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The totally electrical Volvo EX90 is probably the model’s most necessary electrical car launch so far. It’s being inbuilt South Carolina, with shipments to clients anticipated to kick off within the 4th quarter of 2024.
Volvo invited CleanTechnica out to The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Seaside, California, to drive the brand new EX90. We spent hours within the car, speaking to Volvo’s specialists, and choosing by each nook and cranny of the automobile — and boy are we excited to unpack all of it for you right here.
Overview
The EX90 is a much-needed addition to the surprisingly small variety of 7-seat totally electrical SUVs accessible within the US. Consistent with the refreshed XC90 and its plug-in hybrid, the EX90 enters the category as a top-tier luxurious electrical car with a beginning value level just below $80,000.
Exterior
The Volvo EX90 comes with all of the trimmings in the present day’s Volvo is thought for. Stunning Scandinavian design permeates the ethos of the EX90. The outside carries ahead the slimmed down, aero styling we noticed on the EX30, simply in a bigger format. As a 7-seater, the EX90 is on the bigger facet, however it manages to suit all that cargo and passenger area inside whereas nonetheless trying elegant and complicated.
The modern strains from the nostril carry again to the rear of the car, ushering air effectively across the physique with a muted grille popping down within the entrance. The grille pulls air into the warmth exchanger of the car and retains the car’s batteries, motors, and cabin at their respective best temperatures.
Inside
Hopping into the automobile, the very first thing you discover is the spectacular quantity of element that went into translating Volvo’s Scandinavian designs into what is actually a residing area on wheels. The entrance seats are extra comfy than most couches I’ve sat on, with a headrest that, along with its embedded audio system, is extra comfy than most pillows I’ve snoozed on.
From the vegan leather-based to the wooden trim, the inside of the EX90 is indulgent and heat. Refined LED accent lighting warms the cabin at evening, even backlighting the wooden trim on the sprint, which lets the nice and cozy textures of the wooden play after darkish.
Complementing the finishes is probably essentially the most luxe high quality of the EX90: silence. The silence within the EX90 cabin is overwhelming. It’s like stepping right into a spa or onto a sound stage the place the absence of noise is pervasive. Mixed with Volvo’s 25-speaker sound system, it may be something from a zen cabin on wheels to a full blown rock live performance for 2.
The Drive
Shifting into drive and letting the EX90 run, the silence paired with Volvo’s dual-motor drivetrain transforms a weekend drive by the canyon into one thing way more like flying. It’s distinctive and in contrast to something we’ve seen in different EVs.
The twin-motor powertrain received’t knock your socks off, however as a 7-seat construct, we wouldn’t anticipate it to. Having stated that, it’s greater than sufficient to have enjoyable blasting by your native canyons on the best way to a vineyard or simply to see what’s over the river and thru the hills.
Suspension
After being blown away by the EX30 in each energy and suspension in such an reasonably priced car, the EX90 was a bit underwhelming in each departments. The ability is ok, however it’s not something to jot down residence about, which is shocking for a automobile with greater than 500 horsepower and 910 Nm of torque. As we pushed the automobile to its limits, some highway noise from the highest trim 22″ tires crept into the cabin, which was disappointing. The noise wasn’t persistent, however the cabin could be a lot quieter — and extra comfy, for that matter — on a set of smaller-diameter rims and tires.
The suspension is clearly properly tuned, however nonetheless permits the cabin to pitch and sway greater than we’re used to in trendy EVs. Once we laid into the accelerator within the canyons, it clearly wasn’t completely satisfied — although, it was good on metropolis streets and the freeway. Talking of the freeway, the silence of the automobile gives little suggestions, so that you’ll need to keep watch over your pace for the primary few drives.
The motors are the identical in each the efficiency and the non-performance model of the EX90, with the efficiency variant getting particular tuning to unlock the additional energy and torque. It’s a stupendous factor to see corporations pushing onerous to unlock new methods to simplify the manufacturing course of and differentiate their merchandise for purchasers on the similar time.
In terms of vary, the EX90 completely delivers. Its 111 kWh nominal, 107 kWh usable battery pack helps an EPA vary of 300 miles per cost when its kitted out with 20″ and 22″ rims and 310 miles of vary with the 21″ rims.
Infotainment
The EX90 is constructed on Google’s Automotive OS which has clearly been properly tuned for this newest implementation. Paired with a responsive display screen, it simply dealt with the navigation alongside our route and can really feel acquainted to most new drivers because of its shared DNA with Google’s suite of merchandise. Maps is beautiful and properly built-in, as is the addition of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
On our check drive, we used the cellphone key as our solely approach to lock and unlock the car. Our telephones have been locked with a pin so we didn’t get the total expertise, and lots of drivers on the occasion have been quickly locked out by the cellphone key failing to attach. Volvo’s group shared that this was as a result of the software program isn’t totally baked but, and it’s one thing we’ll be checking in on when the manufacturing car and software program are launched. Manufacturing automobiles may also have a key fob and key card as backups and we all the time suggest maintaining the keycard in your individual simply in case.
Security
Volvo is thought for its security, and that ethos has expanded to the electrical powertrain as properly. The battery within the EX90 has an all new security cage constructed round it to guard it from exterior forces. Along with maintaining the battery secure, it serves as a structural element of the automobile, simplifying the general design of the car on the similar time.
General
Volvo has actually constructed a powerful car within the EX90. It’s 7-seat inside is opulent and purposeful, with a number of the finest infotainment software program we’ve seen from a legacy automaker. Being inbuilt South Carolina and at a beginning value of just below $80,000 means it ought to qualify for the federal tax incentive, which is large for households in search of one of many most secure 7-seat EVs on the market.
At this value, it’s proper up there with the Kia EV9 by way of worth for greenback within the family-sized zero-emission car area. In our e-book, the Volvo EX90 wins due to their die-hard deal with security, high notch inside, lovely design, and Volvo’s no-compromise high quality.
For extra info, head over to the Volvo EX90’s digital residence.
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