Volvo has unveiled its new flagship electric SUV, featuring a 364-mile range and the latest safety technology
- Maximum range of 364 miles
- LIDAR safety technology
- Available to order in 2023 from £96,255
Volvo’s transition to electric power has already begun, however the Swedish brand is ready to take things to the next level with its new flagship EV. Dubbed the Volvo EX90, this new electric SUV essentially acts as a replacement for the full-size Volvo XC90, although the brand intends to sell the pair side-by-side for the next few years.
Due on sale in 2023 with prices starting from £96,255, the Volvo EX90 is one of a growing number of high-end electric SUVs such as the Lotus Eletre, Mercedes EQS and the Tesla Model X. Buyers of Volvo’s latest flagship are also likely to be looking at the full-size Range Rover, which is also expected to gain an EV variant sometime in the near future.
The Volvo EX90 isn’t a huge departure from the outgoing XC90 in terms of design; the new model retains the old car’s boxy silhouette and ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlamps, however flush door handles and the lack of a radiator grille help streamline the EX90 and benefit efficiency. It also has a new design of rear lights, accentuating the SUV’s width.
Like Mercedes’ electric flagship, the EQS – as well as the petrol-powered XC90 – the new EX90 comes as standard in a seven-seat configuration. Measuring at over five metres long, Volvo claims the EX90 offers 310 litres of boot space with the rearmost row in its upright position – slightly less than the XC90. With just five seats in place, the EX90’s boot increases to 655 litres and a cavernous 1,915 litres with both rear rows folded.
As you’d expect from a Scandinavian car, the interior of the new EX90 is suitably minimalist. The whole cabin centres around an expansive 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen mounted on the dashboard. This is powered by Google software and features graphics made in Unreal Engine 5, which has also been used to develop some of the biggest videogames of the last few years.
Volvo has made clear its commitment to sustainability and the environment, and this is also evident in the EX90; while the interiors of most luxury cars are almost exclusively wrapped in leather, the new top-of-the-line Volvo instead utilises over 50kg of recycled materials and bio-based materials. The EX90’s seats are constructed of recycled plastic bottles, while sustainable timber and recycled wine bottle cork is used for interior trim.
Safety has also long been a focus for Volvo and the EX90 gets the brand’s latest suite of driver assistance aids. A LIDAR (Light detection and ranging) scanner is fitted to the front of the car in order to provide more accurate detection of other road users and obstacles – Volvo claims this system is able to detect pedestrians 250 metres ahead, and a tyre lying in the road 120 metres ahead.
Equally as futuristic as the EX90’s safety tech is its powertrain. At launch, UK buyers have two options to choose from: Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance. As its name suggests, the entry-level Twin Motor utilises two electric motors to provide all-wheel-drive and a not-insubstantial 402bhp. This is enough to propel the nearly-three-tonne SUV from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds.
The Twin Motor Performance model gets a more-powerful pair of electric motors, bringing the output up to 510bhp. With a colossal 910Nm of torque, the Performance model offers blistering acceleration, with it reaching 62mph in under five seconds.
All versions of the EX90 will come fitted with a 107kWh battery, which provides a range of up to 364 miles on the Twin Motor model – Twin Motor Performance cars have 4 miles less range. Ultra-fast 250kW charging also comes as standard, meaning a 10-80% top up can take as little as half an hour when connected to a compatible public DC charger.
The range-topping ‘Ultra’ configuration is the only trim level available to UK buyers at launch, with an entry-level model set to follow later on. Ultra is highly equipped as standard, with features such as 22-inch alloy wheels, a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkin sound system, soft-close doors and four-zone climate control that purifies the air.
First deliveries are expected to arrive in March 2024, with the Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance models setting buyers back £96,255 and £100,555 respectively. It will also be available via a Care by Volvo fixed subscription, costing from £1,599 a month.
Keyword: Look out Range Rover: the electric Volvo EX90 is here