Driven: 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance
The Volvo EX90 is the Swedish automaker’s new three-row electric SUV that joins the line alongside the gas-powered XC90. We spent some time getting to know the Twin Motor Performance model, which is the fastest and most powerful of the lineup. Complementing its modern and minimalist design is an impeccably smooth, quiet, and refined ride.
Given Volvo's ongoing commitment to sustainability, a pure-electric family SUV makes sense. The EX90 is a truly international car designed and engineered by a Swedish subsidiary of a Chinese company and manufactured in South Carolina. The EX90 burns not one sip of gasoline, and its powertrain is fast and efficient. Here in the States, the EX90 will be available in two all-wheel drive configurations: the 408-horsepower Twin Motor and the 517-horsepower Twin Motor Performance, the model we tested. The former outputs 568 lb-ft. of torque, and the latter produces 617 lb-ft. While these figures best some sports cars, this three-row SUV weighs between 5500 and 6100 pounds depending on configuration. 
Despite its heft, it's quite quick. The Twin Motor Performance turning in a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds. The Twin Motor does the same in 5.9 seconds. Like other EVs, torque comes on instantaneously when you put your foot down on the accelerator. A single-pedal drive mode increases brake regen and helps slow the vehicle. It takes a little getting used to this feature, but once you do, it's a nice way to maximize driving range. Underneath the body of the EX90, you'll find a large 111 kWh battery pack, which provides an EPA-targeted 296 to 308 miles of driving range on a full charge. The weighty battery provides a nice low center of gravity, which helps with overall ride stability and handling. A 400-volt electrical system enables DC fast charging with a maximum rate of 250 kW. However, real-world throughput is probably closer to 200 kW due to charging station amperage limits. It should take about 32 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% at a high-output DC charging station.
A double wishbone suspension up front and an integral link setup in the rear help ensure a controlled and confident ride. Our test vehicle was equipped with the active air suspension, which dynamically adjusts damping force depending on road conditions and drive mode. The ride is tuned for everyday comfort, but you can adjust the driving dynamics to provide a slightly firmer ride if you prefer a sportier feel. Even with the enormous 22-inch wheels, the EX90 is the quietest riding Volvo yet. You could hear a pin drop in the cabin, and Volvo's engineers decided to avoid any gimmicky faux engine sounds. Instead, you just hear a slight whirr of the motors as they kick in.
While the exterior profile of the EX90 is similar to other modern Volvos, there are notable differences. Since there's less need for air cooling in front, the grill has been replaced with a smooth plastic panel. It still has the trademark Volvo badge and diagonal graphic, and it's flanked by Thor's hammer headlights. These LED lights are made of multiple segments, which display an cool animated effect when starting up the car and add a dramatic look at night.
The EX90's interior is light and airy, as we've come to expect from Volvo's design team. You'll find premium yet sustainably sourced materials like Nordico, a textile made from recycled PET bottles and pine oil that looks remarkably like leather. There's also a wool blend fabric. The T-shaped dashboard is covered with a light FSC-certified wood veneer. There's subtle backlighting behind the wood, which reveals a diamond pattern at night. Our Ultra trim vehicle also came with comfy front-row massage seats. Front and center on the dash is a 14-inch vertically-mounted touchscreen. Since there's no need for a transmission tunnel, the center console has a cantilevered design, opening up the floor and providing storage space. Here, you'll find a single control knob which is used for volume and play/pause controls for the audio system. All other controls are on the touchscreen or around the steering wheel. This helps keep the cabin looking clean, though I wish there were physical controls for the climate system.
A small widescreen display is attached to the steering column behind the wheel. In addition to providing speed and battery range information, it displays other information contextually, including navigation guidance, speed limits, and vehicle settings. We're big fans of this interface design, as it's clean, uncluttered, and easier to see for a variety of driver heights since it moves when you adjust the steering wheel. There's also a head-up display to help keep your eyes up and on the road ahead. We also like that car companies are starting to embrace column-mounted shifters again. These help free up center console space and are intuitive to use. Push down on the stalk to go forward, up to reverse, with neutral in the middle. This control also engages Volvo Pilot Assist, which combines adaptive cruise, lane centering, and lane change assist functions. The system currently uses radar sensors and cameras, but over-the-air upgrades will enable more driver assistance features. The EX90 is equipped with a Luminar LIDAR sensor, which will eventually enable hands-free highway driving, even in darkness.
The touchscreen is backed by Google's Android Automotive OS and offers a streamlined interface that is fast and easy to use. There are persistent controls at the bottom of the screen for accessing the main menu, Google apps, climate and vehicle settings, and hazard blinkers. The second row up offers contextual items and automatically displays recently used apps. Google Assistant is built in and can be activated on screen or by saying "Hey, Google." The hands-free system is nicely integrated with the vehicle and can be used to do things like asking to change the temperature or finding directions. Oddly, Apple CarPlay was not available in our test vehicle, though it is expected to be available after a software update.
Volvo offers a choice of captain's chairs or three-passenger second-row seating. These seats are similarly comfortable to the front row and can fold in a 40-20-40 split for versatility. There are zoned climate controls as well and a pair of USB-C ports for charging phones. Overhead, there's a large panoramic roof, which helps provide a bright and airy feel. One thing that is a little odd about this glass roof is that it doesn't have a built-in sunshade. The roof is tinted to reduce solar rays and heat from getting through, but you'll probably want to buy the optional $245 sunshade accessory if you live somewhere that gets really hot and sunny.
The third-row seats are designed to hold two passengers, but legroom and headroom are pretty limited, so these are best saved for kids. Taller people won't be comfortable in this row, but kids should be happy, and they get their own cupholders, USB-C charging ports, lights, and ceiling air vents.
An available upgrade that audiophiles will love is the 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. It delivers reference-quality sound backed by 1610 watts of amplification. It includes speakers throughout the cabin, including in the front seat headrests. It produces incredibly immersive sound with outstanding imaging. In addition to the UK audio maker's trademark Nautilus tweeter on the dashboard, there are beautiful steel mesh speaker grilles that have been chemically etched with a sound-transparent pattern. It can play Dolby Atmos content via Tidal and Qobuz, though it's unclear if it will support Apple Spatial Audio once CarPlay is available. There's a nifty demo app installed that shows off the surround sound capabilities, too.
We also got to test out Volvo's digital key functionality. This lets you use your iOS smartphone to lock and unlock the EX90. It's still a pre-production feature, so we encountered a couple of times when the vehicle didn't detect the phone and wouldn't unlock or start for us. After a tech support call, we found out there's an Apple Wallet pass you can activate, and that solved the issue. Hopefully, Volvo will work out these wrinkles before long.
The power liftgate offers hands-free operation, activated by kicking your foot under the bumper. Once opened, you'll find just under 14 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. That includes a small storage area under the cargo floor. That's enough room for groceries or a few duffel bags, but the cargo space improves quite a bit when the third row is folded. Space increased to 36.3 cubic feet with those seats down and 71.2 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. There are buttons in the cargo area for folding the third row and raising and lowering the air suspension for easier loading (if equipped.)
If you still need extra storage space, there's always the frunk, which provides about 2.8 cubic feet of space. This area is small, but it's a good spot to store a first aid kit and emergency tools, and maybe to stash your wet clothes after a day at the pool. That small case in the middle is a tire inflator kit.
We came away impressed with the smooth and serene cabin of the EX90, along with its ample powertrain and upscale, yet minimalist aesthetics. Like many EVs, it's more expensive than its gas-powered cousins, but you do get alot for your money. The EX90 Twin Motor starts at $79,995 for the Plus trim and $84,345 for the Ultra trim. The Twin Motor Performance starts at $84,995 for the Plus trim, and $89,345 for the Ultra.
