A tour of a typical school drop-off zone in an affluent Irish neighbourhood will almost always highlight a Volvo XC90 or two integrated among the collection of other vehicles. The popularity of this large, seven-seater SUV from Volvo is understandable considering it matches the comfort, refinement, and quality provided by luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes, but conveys a more community-minded, less showy image.
What sets this vehicle apart is its advanced safety features. Volvo’s statistics claim that during the two decades of production for the two versions of the XC90, no passenger has ever lost their life in an accident. This makes the XC90 parallel to a bank vault in terms of safety.
Moving forward, Volvo aims to maintain the same level of safety in their new model—the EX90. Aesthetically, it isn’t largely dissimilar from its predecessor, the current XC90 (which will continue to be sold as a plug-in hybrid). Nevertheless, the EX90 boasts a fresh, cutting-edge SPA2 electric-only platform beneath the surface, signalling the absence of a combustion engine variant.
With electric car sales on a global decline, could this be a challenge for Volvo? Comparing Irish sales, this seems unlikely. Despite a significant price tag, the EX90 is already sold out for the year with the earliest customer deliveries set for July.
Initially, the EX90 will hit the market with one battery choice and two four-wheel drive configurations, offering either 498hp or 517hp, propelling the car to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds – an enormous feat for a vehicle weighing almost three tonnes.
You might expect such power and performance to lead to hefty insurance rates. However, given Volvo’s reputation as a safe choice, the brand’s powerful performance does not seem to incur any severe insurance repercussions, as confirmed by Irish insurers.
The unblemished safety reputation of Volvo continues with the introduction of the EX90, succeeding what is often lauded as the safest car ever. The introduction of Lidar technology, a fusion of laser and radar applications, plays a large part in this. Mounted on the forward part of the car, where the windscreen and roof meet, is this sophisticated Lidar scanner. Whilst this gives the EX90 a unique look, its purpose serves far beyond aesthetics.
The improvement in active security is significant, with Lidar frequently suggested as the final element needed to achieve fully self-driving cars. This technology enables vehicles to scan their environment continuously, generating a 3D map in real-time, in this scenario Volvo is utilising this precision to scan the road up to 200 meters ahead, if conditions permit. The Lidar’s reach exceeds your visual and headlight reach and can even discern black objects against a dark backdrop. When coupled with a warning and ramped-up braking system, the technology promises significant strides in preserving lives.
Volvo shows consideration towards its extensive XC90 customer base in the development of the EX90, avoiding making any radical changes. Aside from the front-end, which closely resembles a larger version of the EX30 with its blocky appearance and pixelated ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights (a trend Volvo set before Marvel made it popular), the EX90 mirrors the silhouette of an XC. Here, the dangers of emulating the formless blob-like aesthetics of a Mercedes EQS SUV or disjointed style of the BMW iX are avoided – it’s a subtly handsome design in its own right.
The minimalist luxurious feel extends even to the cabin, with almost all physical buttons replaced by a robust 14.5-inch touchscreen. Despite employing a similar operating system that attracted criticism in the EX30, at least in this model, it isn’t required to serve as an instrument panel, as one is positioned behind the steering wheel. Volvo has claimed that the software will continually improve, offering key updates and upgrades for owners approximately six to eight times per annum, thus potentially enhancing the EX90’s value over an ownership period. Time will, of course, determine the validity of this claim.
The cabin of the car is beautifully crafted, boasting an abundance of practical storage areas. The specific model we had the chance to explore featured optional wool-blend upholstery, offering a far more welcoming and luxurious feel than the faux leather alternative. The back seats are notably spacious, although the middle seat is best suited to a more petite passenger. The boot comprises folding seats, which are just adequate to accommodate a larger individual. When folded, the boot expands to a massive 650 litres. When the seats are in use, 310 litres of free space remain, and there’s additional storage beneath the boot floor for the luggage cover.
Despite its significant size and weight, the EX90 possesses commendable efficiency. Volvo stipulates a 21kWh/100km battery economy. Furthermore, its initial carbon footprint is likely to be acceptable due to the abundant use of recycled plastic, steel, and aluminium in its construction.
Contrary to the EX30, which is manufactured in China, the EX90 is American-made, adding to its ecological credentials. It’s fitted with a two-way charging system that can even power your home (provided ESB allows it). On the go, you can swiftly recharge using a 250kW charger at a DC rapid charging station. There’s currently an 11kW AC charger included, but Volvo hints at a future software update to increase this to 22kW. The four-wheel drive versions boast an approximate range of 580km. The forthcoming two-wheel drive model, despite its slightly smaller battery, is expected to achieve a range exceeding 600km.
The EX90 represents a definitive turning point for Volvo, signalling a return to its roots as an engineering firm rather than a marketing entity, as voiced by an insider from the company. This shift is reflected in the heightened importance of the computing system in the construction of their cars. Now, the definition of a car’s ‘platform’ is not about its metal framework, but about the computing system, which incurs higher manufacture costs than the metallic parts. The EX90 incorporates a ‘core computing’ system developed by US tech powerhouse NVIDIA, which is capable of astonishingly carrying out 280 trillion operations each second – comparable to a super-computer.
This creates an intriguing dichotomy in the EX90. It’s essentially a super-computer on wheels, simultaneously providing traditional Scandinavian luxury and comfort with authentic woolen seating. It’s a colossal beast weighing nearly three tonnes, but it utilises environmentally-friendly low-carbon steel and an abundance of recycled material, boasting zero emissions during operation. This car embodies the classic safety credentials of Volvo, with the driving power you’d expect from a Ferrari of the nineties.
While it comes with a hefty price tag, it’s still comparatively affordable against competitors like BMW and Mercedes. However, keep an eye on the impressive Kia EV9 advancing swiftly. Despite a seeming decline in demand for electric vehicles, the EX90 remains successful in sales. It’s unsure what impact this will have when the vehicle becomes universally accessible, but one concrete fact remains – it’s irrefutable proof that electric cars are far from being dull.
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