The 2025 Volvo EX90 Review: Heavy on Tech, Light on Buttons

The 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor arrives as the Swedish brand’s new flagship sport utility vehicle. It is designed to eventually replace the venerable XC90, though both models currently share showroom space as the market transitions toward electric propulsion. The vehicle competes in the highly profitable segment of luxury three-row electric family haulers. Buyers looking at this class frequently consider the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV, which has a base price of 110,992 EUR in Germany and offers an incredibly aerodynamic profile. The BMW iX xDrive50 is another primary alternative at 99,300 EUR, bringing a polarizing exterior design but exceptional cabin materials. The Kia EV9 AWD sits at the more accessible end of the spectrum, starting at 76,990 EUR while offering an 800-volt charging architecture. Volvo has positioned its offering precisely in the middle of this competitive set. The EX90 Twin Motor starts at 96,190 EUR in Germany, while upgrading to the Ultra trim pushes the price to 101,790 EUR.

For this Twin Motor configuration, the manufacturer claims a range of 600 kilometers on a single charge. The engineering team achieved this figure through a combination of a massive battery pack and careful manipulation of airflow around the front fascia. Flush door handles and aero-optimized wheel designs help lower the drag coefficient to a respectable 0.29. WLTP figures suggest an efficient powertrain for such a large vehicle.

Real-world range typically falls 15 to 30 percent below WLTP estimates depending on ambient temperature, tire choice, and driving style. Moving a blunt, three-row vehicle weighing nearly 2.8 tons through the air at highway speeds requires an immense amount of continuous energy. A highway journey at 130 km/h in mild weather will yield closer to 420 kilometers before requiring a charging stop. In colder climates, the energy required to heat the large cabin will draw further reserves from the battery. In hindsight, planning routes with conservative range estimates is the most pragmatic approach to long trips in this vehicle. City driving with heavy regenerative braking allows the vehicle to get much closer to the manufacturer’s target numbers.

Volvo utilizes a nickel manganese cobalt battery chemistry for the 111-kilowatt-hour pack. The physical dimensions of the pack are substantial, spanning nearly the entire floorpan to provide 107 kilowatt-hours of usable capacity. The NMC chemistry was chosen specifically for its high energy density, allowing Volvo to package enough power to move the heavy chassis without raising the floor so high that third-row passengers sit with their knees at chest level. This specific chemistry offers superior cold weather performance and higher continuous discharge rates compared to cheaper lithium iron phosphate alternatives. The primary trade-off is a slightly steeper degradation curve over the lifespan of the vehicle and a higher sensitivity to thermal stress. The 250-kilowatt direct current fast charging peak is managed by an active liquid cooling circuit to prevent cellular stress during high-speed top-ups.

The SPA2 platform marks a transition toward a centralized, software-defined architecture powered by an Nvidia Drive core computer. The chassis houses two permanent magnet synchronous motors producing a combined 300 kilowatts and 770 Newton-meters of torque. Power delivery heavily favors the front motor during steady highway cruising to minimize energy consumption. The rear motor remains entirely unpowered until the traction control computers detect wheel slip or the driver demands rapid acceleration. Operating the vehicle’s secondary functions feels somewhat like buying a high-end smart refrigerator that requires a software update before it will dispense ice. The digital layer mediating the mechanical hardware introduces layers of unnecessary complexity to simple tasks. The core body structure makes extensive use of high-strength boron steel to protect the battery enclosure in the event of a side impact.

The braking system relies heavily on energy recuperation to slow the vehicle while replenishing the battery. Transitioning between the magnetic resistance of the motors and the physical friction of the brake pads is handled with exceptional smoothness. A dedicated one-pedal driving mode allows the vehicle to come to a complete stop without the driver touching the brake pedal. The sheer mass of the vehicle requires massive front brake rotors to ensure repeatable stopping power during steep descents. The thermal management system routes excess heat generated by the motors directly into the cabin heating loop during winter months.

Our test vehicle came equipped with the multi-chamber air suspension and semi-active dampers available on the Ultra trim. This advanced setup monitors wheel travel and chassis pitch, adjusting the damping rates up to 500 times per second based on sensor feedback. The resulting ride quality is undeniably plush, absorbing impacts from broken pavement efficiently. The suspension effectively isolates passengers from harsh expansion joints and cobblestone streets, making the cabin a deeply relaxing environment. Cornering at higher speeds produces a measurable amount of body lean due to the high center of gravity. The chassis engineers clearly prioritized ride isolation over dynamic handling or aggressive body control. The system defaults to a softer calibration even when configured to its firmest setting through the drive mode menu.

Inside the cabin, physical switchgear has been almost entirely eliminated in favor of a 14.5-inch portrait display mounted in the center of the dashboard. The interior features sustainable Nordico upholstery, a bio-attributed material crafted from recycled plastics and pine resin, instead of traditional animal leather. My son found the digital key setup and user profile integration entirely intuitive, easily navigating the nested menus to find his preferred media applications. Relying entirely on a touchscreen for basic functions like temperature adjustments and mirror positioning is a clear negative, as it forces the driver to take their eyes off the road. Adjusting the cabin fan speed requires tapping a tiny icon at the base of the screen, waiting for a secondary menu to overlay, and then sliding a digital bar. The lack of tactile controls for essential tasks creates a persistent distraction and compromises the otherwise serene driving experience. The climate control functions are permanently anchored at the bottom edge of the digital interface.

The optional Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system features twenty-five individual speakers distributed throughout the cabin. Stainless steel speaker grilles are set flush into the door panels, contrasting elegantly with the backlit wood veneers. The system incorporates small surround-sound speakers directly into the front seat headrests. This creates an isolated soundstage that remains pristine regardless of vehicle speed. The amplifier delivers clear audio even at high volumes without vibrating the interior trim. The acoustic insulation utilizes specialized laminated glass to block exterior noise frequencies.

The roofline integrates a standard Lidar sensor pod just above the windshield, looking somewhat like an illuminated taxi sign. This sensor suite can monitor the road up to 250 meters ahead in complete darkness, significantly enhancing the capability of the collision avoidance systems. The interior layout offers excellent headroom and visibility for the first two rows, aided by a massive panoramic glass roof that does not feature a physical sunshade. The cupholders in the center console are surprisingly shallow and narrow for a vehicle designed primarily for the American and European markets. The third row lacks dedicated air vents and provides limited legroom for adults. The rear cargo area measures a practical 324 liters with all three rows of seating deployed.

Maneuvering the vehicle through tight European parking garages requires careful attention due to a turning radius that measures nearly 12.5 meters.

Data regarding long-term ownership of the newly developed SPA2 platform remains limited. The mechanical components, including the electric motors, thermal management systems, and battery pack, show no signs of systemic design flaws. The reliability concerns center entirely on the software integration and digital control modules. Early production models have experienced frequent glitches affecting the infotainment screen, charging logic, and digital key recognition, resulting in several delayed customer deliveries. Volvo has released several over-the-air updates to stabilize the system architecture and improve general responsiveness. The brand historically maintains a solid reputation for mechanical durability, however complex electronic architectures often require extended gestation periods to function reliably. Volvo has also issued a hardware recall for a power tailgate spindle drive unit on models manufactured between April 2024 and February 2025.