Volvo EX90

First Impressions

I'll be honest — I wasn't expecting much beyond a competent Volvo. Then I sat down, closed the door, and heard absolutely nothing. The silence inside this cabin is staggering. Volvo's reps told me it rivals a Rolls-Royce Spectre for quietness, and after a week with it, I'm not going to argue with them.

This is a three-row electric SUV that immediately communicates quality the moment you interact with it. The door thud, the seat comfort, the way everything just feels solid — it sets a tone that most competitors in this segment simply don't match.

Design & Exterior

From the outside, it's unmistakably a Volvo. The signature Thor's hammer headlights have been updated, and that distinctive rear light bar keeps the family resemblance strong. It's not trying to be dramatic or polarizing — it's a clean, handsome, large SUV that looks right with big wheels and understated proportions.

Is it the most head-turning thing on the road? No. But there's a quiet confidence to the design that suits the luxury positioning perfectly. It doesn't need to shout.

Interior & Tech

This is where the EX90 really earns its keep. The seats are phenomenal — soft, supportive, heated, ventilated, with a thigh extension and even a surprisingly decent massage function. I'd put them at about 99% of a Rolls-Royce seat in terms of pure comfort, even if the visual drama isn't quite there.

The Bowers & Wilkins speaker system is genuinely one of the best I've ever heard in any car. Combined with that library-quiet cabin, it's the kind of system that makes you sit in a parking lot finishing a song. The central screen runs Google's infotainment beautifully, and wireless CarPlay integration is among the best I've seen — Waze directions even mirror onto the driver display.

My gripe is that too much lives on the screen. HVAC controls, seat heating — these deserve physical buttons in a car that aspires to top-tier luxury. And whoever decided on that single toggle for both front and rear windows needs to rethink that decision immediately.

Driving Experience

The adjustable air suspension is the star here. It delivers that floaty, disconnected-from-the-road feeling that luxury cars chase. Potholes, rough patches, broken surfaces — the EX90 just glides over them. I was genuinely impressed by how composed and serene it feels at any speed.

My one real driving complaint is the one-pedal driving calibration. When you lift off and then reapply the accelerator, there's a mushiness in the initial pedal travel that I wish was more direct. Competitors do this better. It's subtle, but in a car that gets everything else so right, it stands out.

Space & Practicality

The second row is legitimately spacious. At 190 cm, I had plenty of room behind my own driving position, and three adults can sit across comfortably. There's a gorgeous panoramic sunroof overhead, rear vents, USB-C ports, and speaker coverage that keeps second-row passengers feeling like first-class citizens.

The third row is there for kids and short trips. Two seats, cup holders, USB-C, and vents — but legroom is tight for adults. Fold it down and you get a proper cargo area.

Final Verdict

The Volvo EX90 surprised me more than almost any car I've driven recently. It nails the four pillars of luxury — sound isolation, seat comfort, ride quality, and audio — to a degree that genuinely approaches cars costing multiples more. The LiDAR suite up top isn't fully activated yet, which means this car may actually get better over time.

If you want a large, serene, beautifully built electric SUV and you don't need the badge of an ultra-luxury marque, the EX90 deserves to be at the very top of your list. I think we've been sleeping on this one.