Summary
The Volvo EX90 is a large electric seven-seat SUV and the flagship model sitting at the top of the Volvo range, which arrived in the UK in 2024.
The battery-powered equivalent and eventual successor to the brand’s ICE-powered XC90 SUV, the EX90 has received a rather mixed bag of UK review scores, ranging from average to excellent.
“The EX90 is the best electric family SUV available right now”, argues Top Gear’s Ollie Marriage, while Parker’s Piers Ward adds that the SUV is certainly a “compelling package”, with “excellent practicality with world-first safety systems, underlined by a comfortable chassis that makes any long journey easy.”
This large Volvo hasn’t been a hit with everyone though. “In the UK, it’s too big, too heavy and too expensive” says The Telegraph’s Andrew English, also pointing out that the SUV is the most expensive Volvo model ever made, costing significantly more than its XC90 sibling.
Dave Humphreys of The Sunday Times concludes that the price “might shock some people, but what might shock others more is just how good it is to drive” when compared to cheaper seven-seat alternatives.
As of October 2024, the Volvo EX90 holds a New Car Expert Rating of B with a score of 71%.
EX90 highlights
- Spacious and practical interior
- Comfortable driving experience
- Packed with on-board tech
- Impressive performance
EX90 lowlights
- Expensive, base price and up
- Kia EV9 slightly more spacious in third row
- Infotainment can be frustrating to use
Key specifications
Body style: Large SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £96,255 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Classy, spacious, decent to drive and exceptionally refined, the EX90 is a fitting flagship for the Swedish brand.”
Author: Richard Ingram
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s plenty to like about this car, and if the previous XC90s have shown us, a long life should allow it to mature to a very nice car indeed.”
Author: Mark Tisshaw
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The EX90 is comfortable, refined, practical and stuffed full of enough safety kit to salve any anxious parents’ worries. Even the frustrating touchscreen is showing signs of improvement.”
Author: Piers Ward
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“There’s no doubt the Volvo EX90 is an expensive car, but it’s a classy, spacious and refined flagship SUV.”
Author: Charlie Harvey, Richard Ingram
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Volvo EX90 is a large, spacious electric SUV with excellent safety kit, but alternatives go further on a charge.”
Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Given that I’m normally a champion of the more affordable cars (I’m tight with my money, alright?!) that’s saying something. The Volvo EX90 really is sublime, and I want one.”
Author: Ginny Buckley
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Effortless power mixed with a classy and practical cabin, not to mention stunning levels of refinement and safety tech, all make the Volvo EX90 a hugely tempting proposition.”
Author: Phil Hall
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“It’s hard to not be impressed by the Volvo EX90. A sleek, sophisticated and practical interior is complemented by an impressive performance and supreme levels of comfort and safety tech.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“If you can find a way to finance it, the EX90 is right at the top of the class. It offers excellent practicality with world-first safety systems, underlined by a comfortable chassis that makes any long journey easy. With an impressive range of 300-miles in the real world, it’s a compelling package.
Author: Piers Ward
Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The whole package feels extraordinarily well executed, as it ought to given its starting price of just over £96,000. That’s upwards of £20,000 more than a Range Rover Sport. That might shock some people but what might shock others more is just how good it is to drive in comparison to those alternatives.”
Author: Dave Humphreys
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“In the UK, it’s too big, too heavy and too expensive. This is the first ever 100 grand Volvo. The EX90 represents a 20 per cent increase in price from the much-loved XC90 SUV in the UK.”
Author: Andrew English
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“As practical and cleverly designed as you’d hope from Volvo. The EX90 is the best electric family SUV available right now.”
Author: Ollie Marriage
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volvo EX90 is comfortable, quiet, luxurious and practical, plus it offers a long official range from a full charge. It’s expensive, though, and other electric seven-seaters are more spacious and considerably cheaper.”
Author: Doug Revolta
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of October 2024, the Volvo EX90 has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of October 2024, the Volvo EX90 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the EX90 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of October 2024, the Volvo EX90 is a brand new model, and thus we don’t have enough reliability data to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the EX90, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 362 miles | A | 360 – 364 miles | A – A |
Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 3.2 m/KWh | E | 3.2 – 3.2 m/KWh | E – E |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 45 | D | 45 – 45 | D – D |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £573 | D |
Year 2 | £1,153 | D |
Year 3 | £1,656 | D |
Year 4 | £1,437 | C |
Year 5 | £1,984 | C |
Overall | £6,803 | C |
The Volvo EX90 can be a rather expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Lets start with the good news – the electric SUV’s average battery range of 362 miles (ranging from 360 to 364 miles) is very competitive when compared to the EV market at large. It’s not very efficient though – the car’s electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is below average, but this is common for a model of this size.
The car’s insurance bracket is on the expensive side, as is its predicted servicing and maintenance costs. Our estimated servicing cost total of nearly £7k after five years of ownership is nearly £2k more expensive than the similarly-sized Kia EV9.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Volvo EX90
As of October 2024, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Volvo EX90. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Volvo dealer.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volvo EX90, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
BMW iX | Hyundai Ioniq 7 | Kia EV9 | Land Rover Defender | Land Rover Discovery | Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV | Range Rover plug-in hybrid | Tesla Model X | Volkswagen ID. Buzz
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Volvo EX90 at The Car Expert
Buy a Volvo EX90
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Volvo EX90, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
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Lease a Volvo EX90
If you’re looking to lease a new Volvo EX90, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Rivervale Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Volvo EX90
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
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