Swedish manufacturer, Volvo has showcased the all-new EX90, a family-friendly seven-seater alternative to its flagship SUV, the XC90. Positioned above the XC40 Recharge and the C40 Recharge EV, the all-electric SUV is packed with cutting-edge safety technology in terms of passenger safety and comfort, making it perhaps the automaker’s safest car to date.
But before we get into that, let’s take a step back and get a closer look. The best way to describe the EX90 is that it looks unlike any other Volvo we’ve seen before. It somehow packs a well-rounded, futuristic design which seems to be a trend with many EVs today, along with the ruggedness and aggressiveness of an SUV.
The former can be attributed to its space-ship-like design, with horizontal t-shaped LED headlights at the front, sitting on top of LED DRLs. The front panel is now closed off with the Volvo badge running diagonally above the large air dams. The rear portion seems to be a little raised, highlighted by Volvo’s signature taillamps, which reminds us of the units seen on the new Range Rover. The ruggedness, on the other hand, comes from the cuts and creases all across the bodywork, with an overall upright stance, thanks to the massive 22-inch aerodynamic wheels.
In a typical Swedish or rather Volvo fashion, the EX90 sport a clean and minimal look with elements such as the ambient light concealed with the wood trim on the dashboard and the door. It sports a massive 14.5-inch portrait-style infotainment touchscreen, with 5G connectivity and built-in Google OS. There’s also a Bowers and Wilkins system with Dolby Atmos sound serving as a primary mode of entertainment.
Since the focus here is on clean and sustainable energy, the upholstery of the EX90 is made up of environmentally conscious materials, consisting of fibres made from recycled materials and wool. The plastic panels which make up most of the interiors have now been replaced with a composite material called Nordico, which is made from pine resin and recycled PET bottles. Meanwhile, the veneers used on the dashboard are made from FSC-certified wood that doesn’t harm the environment.
Being a Volvo, the focus here is also on safety. The all-electric SUV comes with ADAS functionality, a radar system and a LiDAR system. The SUV can also see 250 metres ahead at night, warning you of upcoming hazards. Then there are features like the Pilot Assist driver-assistance and advanced driver attention monitoring system, which safely stops the SUV and calls for help in case the driver falls asleep or is ill while driving.
Initially, the EX90 will be offered in a single variant with dual motors and an all-wheel drive system, making a combined output of 408PS. There is a performance-focused variant on the cards, which makes 517PS of power and 910Nm of torque.
As far as range and battery are concerned, the Volvo offering packs a 111kWh battery pack which helps it return a range of 600km (WLTP). The company claims the SUV can be topped-up from 10 to 80 per cent in just half an hour. While it is already available in international markets, the Volvo EX90 will likely come to our shores sometime in 2023. It’ll go up against the Mercedes EQC, Audi Q8 e-Tron, BMW iX and the Jaguar I-Pace EV.
