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2023 Volvo EX90 (EV)
- Thread starter FiestaST
- Start date
FiestaST
Honorary Master
REVIEW: New Volvo EX90 packs impressive tech, but takes minimalism a bit too far
VERDICT
The Volvo EX90 is an impressive vehicle in many respects, packed with innovative safety technology and offering a compelling blend of performance, efficiency, luxury and practicality.
But on the downside, there are a number of small details that don’t quite match up to the vehicle’s steep price tag of R2.6 million. And with Volvo Cars SA closing more than half of its dealerships, the company now only offers coverage in the major centres of Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town, which could be of concern for customers who want to test out its range capabilities with a Sho’t Left.
VERDICT
The Volvo EX90 is an impressive vehicle in many respects, packed with innovative safety technology and offering a compelling blend of performance, efficiency, luxury and practicality.
But on the downside, there are a number of small details that don’t quite match up to the vehicle’s steep price tag of R2.6 million. And with Volvo Cars SA closing more than half of its dealerships, the company now only offers coverage in the major centres of Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town, which could be of concern for customers who want to test out its range capabilities with a Sho’t Left.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
TechnoBok review of the EX90
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
CarTell.tv review of the EX90
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Greg Dennis Reviews review of the EX90
FiestaST
Honorary Master
All hail Volvo EX90, King of the SUVs
Safety and Sound
There's a premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system with 25 speakers, including speakers in the headrests for optimal aural pleasure, and no fewer than eight external cameras, with a pretty advanced LIDAR mounted above the windscreen for optimal safety.
Volvo heard I like frameless rearview mirrors, so they gave the heated, foldable exterior wing mirrors the frameless treatment too. The door handles retreat flush with the doors, which have an automatic soft-latching function too. And if you can't be arsed to open the boot, that's automatic too.
While the roof doesn't open, the full length solid glass roof lets more than enough light in, and keeps harsh heat and sound out.
In fact, you feel so cut off from the outside world thanks to the EX90's NVH mitigation, I had trouble hearing the hooter from the inside.
The EX90 will set you back two million, six hundred and fifty thousand of your finest Randelas, but it's all so very worth it. It's a sanctuary on wheels, you'll even look forward to sitting in traffic.
It's the pinnacle of Swedish luxury, with tasteful nods to its origins like the tiny, unobtrusive Swedish flag sticking out of the passenger seat, or the Swedish flag tastefully embossed in the dark chrome dash surround.
All hail the Volvo EX90; first of its name, King of the SUVs.
Safety and Sound
There's a premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system with 25 speakers, including speakers in the headrests for optimal aural pleasure, and no fewer than eight external cameras, with a pretty advanced LIDAR mounted above the windscreen for optimal safety.
Volvo heard I like frameless rearview mirrors, so they gave the heated, foldable exterior wing mirrors the frameless treatment too. The door handles retreat flush with the doors, which have an automatic soft-latching function too. And if you can't be arsed to open the boot, that's automatic too.
While the roof doesn't open, the full length solid glass roof lets more than enough light in, and keeps harsh heat and sound out.
In fact, you feel so cut off from the outside world thanks to the EX90's NVH mitigation, I had trouble hearing the hooter from the inside.
The EX90 will set you back two million, six hundred and fifty thousand of your finest Randelas, but it's all so very worth it. It's a sanctuary on wheels, you'll even look forward to sitting in traffic.
It's the pinnacle of Swedish luxury, with tasteful nods to its origins like the tiny, unobtrusive Swedish flag sticking out of the passenger seat, or the Swedish flag tastefully embossed in the dark chrome dash surround.
All hail the Volvo EX90; first of its name, King of the SUVs.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Shooting Cars review of the EX90 Ultra
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Kelley Blue Book review of the EX90
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Road Test: 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra
2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra Specifications
Price: R2 650 000
Electric motor: permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, front and rear
Battery: lithium-ion, 111 kWh, 800 V
Transmission: single-speed automatic
Driven wheels: all
Power: 380 kW @ 4 200-6 000 r/min
Torque: 910 N.m @ 0-4 020 r/min
Test Summary
As the in-waiting successor to the already impressive XC90, the EX90 is a deeply impressive offering. Its combination of tasteful execution, cavernous interior space, an ability to intersperse serene cruising with a wicked turn of pace when called on, and being possessed of a wealth of technologies that don’t overwhelm but rather augment its effortless road manners is no mean feat.
Being an EV and wearing both the Volvo badge and a R2 650 000 price tag make it a decidedly niche product and therefore a bit of a difficult sell in a segment where the Germans hold sway, but as a luxury EV segment representative there’s little to touch it.
2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra Test Score: 82/100
www.carmag.co.za
2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra Specifications
Price: R2 650 000
Electric motor: permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, front and rear
Battery: lithium-ion, 111 kWh, 800 V
Transmission: single-speed automatic
Driven wheels: all
Power: 380 kW @ 4 200-6 000 r/min
Torque: 910 N.m @ 0-4 020 r/min
Test Summary
As the in-waiting successor to the already impressive XC90, the EX90 is a deeply impressive offering. Its combination of tasteful execution, cavernous interior space, an ability to intersperse serene cruising with a wicked turn of pace when called on, and being possessed of a wealth of technologies that don’t overwhelm but rather augment its effortless road manners is no mean feat.
Being an EV and wearing both the Volvo badge and a R2 650 000 price tag make it a decidedly niche product and therefore a bit of a difficult sell in a segment where the Germans hold sway, but as a luxury EV segment representative there’s little to touch it.
2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra Test Score: 82/100
Road Test: 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra
With its style, practical packaging and a powertrain that’s both serene and eye-widening, the EX90 is something of a luxury EV ‘Swede spot’
www.carmag.co.za
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Volvo EX90 finally gains key safety systems with major upgrade
Hardware and software upgrades also bring in 800v system for MY26 examples
Volvo has given the EX90 major hardware and software upgrades that will add previously promised safety features to existing models, while increasing the charging speed through a new 800v system for new 2026 model year cars.
The software upgrade means the SUV gains an additional Nvidia Drive AGX Orin processor (dropping an older Nvidia Xavier chip) to run the car’s brain, bringing it inline with the newer ES90 EV.
This boost in power to 500 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) unlocks a host of additional safety features through the car’s lidar sensor.
This includes the ability to steer away from pedestrians and cyclists in the dark and a controlled stop if the driver falls ill. It also expands the car’s automatic parking ability.
While part of the MY26 update, the upgrade will also be available to existing EX90 owners via a free workshop upgrade, Volvo said.
It comes six months after the first EX90s were delivered to customers, sparking criticism that the first adopters would need to wait for an upgrade before being able to use all promised safety features.
Speaking previously, engineering boss Anders Bell called it a “unique” situation where Volvo is able do the retrofit hardware update because relatively few models have made it to market with that system.
www.autocar.co.uk
Hardware and software upgrades also bring in 800v system for MY26 examples
Volvo has given the EX90 major hardware and software upgrades that will add previously promised safety features to existing models, while increasing the charging speed through a new 800v system for new 2026 model year cars.
The software upgrade means the SUV gains an additional Nvidia Drive AGX Orin processor (dropping an older Nvidia Xavier chip) to run the car’s brain, bringing it inline with the newer ES90 EV.
This boost in power to 500 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) unlocks a host of additional safety features through the car’s lidar sensor.
This includes the ability to steer away from pedestrians and cyclists in the dark and a controlled stop if the driver falls ill. It also expands the car’s automatic parking ability.
While part of the MY26 update, the upgrade will also be available to existing EX90 owners via a free workshop upgrade, Volvo said.
It comes six months after the first EX90s were delivered to customers, sparking criticism that the first adopters would need to wait for an upgrade before being able to use all promised safety features.
Speaking previously, engineering boss Anders Bell called it a “unique” situation where Volvo is able do the retrofit hardware update because relatively few models have made it to market with that system.
Own a Volvo EX90? It is getting a HUGE free upgrade that includes new key safety tech | Autocar
Hardware and software upgrades also bring in 800v system for MY26 examples
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Volvo with a radical fix for its flagship EV: free brain transplant for the EX90
When you buy a premium electric SUV from a brand like Volvo, you expect quality engineering and reliability. For owners of the Volvo EX90, the reality has been nothing but, with the Swedish flagship EV becoming a constant source of frustration.
Reported problems ranged from keys that wouldn't work - whether it was the phone-as-a-key, the keyfob, or the keycard - to a buggy infotainment system and constant error messages. For a vehicle marketed as the future, it felt decidedly unfinished. After initially promising that simple software fixes were on the way, Volvo is now taking a much more drastic and unusual step.
The Swedish automaker has announced it will replace the central computer in every single 2025 Volvo EX90, free of charge. This is a full hardware upgrade to the more powerful system destined for the 2026 model, and a quiet admission that the problems with its high-tech EV run deeper than software.
It suggests the original computer hardware simply wasn't up to the job of delivering the smooth experience customers expected, and that it's easier for the company to swap the unit rather than to continue patching a faulty system.
www.arenaev.com
www.volvocars.com
When you buy a premium electric SUV from a brand like Volvo, you expect quality engineering and reliability. For owners of the Volvo EX90, the reality has been nothing but, with the Swedish flagship EV becoming a constant source of frustration.
Reported problems ranged from keys that wouldn't work - whether it was the phone-as-a-key, the keyfob, or the keycard - to a buggy infotainment system and constant error messages. For a vehicle marketed as the future, it felt decidedly unfinished. After initially promising that simple software fixes were on the way, Volvo is now taking a much more drastic and unusual step.
The Swedish automaker has announced it will replace the central computer in every single 2025 Volvo EX90, free of charge. This is a full hardware upgrade to the more powerful system destined for the 2026 model, and a quiet admission that the problems with its high-tech EV run deeper than software.
It suggests the original computer hardware simply wasn't up to the job of delivering the smooth experience customers expected, and that it's easier for the company to swap the unit rather than to continue patching a faulty system.
Volvo with a radical fix for its flagship EV: free brain transplant for the EX90
Volvo is offering a free central computer replacement for every 2025 EX90 to fix persistent software bugs, upgrading the electric SUV with the more powerful hardware from the 2026 model.
www.arenaev.com
Upgrading your EX90 with a new core computer | Marketing and campaigns | Volvo Support EN-CA
If you have an EX90 of model year 2025, your vehicle will be eligible for a complimentary upgrade to its core computer. This is a hardware and software upgrade that will give your vehicle improved performance and computing power.
www.volvocars.com
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Paywall:
From Amazon’s seatbelt to EX90: How Volvo has been steering safety for generations
From Amazon’s seatbelt to EX90: How Volvo has been steering safety for generations
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Volvo EX90 Awarded Five Stars for Safety at Euro NCAP
The Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV has been awarded the full complement of five stars at a recent Euro NCAP safety test.
The Volvo EX90, which we’ve evaluated for a road test in 2025, has, to no surprise, been awarded a five-star rating for safety at a recent Euro NCAP test. The seven-seater EV performed commendably in all four main categories – proving to be one of the highest-performing cars this year.
Designed to be the safest Volvo ever created, the EX90 recorded strong performances in both the Adult and Child Occupant categories, scoring 92% and 93%, respectively. In the Vulnerable Road Users and Safety Assist categories, the all-electric SUV scored 82% and 86%, respectively.
As a reminder, the EX90 is powered by a twin-motor all-wheel drivetrain, endowed with 380 kW and 910 N.m of torque. The dual electric motors are fed by a 111 kWh lithium-ion battery, offering a claimed range of up to 604 km on a full charge.
Standard safety equipment on the EX90 includes the Swedish automaker’s Pilot Assist suite of active driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, collision avoidance and mitigation, and cross-traffic alert, to name but a few.
www.carmag.co.za
The Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV has been awarded the full complement of five stars at a recent Euro NCAP safety test.
The Volvo EX90, which we’ve evaluated for a road test in 2025, has, to no surprise, been awarded a five-star rating for safety at a recent Euro NCAP test. The seven-seater EV performed commendably in all four main categories – proving to be one of the highest-performing cars this year.
Designed to be the safest Volvo ever created, the EX90 recorded strong performances in both the Adult and Child Occupant categories, scoring 92% and 93%, respectively. In the Vulnerable Road Users and Safety Assist categories, the all-electric SUV scored 82% and 86%, respectively.
As a reminder, the EX90 is powered by a twin-motor all-wheel drivetrain, endowed with 380 kW and 910 N.m of torque. The dual electric motors are fed by a 111 kWh lithium-ion battery, offering a claimed range of up to 604 km on a full charge.
Standard safety equipment on the EX90 includes the Swedish automaker’s Pilot Assist suite of active driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, collision avoidance and mitigation, and cross-traffic alert, to name but a few.
Volvo EX90 Awarded Five Stars for Safety at Euro NCAP
The Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV has been awarded the full complement of five stars at a recent Euro NCAP safety test...
www.carmag.co.za
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Kumbi-M On Cars review of the EX90