The 2025 Volvo EX90 brings all-electric 3-row luxury that’ll cost you

Volvo has gone all in on electric with its first all-electric three-row SUV, but the 2025 EX90 is still an expensive version of the popular XC90. While spacious and premium, it needs to do a lot of convincing in performance and fuel efficiency to win over reluctant EV chargers.

As an all-new model for 2025, the EX90 stands out as its own electric SUV, not just an electrified version of the existing XC90. But will its new tech stack and improved user interface be enough to justify a high starting cost for what’s ultimately a family vehicle that had to cut some features before rolling out?

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Looking through the pros and cons helps flesh out a better picture of the EX90’s position in the Volvo lineup and where it stands as a premium electric SUV overall.

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2025 Volvo EX90 Pros

Three rows with battery power

Volvo’s foray into all-electric options has been fairly tame with the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge crossover and SUV. The EX90 spices things up with its big size (and big price): three rows with ample leg and headroom and cargo space.

It offers 300 to 310 miles of battery range on a single charge (depending on wheel size), an improvement from the previous all-electric options that didn’t break the 300-mile mark. With a 111-kWh battery, it’s big enough to handle road trips and everything in between with all-wheel drive to boot. Plus it’s fast-charging capable.

For “fuel” efficiency, it blows the mild hybrid XC90 out of the water with 84 MPGe combined. The traditional version barely escapes out of the high 20s for combined miles per gallon. Even with the plug-in version, the XC90 only makes 58 MPGe combined.

The Volvo EX90 has Swedish roots but is made in the U.S.

The EX90 is produced at the Charleston, South Carolina Volvo plant, making it unique with its “Made in America” label. It also means it could qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit unlike other Europe- or Asia-made Volvos. Sliding right under the $80,000 price cap, the base version would let eligible customers get a discount.

Sustainable, premium seating makes the cabin a premium place to be

The interior is noticeably slick in a barebones, high-end way. With a digital driver info panel behind the wheel and a standalone touchscreen in the center console, the EX90 is refined and uncluttered.

The seating matches this aesthetic with sustainable materials: cloth Nordico or Wool Blend in demure, calming tones. Volvo developed Nordico as a leather alternative and it’s made from recycled polyester.

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The EX90 is no slouch in the performance department

The performance of a bigger SUV usually suffers, but with the electric drivetrain, the EX90 keeps up. The base Twin Motor has 402 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque, while the Performance version hits 509 horses and 671 pound-feet. The Performance gets to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds (the base is a second slower).

Compare that to the gas-powered XC90 (over 7 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph) and the performance metrics may sway you to the EV side.

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2025 Volvo EX90 Cons

Delays and added costs harmed the EX90's release

Next to Volvo’s two other EVs, the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge, the price tag is shocking. Starting at $79,995, the EX90 is playing much closer to Mercedes-Benz and Audi territory than its electric cousins (the C40 starts at $53,600 while the XC40 Recharge is $52,450 to start). The upcoming (and also delayed) EX30 will go the other direction as a compact SUV with a more digestible price.

When deciding between the all-electric, mild hybrid, plug-in, or gas-powered, the EV price tag is overwhelming. The PHEV version starts at $71,900 but the mild hybrids start at $58,595, which feels like a deep discount for the same seven-seat arrangement.

Now a moot point, but the EX90 was originally expected in early 2024 with a $76,995 starting price. It has finally started deliveries in the past month, but with some features missing like bi-directional charging and a bumped-up starting price.

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No wireless Apple CarPlay may be a dealbreaker for some

For a premium vehicle, it can be frustrating when the tech feels clunky. The 14.5-inch center touchscreen is a mostly seamless operation with Google built-in and an updated user interface that adapts to driving habits and commonly used buttons.

But with an Android-based system comes the frustrating reality that some customers from rival Apple aren’t going to be set up as desired, meaning no wireless connection from iPhone to CarPlay. While not a big deal for initial deliveries, it exposes some of the cut corners for a luxury model.

Not-so-subtle LiDAR equipment that isn’t fully cooked

It feels superfluous, maybe because it is, but the EX90 houses a compartment on the roof above the windshield for its Luminar LiDAR sensor suite. It’s overkill in the sense that it detects things extremely well for crash prevention, but Volvo’s safety systems have always excelled in this regard without the bulky hardware. Now the Swedish brand is forcing a high-compute system into its flagship EV that gives almost the same information as before.

The LiDAR system will be crucial for more autonomous driving features, but the EX90 isn’t at that stage quite yet. The vehicle and the Luminar tech are still in learning mode. It’s similar to Elon Musk’s decision to offer hands-free driving capable software in Tesla EVs before regulation and vehicle ability were up to speed.

Final thoughts on the Volvo EX90

For families determined to go all-electric but don’t want to sacrifice space or seating, the EX90 beckons. It fulfills all the needs of the popular XC90 in the SUV category and keeps things premium and classy with its Volvo styling. While it hits all expectations for an EV like performance, range, and charging, it’s a pricey upgrade especially with some tech and other features still missing.

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