Volvo flew us to Newport Seaside, California, to check its new EX90 7-seat AWD SUV. For many individuals, together with my household, that is the holy grail of EVs. It’s half electrical luxurious sports activities sedan, half four-wheel-drive off-roader and trailer hauler, and most significantly, half minivan.
How effectively do these come collectively? Let’s see…
Volvo EX90 look
The EX90 is unmistakenly a Volvo with the signature electrical closed grill on the entrance and Thor’s hammer headlights. The rear is extra subdued and could possibly be mistaken for a standard Volvo XC90 or related. The autos that they had us in had been both sandstone tan or grey which felt stately however muted.
The entrance hump on the high of the windshield could look like it’s paying homage to London taxis or stealth police autos, however it’s, in reality, the housing for Volvo’s very high-tech Lidar security and ultimately self-driving system.
There’s additionally a “Volvo for Life” tagline beneath, proudly displaying Volvo’s dedication to security. Is it slightly a lot? Maybe.
Volvo, greater than another carmaker, is pleased with its security options and appears to wish to present them off somewhat than cover them. See additionally: these yellow 3-point seat belts in different fashions, which the corporate invented and shared freely with the remainder of the trade. They’ve saved numerous lives, and Volvo expects its Lidar system to do the identical.
I believe the EX90 has the proper stance between sedan and SUV, permitting for a very good trip peak for visibility and delicate off-roading however not up to now off the bottom that dealing with and turns are too compromised.
Excessive marks throughout on outward look. However is the EX90 simply attractiveness on the skin? Let’s look inward.
We bought to take a seat in two totally different interiors, an artificial leather-based and recycled fabric. Each exuded Volvo’s spartan luxurious really feel – not cluttered in any respect but in addition not Tesla minimalist both. The 4 primary seats had been greater than snug in over three hours of driving and, my phrase, this car is quiet and clean. In the event you aren’t driving, put together to nod off.
The third row is slightly little bit of a compromise and you may most likely see why the Polestar 3, constructed on this similar platform, solely is available in a 5-seat configuration. Jamie at about 6′ tall discovered it to be fairly uncomfortable except shifting the center row seats up. This is able to be largely for kids or fast airport or college runs, not for seven adults on a highway journey. We later bought to see the 6-seat configuration with two center row captain’s chairs (together with armrests ahem Tesla Mannequin X) which made the third row considerably much less cramped. I believe the 6-seat choice is the place I’d go on this automotive.
Even with the third row seats up you could have two rows of grocery room within the again and there’s room beneath the false flooring for extra everlasting gadgets. It’s a good factor too as a result of the “frunk” is small and exhausting to get to (boo!). We’d prefer to see some smarter packaging up entrance to allow a deeper, extra accessible frunk.
With the third row down, you’ve bought some large cupboard space and nonetheless room for five folks.
About that second-row center seat, although: It sits greater, is firmer/much less snug with a folded armrest in your again, and, to me, is another excuse to go together with the 6-seat configuration.
The EX90 middle stack runs on Android for Automotive, which suggests you’ll get a really Google-centric expertise. That, in my utilization, is improbable. Volvo, in contrast to another automakers, determined to maintain entry to Apple’s wi-fi CarPlay open with the intention to run iOS over Google’s OS. Many people will simply use the built-in Google Maps, which additionally exhibits up on the improbable heads-up show. Google’s OS has many, if not all, of the apps you’d use in your iPhone, so it turns into slightly bit redundant, however Volvo was adamant about giving their prospects a alternative right here.
The 360 digital camera was stable throughout however generally made for some fascinating interpreted obstacles (see above). Total, nevertheless, it was definitely useful in navigating shut and unfamiliar territory.
The Volvo EX90 Drive
Probably the most distinctive side of the automotive was the drive efficiency, and it was definitely rewarding. With its electrical motors and insulated inside, the drive was the quietest I can keep in mind taking in recent times. Add to that the sleek, vibration-free really feel of the highway, comfortable and vented seats, and the improbable assisted dealing with, and it felt like a $100K+ Mercedes to drive. Torque vectoring brings unbelievable ease and confidence to curves. Nice visibility is confidence-inspiring and galvanizing, as is that Lidar-enhanced security suite.
Nevertheless, the efficiency of the motors was considerably muted. Speaking to engineers on the occasion, they admitted that they softened the acceleration on goal right here, although it isn’t sure if it was for drive high quality, preserving components from put on, or what. Jamie and I each railed on them, noting that their half-the-price EX30 is in some way over a second faster to 60mph, and it’s a higher expertise to have your foot deciding the pace, not some pc algorithms.
Nonetheless, 4.7 seconds 0-60 is respectable, and the Polestar 3, which is identical SPA platform drivetrain (barely greater 517 hp), is barely .2 seconds quicker. I believe Volvo might do higher right here however each time I discuss pace, Volvo comes again with “security” and I assume I get it.
Relying on what tire dimension you choose, the EX90 will get you someplace north of 300 miles of vary, which I believe is the candy spot for autos like this. Rivian’s R1S gives extra vary however at a lot greater battery/greater value factors. Tesla Mannequin X gives extra vary on paper, however in actuality, is commonly lower than 300 miles. Kia’s EV9 goes to be related.
Bidirectional Charging is an enormous hit
Whereas this may go beneath the Lidar (lol) for some, Volvo actually amped up the car’s skill to energy houses. Quite than the ~2kW many vehicles have, the Volvo can put out as much as 20kW of energy, which means homes linked to the Volvo will even be capable of be heated and cooled electrically. Right here’s a fast demo of some use instances with a DCBEL system linked to the EX90:
Our quick charging expertise was lackluster as a result of we had been on a busy Electrify America station however we nonetheless bought a 185kW output with 30% state of cost. Volvo tells us that we will count on speeds as much as and over 250kW on the proper stations and it takes about 30 minutes to take the battery from 10 to 80% or add about 210 miles.
Volvo EX90 wrap up
Volvo’s South Carolina-built EX90 is an enormous win in my e book. Traditionally, the Rivian R1S and Tesla’s Mannequin X have owned the third-row EV area. Latest newcomers just like the Mercedes EQS SUV/BMW iX/Audi Q8 and, on the worth finish, the Kia EV9 have shaken up the market a bit. However I like the Volvo EX90 as a result of it blends efficiency, fashion, luxurious, and trip rather well. Priced from $80-90K primarily based on trim and earlier than incentives, it’s going to be a preferred choice on this rising area.
There’s no higher take a look at of a car than the “Do I would like one?” take a look at. Typically after reviewing a automotive, I’m blissful to present it again. On this case the EX90 is one thing I’m following up on and subsequently an enormous win. As a Rivian R1S proprietor, I usually ask myself if I actually need a 3-second 0-60, loopy offroading expertise, or the final 100 miles of vary, which I nearly by no means use. I’d love captain’s chairs within the 2nd row (although I’d miss the fold flat). Most of all, I’d love the smoother, quieter trip and, most of all, the improved security options that the EX90 gives. Like they are saying, it’s all about security.
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