Volvo is making a bold move into an all-electric future, and leading the charge is the 2025 EX90. This brand-new, three-row, seven-seat SUV isn’t just another EV; it’s Volvo’s flagship, built on a platform designed exclusively for electric vehicles. Slightly larger and packed with more advanced technology than the current XC90, the EX90 signals a significant step forward for Volvo. With plans to introduce a new EV model each year, Volvo aims to have its entire new car lineup electric by 2030. The EX90 is available for pre-order now and is expected to hit the market in early 2024. Following closely behind is the 2025 Volvo EX30, a smaller, subcompact crossover set to be Volvo’s most accessible SUV, arriving in dealerships in the latter half of 2024.
Priced starting under $80,000, the EX90 firmly positions itself within the Luxury Crossovers segment. It’s poised to compete directly with other premium all-wheel-drive electric SUVs, including the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S, BMW iX, the highly anticipated Lucid Gravity, and three-row configurations of the Tesla Model X. This competitive landscape highlights the growing demand for sophisticated and spacious electric vehicles.
While the Polestar 3 SUV, from Volvo’s sister all-electric brand, is more compact than the EX90, they share the same underlying architecture. However, the Polestar 3 boasts distinct tuning and suspension settings, catering to a slightly different driving experience. The 2025 EX90 might not be the largest or most powerful in its class, but it holds its own, offering comparable capabilities at a more accessible price point than most competitors, with the exception of the Rivian. Crucially, the EX90 introduces upgraded safety and driver assistance systems, incorporating both software and hardware designed to support potential hands-free highway driving in the future. Volvo confidently asserts that the EX90 will be their safest vehicle to date, a testament to their ongoing commitment to passenger protection.
Powering the EX90 are dual-motor, all-wheel-drive systems, and Volvo anticipates a range of 300 miles or more on a single charge. This range capability makes the EX90 a practical choice for both daily commutes and longer journeys, addressing a key concern for many EV buyers.
Stepping inside the EX90, the interior design leans towards a minimalist aesthetic reminiscent of Tesla, characterized by a clean dashboard dominated by a prominent, vertically oriented touchscreen. Externally, the EX90 retains Volvo’s signature design cues, featuring the iconic Thor’s Hammer headlights, a bold Volvo emblem, vertical taillights, and robust side panels with pronounced rear haunches. A key indicator of the EX90’s technological leadership is the bulge located at the top center of the windshield. This houses an array of lidar sensors, enabling the vehicle to “see” in complete darkness and significantly enhancing the precision of its lane and obstacle detection systems. This advanced sensor technology underscores Volvo’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive safety and driver assistance.
Deliveries of the EX90 are scheduled to begin in early 2024, and Volvo has indicated that customers who pre-order will have the opportunity to configure their vehicles later this year, with priority delivery promised. Initial availability is expected to be concentrated in regions with higher EV adoption rates, such as Southern California, Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, the Pacific Northwest, the Eastern Seaboard, Colorado, and Texas. Production of the EX90 will take place at Volvo’s plant in South Carolina, and select models priced under $80,000 may qualify for the federal clean vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500, contingent on battery content requirements being met.
Volvo unveiled the EX90 well in advance of its production start, and details regarding standard versus optional features are still emerging. Driving evaluations are also pending. A comprehensive assessment of the EX90’s overall competitiveness will require a hands-on driving experience and further specification details. However, as it stands, the Volvo EX90 is strongly positioned to be a significant contender in the growing market of luxury crossovers, offering a compelling blend of Scandinavian design, cutting-edge technology, and electric performance.
