped and over-reaching in lots of areas, and we hope many of those quibbles will probably be mounted in future variants. Nonetheless, the basics are in place and whatever the street or continent, the EX90 continues to impress us with its on-road manners, upscale inside design, and modern cabin facilities.
Specs:
Mannequin: 2025 Volvo EX90 Extremely
Paint Sort: Vapour Gray
Base Value: $115,600
Value as Examined: $121,050
Wheelbase(mm): 2,985
Size/Width/Peak (mm): 5,037 / 1,964 / 1,747
Curb weight (kg): 2,747
Powertrain: 111 kWh lithium-ion battery, two electrical motors
Horsepower: 510 hp
Torque: 671 lb-ft
Drive Configuration: Twin electrical motors, AWD
Claimed Vary: 495 km
Tires: 265/45R21 entrance; 295/40R21 rear
