The lead-up to the launch of the 2025 Volvo EX90 has certainly been a long one.
That’s not necessarily a criticism — after all, it’s better to get it right the first time with a flagship offering like this — although it has at times seemed as if this all-electric SUV was destined to exist as nothing more than a promising prototype. And while Volvo deserves credit for practicing patience with the EX90, a number of key features will be in need of fixing when it first hits the market, which is enough to leave this family-sized electric vehicle (EV) feeling like an incomplete product.
Up In the Air
It isn’t entirely uncommon for new functions and features to be temporarily absent when a vehicle first goes on sale, but the sheer volume of the ones that are missing or malfunctioning here is shocking. That’s especially true given the head start Volvo had with the EX90, not to mention the bold promises the brand made about this future-forward EV.
Describing the EX90 as a “highly advanced computer on wheels,” Volvo was quick to brag about the ultra-fast processor used to run the various onboard systems, as well as the implementation of advanced light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology. But certain advanced safety features won’t be available when deliveries begin, nor will the ability to connect a smartphone via Apple CarPlay.
Even the highly touted digital key technology that replaces a conventional fob with a paired smartphone or plastic card was plagued by problems during this media drive event. On several occasions, the EX90 wouldn’t lock when prompted, requiring the entire process — return to the driver’s seat, place the key card on the near-field communication (NFC) pad, leave the vehicle again — to be frustratingly repeated.
In fairness, the EX90 is capable of over-the-air updates that should rectify those issues — Volvo describes it as the ability to “get better over time” like a smartphone or laptop — but then other problems are unlikely to be fixed so simply. For instance, the image quality from the various exterior cameras is poor, making it difficult to judge the EX90’s surroundings when parking or navigating around obstacles.
Classic Oversimplification
The digital key woes are symptomatic of the attempt to oversimplify the user experience, moving away from traditional equipment and controls at the cost of familiarity and seamless functionality. There’s no button to start or stop the vehicle — a trend amongst EVs that doesn’t seem especially necessary, particularly when it doesn’t function properly in the first place — nor are essential controls especially intuitive.
Take the door mirror and steering wheel adjustments; both must be accessed via the touchscreen, at which point buttons on the steering wheel will do either job. Beyond those functionality foibles, there are a handful of what seem like simple oversights. The doors don’t lock automatically when walking away from the vehicle, for example, and there’s no distance control for the adaptive cruise control system.
Even the way adaptive cruise is activated isn’t especially logical, requiring an extra press of the gear selector stalk on the steering column to turn the system on. (The system’s resume button on the steering wheel won’t work at launch, either.) And on that note, the LiDAR system will be in “learning mode” for the foreseeable future as the EX90 gets familiar with its surroundings.
Smooth and Supple Drive
Aside from those setbacks, the EX90 drives brilliantly, ushering in a new era of electrified luxury for Volvo. It’s as smooth and sophisticated as it should be, with buttoned-down driving dynamics befitting of a six-figure EV such as this.
While more variations are likely to follow, the first version of the EX90 to hit the market will be the so-called Twin Motor Performance that generates 510 hp to go with 671 lb-ft of torque. As the name suggests, it uses a pair of electric motors to provide swift acceleration when called for, with this nearly 2,750-kg (6,063-lb) EV surging forward excitedly with a stab of the accelerator pedal.
While two trims are available, the more expensive Ultra tested here features a two-chamber air suspension system that helps this SUV float along mostly unfettered. It’s only the optional 22-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile tires that betray the EX90’s poise, with pressure cracks and potholes reverberating through the rigid 111-kWh hour battery pack it’s built on. (The ride is also almost unnecessarily stiff in its firm setting, feeling a little too unforgiving for a luxury SUV.)
The battery provides an estimated 495 km of driving range on a full charge, although that number drops to 476 km depending on wheel choice. According to Volvo, the EX90 can charge at maximum speeds of 250 kW, with the jump from 10 to 80 per cent expected to take 30 minutes in ideal conditions. Otherwise, it can be charged overnight using a 240-volt Level 2 station.
London Taxi Looks
With its flush lines and grille-free fascia, not to mention the Sand Dune semigloss paint seen here, the EX90 looks an awful lot like a clay model of a next-gen XC90. That’s entirely by design, both literally and figuratively, with distinct and distinguished Volvo styling that’s well suited for the electrified era.
In spite of it all, though, there’s no ignoring the roof-mounted safety sensor that gives the EX90 the look of a classic London taxi. Housed beneath the bizarre bulge is the LiDAR unit that’s used to read the road ahead for other vehicles and obstacles, which is said to be more accurate than cameras and radar alone. However, it’s an odd aesthetic addition that takes away from the otherwise dignified design.
The cabin is both classically Volvo and thoroughly modern, with a massive 14.5-inch touchscreen dominating the dashboard — and, indeed, the entire design. That’s accompanied by a smaller display on the steering column, while the seats are stylish and contoured in a way that’s become something of a hallmark for this brand.
Also worthy of note is how exceptionally quiet the cabin remains no matter the conditions. Whether cruising around at city speeds or coasting along the highway, the space stays serene enough for quiet conversation amongst occupants.
EXpensive
The 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance is competitively priced next to the Tesla Model X that’s (relatively) similar in size, although that doesn’t mean it’s a bargain. The Plus trim starts at $110,600, while the Ultra is $116,200 before options, freight, and taxes — including the federal luxury tax on vehicles priced at more than $100,000. Meanwhile, the Model X starts at $110,990 but costs thousands more with its optional third-row seats that are more cramped than the ones here.
The Plus trim comes with features like a full advanced driver-assist suite, head-up display, surround-view cameras, digital key technology, a 15-speaker stereo, and a heated steering wheel and seats. The Ultra then adds air suspension, heated second-row seats, and massage functionality up front, although ventilation for the front seats is oddly absent from the features list.
Final Thoughts
While growing pains are often part of the process when launching a new vehicle, some of the ones here seem avoidable given the lengthy lead time Volvo’s designers and engineers were working with. The finicky and frustrating digital key functionality alone is exactly the kind of wrinkle that should have been ironed out long before launch. Instead, it leaves the 2025 Volvo EX90 feeling a bit like an unfinished product.
Looking past those problems — or at least hoping they get sorted in short order — the EX90 offers exceptionally smooth and quiet performance. It’s exactly the kind of all-electric encore that could have been predicted from the brand that builds the exceptional XC90. But given the expectations established by Volvo itself for this flagship product, this EV is more than a few updates away from achieving excellence.
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