Volvo’s new flagship electric SUV, the EX90, has hit the road, but some of its standout technology and features are still in a “learning” phase. We spent a few hours around the Newport Coast in California in an early version of the EX90, a Twin Motor Performance model with a Sand Dune exterior. The EPA says the EX90 will get up to 310 miles of range from the 111 kWh battery pack.
The Twin Motor Performance version puts out 510 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque, while the lower trim will make 402 hp and 568 lb-ft. Volvo says both should charge from 10 to 80 percent on a 250 kW DC fast charger in about 30 minutes. However, some features won’t work until a later date via a software update.
Volvo leaned hard into Swedish minimalism with its design both inside and out. Its understated interior is incredibly relaxing. A single 9-inch driver’s information screen sits behind the steering wheel and can be changed to show speed, range, and mapping information.
You also get a very clear heads-up display that can be similarly customized. The vehicle has almost no physical buttons–just one large scroll wheel on the center console and a few buttons on the headliner. Everything else is controlled through the main 14.5-inch touchscreen set vertically into the dash.
While the system worked fine, it’s a pain if you just need to adjust something simple, like wiper sensitivity or performance settings, because it’s buried in menus. The EX90 can use your smartphone as the digital key, though you get a physical fob, too.
Volvo EX90 technology learning phase
Unfortunately, the feature was buggy. More than once, we had to open the Wallet app, find the EX90 virtual key card, and place it on the wireless charging pad to get the car to recognize that the key was in the vehicle. On the road, the big SUV doesn’t feel ungainly.
The cabin is notably quiet and comfortable. It doesn’t feel rolly or jarring on broken pavement when you put the air suspension into the default comfort mode. In Performance mode, everything gets slightly more amped up, but this is no canyon carver.
The EX90 also gets new interior sensors, including a radar system that senses everything from the driver’s eye movement to whether you’ve left a child or pet in the car unattended. On the drive, while trying to dig through menus to find the drive settings, the vehicle chimed, letting me know I was distracted. The system is a bit sensitive but not intrusive.
A number of well-known suppliers, including Nvidia, Google, Qualcomm, and Luminar, comprise the EX90’s suite of safety and tech features. Unfortunately, some of these features are not functional because they are still in learning mode, gathering data about real-world scenarios. Despite a few tech hiccups and some TBD features, Volvo’s EX90 is driving the ball forward.
As a minimum viable product, the EX90 is still pretty good. Future updates and bug fixes will make it the luxury vehicle that Volvo hopes it will be, with all the promised bells and whistles.
