Volvo EX90 Twin Motor First Drive Reviews: Make You Feel Special

If you are looking for a luxury electric SUV with a prestigious brand name and more than five seats, your options are limited. That will change on October 12, as Volvo India is set to enter the segment with the EX90 Twin Motor electric SUV. It will offer six seats, all-wheel drive, and a WLTP-tested range of over 600 km. We recently drove the SUV, and here's why the EX90 might be worth waiting for.

Based on the new SPA2 platform, the EX90 looks familiar. The dimensions and silhouette instantly remind you of the ICE-powered XC90 SUV that has been in India for over a decade. Overall, the design is modern and minimalist. This gives the EX90 a futuristic appearance.

The Thor's Hammer light signature is still there, but parametric shapes (Pixel Lights) hide the headlamps and also serve as the daytime running lights (DRLs). When the headlamps are turned on, the DRL panels split open and reveal the projector LED headlamps inside the housing. This adds a splash of drama to an otherwise mature and polished design. You will love it if you are a fan of the Transformers movie franchise, like me.

The frameless ORVMs are another unique touch, and the 21-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels feature an eight-spoke design with aero inserts to improve efficiency. The flush door handles flip open instead of popping out, and the Sand Dune colour looked suitably 'new-age' on our test car.

Perhaps the biggest design highlight of the EX90 is its sheer size. It is 5,037 mm long, 2,113 mm wide and has a wheelbase of 2,985 mm. That gives it considerable road presence.

The EX90 may seem familiar from the outside, but the interior is all-new. For starters, most of it is finished in the 'Dawn' off-white shade. The dashboard and door panels feature black surfaces that provide contrast. Ash wood inserts and brushed aluminium accents give the interior an expensive appeal.

The EX90 gets a single-piece panoramic sunroof with photochromatic glass. This means you can make the glass opaque at the touch of a button. However, the glass is fixed and isn't paired with a fabric sunblind. This could make long drives during peak summer less comfortable for people who prefer to stay in the shade. On colder days, it will feel pleasant with unrestricted natural light coming inside.

The captain seats in the second row feel as plush as the front seats. Each seat gets an armrest and can be adjusted for recline and reach. It was not difficult to find a comfortable position in the EX90, and it also comes with two-zone climate control. The third row is wide enough for two occupants, but adults are unlikely to be comfortable over long journeys. It is best suited for children.

The good thing is that the third row folds down electronically and opens up a generous 690 litres of boot space. With all rows up, the EX90 still has 324 litres of boot space. In classic EV fashion, the SUV also gets a frunk with an additional 46 litres of storage.

This is where you get your first taste of the Volvo experience. The carmaker likes to do some things differently, and these elements feel quirky.

For starters, there is no physical key. You either use an NFC card or configure your smartphone to do the job. You get inside, select Drive, and go. It's that simple.

A small 9-inch horizontal screen acts as the driver display and is supplemented by a 13.2-inch head-up display projected onto the windscreen.

The massive 14.5-inch touchscreen is an attention-grabber and takes centre stage on the dashboard. It is vertically oriented and serves as the command centre for operating most of the SUV's functions.

Even accessing the glovebox or adjusting the ORVMs requires using the touchscreen. This takes some getting used to and can feel frustrating at first.

You get physical buttons for driver information and media functions on the steering wheel, and a control knob in the centre console for additional media controls. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker audio system. It delivers an immersive listening experience and does not break a sweat even at full volume.

In terms of specifications, the EX90 Twin Motor comes with a 106 kWh battery pack. The SUV has a claimed range of 625 km (WLTP). The twin-motor setup delivers all-wheel drive along with outputs of 456 hp and 670 Nm of torque. The EV's instant torque propels the EX90 from 0-100 kmph in just 5.5 seconds. It also has a top speed of 180 kmph.

For an SUV as big as the EX90, it is crucial to test those performance claims in real-world conditions. The good news is that the EX90 Twin Motor does not disappoint. In Performance mode, the EX90 pushed me firmly into the seat when I buried the accelerator. It was quick enough to be entertaining, but the SUV never felt out of control. In fact, it encourages you to explore its performance on long straights.

The EX90 gets four driving modes: Standard, Range, Performance, and Off-road. Additionally, the driver has four modes for steering feedback and air suspension sensitivity. This enables a tailored driving experience for each driver across different driving scenarios.

The air suspension works seamlessly alongside the active chassis and keeps the EX90 feeling planted at all times. However, steering feedback could be better when pushing the large SUV harder. Overall, the EX90 has enough grunt to keep the family comfortable during the day, and the enthusiast engaged on a solo drive. This works in favour of buyers who want to maintain a single-car garage.

Volvo's 'One-Pedal' driving feature takes getting used to, but once you have figured it out, driving the big SUV around becomes more convenient.

Volvo has set benchmarks in car safety over the decades, and the EX90 is no different.

The EX90 gets five cameras, five radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Together, these systems allow the Level 2 ADAS suite to operate with greater precision. While early EX90 units came with LiDAR-based safety tech in global markets, Volvo has discontinued it. This means the EX90 in India does not get the awkward roof bump on the front side.

The Volvo EX90 feels every bit as luxurious as its rivals in the segment. It has a prestigious logo, ample room inside, and a futuristic interior that looks and feels high-end. The twin-motor setup gives it performance credibility, and the 800V architecture delivers up to 375 kW of DC fast-charging capability.

As a luxury EV, the Volvo EX90 checks almost every box. More importantly, it has a genuine sense of occasion that makes every journey feel special. If you have a taste for the finer things in life, this one might click with you.