2025 Volvo EX90 First Drive: Modern to a Fault
This luxurious and long-range electric SUV shows challenges faced by today’s software-defined vehicles.
In today's hugely competitive automotive space, legacy carmakers must counter challenges foisted by upstarts, while software increasingly supersedes hardware to shape the experience, tariffs and tax credits affect the bottom line, and industry futurists struggle to discern what consumers truly want. Amidst this disarray, the 2025 Volvo EX90 offers a quiet, capable, and safe respite—yet this new luxury electric SUV exemplifies the fast times of today’s automotive world.
0:00 / 0:00
Electric Volvo: Chapter Two
Volvo was among the first mainstream automakers to commit to transitioning from combustion power to an all-electric lineup, a goal it maintains despite conceding it will produce hybrids and plug-in hybrids longer than anticipated to meet market demand. The EVs it's sold so far have been adaptations of ICE vehicles, leading to close appearances and some shortcomings. The dynamics of the C40 and XC40 Recharge weren’t entirely sorted, and their range and charging didn’t impress in our MotorTrend testing.
That changes with the EX90, Volvo’s first dedicated EV. Although Volvo’s previous SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform underpinned combustion and electric models, the new SPA2 platform on which the EX90 is based is specific for EVs. SPA2 also serves as the foundation for the Polestar 3, although the stylish subcompact Volvo EX30 is built on an entirely different platform developed by parent company Geely.
Every EX90 is built in Volvo’s Ridgeville, South Carolina, manufacturing facility and for 2025 will have a 111-kWh battery, which stores electrons for the dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain. In standard specification, the motors combine to produce 402 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, good for an estimated 5.7-second 0–60-mph time. An available EX90 Performance model, which we sampled for our First Drive experience, increases output to 510 hp and 671 lb-ft, cutting the 0–60-mph time to approximately 4.7 seconds.
Interestingly, both versions achieve the same driving-range rating of 308 miles. That’s likely because the EX90 Performance makes full power only when its Performance mode is activated—hardware between the two is essentially identical, so it’s software that brings out the extra power. Both can recharge at up to 250 kW, fairly quick by today’s standards, allowing the battery to go from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions.
Modern Sustainable Scandanavian Design
Volvo’s modernist approach to the EX90’s exterior shows more evolution than revolution. It resembles the XC90 three-row SUV that will be heavily updated with hybrid propulsion for 2025. Alongside the grille-free fascia, signature Thor’s Hammer headlights have pixelated accents that slide open to reveal the main projector lenses. The roof-mounted lidar pod is minimally intrusive and seems a worthwhile peculiarity for the autonomous capabilities it’ll enable.
Inside is where design shines. The cabin shows great attention to detail, combining backlit trim panels, textured metal speaker grates, a 3D-printed accent, and interesting stitching patterns to lovely effect. Available with second-row captain’s chairs or a three-across bench for six- or seven-passenger capacity, the 2025 Volvo EX90 is appointed extensively with synthetic materials. Its standard Nordico imitation leather feels nice, and optional fabric blends sheep’s wool with recycled polyester. Volvo may eventually offer true leather upholstery, but what’s available now is worthy of luxury categorization.
Design reductivism goes too far in some parts of the EX90. There’s not a single headliner-mounted grab handle alongside the glass roof, and the driver’s door has only two window switches—a toggle must be pressed to operate the back door glass. Most controls require taps on the 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, a peculiar concession to distraction for safety-obsessed Volvo.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, although integrated Google apps can handle features such as music or navigation with on-route charge planning. Over-the-air update capability promises future software enhancements. Some updates are already planned, and some are still needed before the vehicle is ready for customers—as we found during our time driving the EX90.
Driving Volvo’s New Flagship
As its doors latch shut, the 2025 Volvo EX90 envelops its occupants in deep quietude. Volvo says this is its quietest vehicle ever; aside from slight whooshing around the side mirrors and a satisfying motor hum, there’s hardly any noise inside once the new EX90 is underway.
That hushed ambiance contributes to the overall relaxed sensation of driving the EX90. This SUV aims to impart calm rather than excitement. Power and torque are readily available and shove the vehicle forward adeptly but are delivered gently off the line and from a roll. Even with the Performance model’s eponymous full-strength driving mode activated, the sharpness tuned into other EVs and Volvo’s earlier electric efforts is placatingly absent.
Our drive route encompassed busy highways and mountain passes, which showed the EX90’s inclination toward cruising rather than cutting up a twisty road. In urban driving, the EX90 is an airy haven, its effortless vibe aided by the soft steering and easy regenerative braking brought on by lifting off the accelerator pedal.
For this driving experience, Volvo provided 2025 EX90 models equipped in Ultra trim, a higher specification above the base Plus. Crucially, the EX90 Ultra rides on air suspension rather than steel springs like the EX90 Plus. Additionally, our vehicle rolled on optional 22-inch wheels and European-market summer tires, a combination that makes it challenging to say definitively what the EX90’s ride quality is like. So equipped, however, the SUV’s body motions had the plush and smoothly controlled glide intrinsic to air suspensions, although the standard 20- or 21-inch wheels might’ve better dissipated rough pavement textures.
Bring on the OTAs
Family drivers eyeing the 2025 Volvo EX90 will find ample spaciousness and comfortable ergonomics in the first and second rows but should take a close look at the small third row to make sure it’s sufficient even for the kids they might hope to accommodate. Regardless, the EX90’s hardware enjoys high quality from its American assembly.
Software, however, still needs polishing. Two identical bugs occurred in two different vehicles we drove. One bug beeped that our second-row passengers had their seatbelts unbuckled. Indeed, the belts weren’t buckled, because no one was sitting in the back seats. More irksome was the phone-as-key feature’s spotty functionality. Volvo provided us with iPhones linked to each vehicle. Setting the device on the wireless charging pad should power on the EX90. A few times it left us unable to select Drive until the phone and vehicle eventually decided to recognize each other. Volvo's product team seemed concerned and promised attention when we mentioned these glitches to it.
Safety is paramount for Volvo, but some of the EX90’s most desirable driver-assist tech isn’t ready yet. Those are the ones enabled by its lidar array, engineered by Luminar, which is housed inside the hump above the windshield and will help enable hands-free unsupervised driving capability in the EX90. Volvo says all this potential will someday be activated via an over-the-air update, but it’s unclear when that will happen. For the time being, the EX90 includes useful aids like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, assisted lane changing, and emergency evasive steering.
Ready to Go?
Pricing for the 2025 Volvo EX90 Plus starts at slightly more than $81,000, and the higher-end EX90 Ultra commands about another $4,000. Despite being assembled in the United States, the global origin of its battery materials precludes the EX90 from being able to take advantage of all the federal tax incentives some EVs can.
Even if it didn’t get any discounts, the EX90 showcases luxurious design and refinement that substantiate its cost—even before its impressive driving range and safety commitment are taken into account. We just must hope Volvo will follow through on perfecting and expanding the vehicle’s software capabilities.
Beyond all this, the new EX90 electric SUV arrives at a special time, when a shift to EVs hasn’t proven as direct as anticipated. Yet for 2025 there are more three-row electric SUVs to choose from than ever before. The EX90 faces strong competition from brands sitting below and above Volvo’s status, along with appealing offerings from automakers still getting established in the industry.
The new EX90 could be seen as highly contemporary. Or it could represent a moment that’s soon to pass. Regardless, Volvo’s latest volley reflects its competencies and shows how the Swedish automaker still has a little work remaining to make the 2025 EX90 as great as it should be.
Alex's earliest memory is of a teal 1993 Ford Aspire, the car that sparked his automotive obsession. He's never driven that tiny hatchback—at six feet, 10 inches tall, he likely wouldn't fit—but has assessed hundreds of other vehicles, sharing his insights on MotorTrend as a writer and video host.
Read More
