Volvo flew us to Newport Seaside, California, to check its new EX90 7-seat AWD SUV. For many individuals, together with my household, that is the holy grail of EVs. It’s half electrical luxurious sports activities sedan, half four-wheel-drive off-roader and trailer hauler, and most significantly, half minivan.
How effectively do these come collectively? Let’s see…
Volvo EX90 look
The EX90 is unmistakenly a Volvo with the signature electrical closed grill on the entrance and Thor’s hammer headlights. The rear is extra subdued and may very well be mistaken for a standard Volvo XC90 or related. The automobiles they’d us in had been both sandstone tan or grey which felt stately however muted.
The entrance hump on the high of the windshield might seem to be it’s paying homage to London taxis or stealth police automobiles, however it’s, the truth is, the housing for Volvo’s very high-tech Lidar security and ultimately self-driving system.
There’s additionally a “Volvo for Life” tagline beneath, proudly displaying Volvo’s dedication to security. Is it somewhat a lot? Maybe.
Volvo, greater than another carmaker, is pleased with its security options and appears to wish to present them off reasonably than cover them. See additionally: these yellow 3-point seat belts in different fashions, which the corporate invented and shared freely with the remainder of the trade. They’ve saved numerous lives, and Volvo expects its Lidar system to do the identical.
I feel the EX90 has the right stance between sedan and SUV, permitting for trip peak for visibility and gentle off-roading however not thus far off the bottom that dealing with and turns are too compromised.
Excessive marks throughout on outward look. However is the EX90 simply attractiveness on the surface? Let’s look inward.
We bought to sit down in two totally different interiors, an artificial leather-based and recycled material. Each exuded Volvo’s spartan luxurious really feel – not cluttered in any respect but additionally not Tesla minimalist both. The 4 fundamental seats had been greater than comfy in over three hours of driving and, my phrase, this automobile is quiet and easy. In case you aren’t driving, put together to nod off.
The third row is somewhat little bit of a compromise and you may most likely see why the Polestar 3, constructed on this similar platform, solely is available in a 5-seat configuration. Jamie at about 6′ tall discovered it to be fairly uncomfortable except transferring the center row seats up. This could be largely for kids or fast airport or faculty runs, not for seven adults on a street journey. We later bought to see the 6-seat configuration with two center row captain’s chairs (together with armrests ahem Tesla Mannequin X) which made the third row considerably much less cramped. I feel the 6-seat choice is the place I’d go on this automobile.
Even with the third row seats up you could have two rows of grocery room within the again and there’s room below the false ground for extra everlasting objects. It’s a good factor too as a result of the “frunk” is small and onerous to get to (boo!). We’d wish to see some smarter packaging up entrance to allow a deeper, extra accessible frunk.
With the third row down, you’ve bought some huge space for storing and nonetheless room for five folks.
About that second-row center seat, although: It sits greater, is firmer/much less comfy with a folded armrest in your again, and, to me, is another excuse to go together with the 6-seat configuration.
The EX90 heart stack runs on Android for Automotive, which implies you’re going to get a really Google-centric expertise. That, in my utilization, is incredible. Volvo, not like another automakers, determined to maintain entry to Apple’s wi-fi CarPlay open with the intention to run iOS over Google’s OS. Many of us will simply use the built-in Google Maps, which additionally reveals up on the incredible heads-up show. Google’s OS has many, if not all, of the apps you’d use in your iPhone, so it turns into somewhat bit redundant, however Volvo was adamant about giving their prospects a alternative right here.
The 360 digital camera was strong throughout however generally made for some attention-grabbing interpreted obstacles (see above). Total, nonetheless, it was actually useful in navigating shut and unfamiliar territory.
The Volvo EX90 Drive
Essentially the most distinctive facet of the automobile was the drive efficiency, and it was actually rewarding. With its electrical motors and insulated inside, the drive was the quietest I can keep in mind taking lately. Add to that the sleek, vibration-free really feel of the street, comfortable and vented seats, and the incredible assisted dealing with, and it felt like a $100K+ Mercedes to drive. Torque vectoring brings unbelievable ease and confidence to curves. Nice visibility is confidence-inspiring and provoking, as is that Lidar-enhanced security suite.
Nonetheless, the efficiency of the motors was considerably muted. Speaking to engineers on the occasion, they admitted that they softened the acceleration on goal right here, although it isn’t sure if it was for drive high quality, preserving elements from put on, or what. Jamie and I each railed on them, noting that their half-the-price EX30 is by some means over a second faster to 60mph, and it’s a higher expertise to have your foot deciding the velocity, not some pc algorithms.
Nonetheless, 4.7 seconds 0-60 is respectable, and the Polestar 3, which is identical SPA platform drivetrain (barely greater 517 hp), is simply .2 seconds quicker. I feel Volvo might do higher right here however each time I speak about velocity, Volvo comes again with “security” and I assume I get it.
Relying on what tire dimension you choose, the EX90 will get you someplace north of 300 miles of vary, which I feel is the candy spot for automobiles like this. Rivian’s R1S affords extra vary however at a lot larger battery/greater value factors. Tesla Mannequin X affords extra vary on paper, however in actuality, is commonly lower than 300 miles. Kia’s EV9 goes to be related.
Bidirectional Charging is a giant hit
Whereas this may go below the Lidar (lol) for some, Volvo actually amped up the automobile’s means to energy properties. Slightly than the ~2kW many automobiles have, the Volvo can put out as much as 20kW of energy, which means homes linked to the Volvo will even be capable of be heated and cooled electrically. Right here’s a fast demo of some use circumstances with a DCBEL system linked to the EX90:
Our quick charging expertise was lackluster as a result of we had been on a busy Electrify America station however we nonetheless bought a 185kW output with 30% state of cost. Volvo tells us that we are able to anticipate speeds as much as and over 250kW on the proper stations and it takes about 30 minutes to take the battery from 10 to 80% or add about 210 miles.
Volvo EX90 wrap up
Volvo’s South Carolina-built EX90 is a giant win in my guide. Traditionally, the Rivian R1S and Tesla’s Mannequin X have owned the third-row EV area. Current newcomers just like the Mercedes EQS SUV/BMW iX/Audi Q8 and, on the worth finish, the Kia EV9 have shaken up the market a bit. However I really like the Volvo EX90 as a result of it blends efficiency, fashion, luxurious, and trip rather well. Priced from $80-90K based mostly on trim and earlier than incentives, it’s going to be a preferred choice on this rising area.
There’s no higher check of a automobile than the “Do I would like one?” check. Typically after reviewing a automobile, I’m completely happy to provide it again. On this case the EX90 is one thing I’m following up on and subsequently a giant win. As a Rivian R1S proprietor, I typically ask myself if I actually need a 3-second 0-60, loopy offroading expertise, or the final 100 miles of vary, which I nearly by no means use. I’d love captain’s chairs within the 2nd row (although I’d miss the fold flat). Most of all, I’d love the smoother, quieter trip and, most of all, the improved security options that the EX90 affords. Like they are saying, it’s all about security.
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