Comfort, Luxury, and the Future of Electric SUVs

Electric luxury SUVs are rapidly becoming the new normal. Nearly every premium brand now offers some form of large electric family hauler promising silent performance, futuristic technology, and ultra-modern interiors. But as the segment becomes increasingly crowded, many EVs also risk feeling strangely similar. And honestly, I have never really considered myself a full EV fanatic.

I still love the sound and character of a proper combustion engine — the pops, bangs, and mechanical drama that make driving feel emotional. But there are still a few electric vehicles capable of surprising you, and the Volvo EX90 certainly managed to do that. The EX90 is designed around comfort, refinement, and effortless cruising. Yet despite its comfort-focused nature, the performance still impressed me.

Does The EX90 Still Feel Like A Proper Volvo?

First Impressions Matter

That said, the EX90 did disappoint me in a few areas, particularly regarding certain technology features and the overall cabin execution. As someone who adores the Swedish marque, I expected a little more. Volvo has consistently delivered beautifully balanced luxury SUVs over the years, especially with vehicles like the XC90 and XC60. Funny enough, I recently spent time in the refreshed 2026 XC90 T8 and, soon, the updated XC60, and they still follow the same winning recipe: outstanding comfort, excellent air suspension, understated luxury, and that brilliant plug-in hybrid setup combining a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with electric motors.

And honestly, to me, that package still makes more sense than paying significantly more for the fully electric EX90. According to Volvo USA, the EX90 Twin Motor Performance Ultra starts at roughly $92,000, while the refreshed XC90 T8 Ultra sits closer to the mid-$80,000 range. Yet despite the pricing gap, the XC90 T8 Ultra still feels warmer, more engaging, and ultimately more complete as a luxury SUV experience.

Understated Scandinavian Presence

But don’t get me wrong, the EX90 still carries clear traces of Volvo DNA. At first glance, the EX90 feels familiar. Despite being a new flagship EV, the design still clearly belongs to Volvo. The overall shape remains clean, avoiding the aggressive styling trends many luxury EVs now rely on.

Slim Thor’s Hammer LED lighting signatures, smooth surfacing, flush door handles, and restrained proportions give the EX90 a distinctly Scandinavian presence. My test unit arrived in a sleek black finish in top-spec Twin Motor Performance Ultra trim, riding on large multi-spoke alloy wheels that perfectly complemented the SUV’s minimalist styling. And honestly, that restraint works beautifully. Where many electric SUVs attempt to look futuristic purely for attention, the EX90 feels mature and confident.

What Powers The Volvo EX90

Twin-Motor Electric Performance With Family Comfort

With 510 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque from its dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, the EX90 certainly never lacked performance despite its comfort-focused personality. The Twin Motor Performance Ultra version of the EX90delivers exactly the kind of effortless acceleration buyers now expect from large luxury EVs. Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, allowing the EX90 to surge forward with surprising urgency, considering its enormous size and weight. Volvo claims a 0-60 mph time of around 4.7 seconds, although Car and Driver managed an even quicker 4.1-second sprint during testing. It’s undeniably quick, yet the way it delivers performance feels incredibly smooth and controlled rather than overly dramatic.

The available air suspension plays a major role in shaping that character. Ride quality is superb, effortlessly soaking up rough road surfaces and imperfections with composure and tact. Around town and on longer highway journeys alike, the EX90 feels calm, planted, and wonderfully refined. Of course, the EX90’s weight never fully disappears. Like many large electric SUVs weighing well over 6,000 pounds, the Volvo carries substantial mass due to its battery pack and overall dimensions. Under harder braking or quicker direction changes, you occasionally become aware that this remains a very heavy vehicle underneath all the refinement.

Electric consumption also varies depending on driving conditions. The EX90 Twin Motor Performance is EPA-rated for around 300 miles of range in the United States according to Volvo and independent testing, although real-world highway testing can reduce that figure slightly. During my time with the EX90, the vehicle displayed roughly 280 miles of remaining range, which honestly felt more than usable in everyday driving. More importantly, I never really found myself falling victim to range anxiety, something that remains a major concern for many buyers transitioning into EV ownership.

Volvo EX90 Model Line-Up And Specifications

Inside The EX90’s Luxury-Focused Cabin

Scandinavian Simplicity Meets High-Tech Luxury

The calmness, safety-first philosophy, and Scandinavian elegance are all still present. It just feels slightly colder and more digital than the Volvos many enthusiasts originally fell in love with. Inside, my test unit looked wonderfully clean and minimalist, although some buyers may not appreciate the heavy use of recycled materials and sustainable upholstery throughout the cabin.

Volvo calls it modern Scandinavian sustainability, but in certain areas, it can occasionally feel cheaper than the price tag suggests. And I even heard slight rattles in the cabin while driving, not something you would expect from a car costing over $90,000. Even the XC90 T8 Recharge felt slightly better insulated in certain situations, which honestly surprised me.

Then there is the infotainment system. Powered by Google, the gigantic 14.5-inch touchscreen controls almost everything — from mirror adjustments and steering wheel settings to climate functions and various vehicle menus. Aside from a physical volume knob, there are very few traditional buttons left inside the cabin. That minimalist approach certainly looks futuristic, but it can sometimes feel slightly overwhelming and distracting while driving, as I found myself scanning through menus simply to adjust the mirrors while on the road.

Safety And Technology

Nonetheless, wireless Apple CarPlay worked seamlessly, and the optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system was exceptional. Crisp, clear, and beautifully balanced, it remains one of the best audio systems I’ve recently experienced in a luxury SUV. The EX90 also comes packed with advanced driver-assistance systems, including Pilot Assist adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Information System, Lane Keeping Aid, Collision Avoidance, Intersection Autobrake, and Park Pilot Assist. Additional features include seven airbags, wireless smartphone charging, Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports, and a minimalist digital display setup designed to reduce driver distraction.

And honestly, one of my favorite features was surprisingly simple: the heated seats and steering wheel. Those small luxury touches make cold winter mornings feel wonderfully relaxing. Still, it is safe to say the EX90 remains incredibly well-appointed. Yet it occasionally misses some of the warmth and luxury credentials that originally made me fall in love with the brand. And in reality, it approaches luxury in a very different way from the Volvos many of us grew up loving.

What The EX90 Feels Like To Drive

Relaxed, Silent, And Surprisingly Composed

So I was eager to take the EX90 on a long trip, but I ended up keeping things short and sweet — about 63 miles out to a local eatery with my parents and family. We easily loaded everyone on board — two kids and four adults, including myself as the driver — and made our way out. It’s eerily quiet and absolutely brutal if you switch it into Performance mode. It really livens up the car, and the way it propels itself forward is seriously quick, though not in a spine-bending sort of way. I like the Volvo EX90 for its composure. The range was decent, too. I charged up enough for the trip and back, and frankly, it never felt like a hassle, which surprised me because range anxiety is still a real thing with EVs.

One feature I did not particularly like was the panoramic glass roof. In South Africa, the heat can be absolutely stifling. With no proper way to fully close it off, Volvo basically decided we all had to be subjected to blazing sunlight filtering into the cabin. Not ideal. Nonetheless, we cruised and wafted along beautifully, and after stopping for lunch, I got to thinking: who exactly is this car really meant for?

Not to bore you now, but I suspect it ultimately exists as a luxury EV first and foremost. It’s refined, calm, smooth, and technically impressive, but emotionally, it does feel slightly gutless at times. I recently spent time in the Alfa Romeo Junior EV, Alfa Romeo’s compact electric crossover sold in Europe and other global markets, and funny enough, that little thing actually had some playful character despite its electric powertrain, even with the artificial EV sounds pumped through the speakers.

That left me wondering why Volvo did not engineer a little more excitement into the EX90. But in all fairness, it still serves a great purpose. It’s spacious, calming, luxurious, safe, and incredibly easy to live with. Still, deep down my heart leans more toward saying: just purchase the Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid instead — you may thank yourself later.

The EX90’s Pitfalls And Final Thoughts

Why Volvo’s EV Flagship Misses The Mark

The EX90 is not a bad vehicle. In fact, objectively speaking, it’s an incredibly impressive piece of engineering. It’s spacious, refined, safe, fast, and packed with technology. For families seeking a calming, luxurious EV experience, it absolutely delivers on its promise.

And against rivals like the BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Audi Q8 e-tron, Tesla Model X, and Rivian R1S, the EX90 approaches luxury in a very different way. Rather than chasing aggressive styling, outrageous acceleration figures, or overwhelming occupants with flashy technology, Volvo instead focuses heavily on calmness, comfort, safety, and Scandinavian simplicity.

That is also where my biggest issue lies. The EX90 feels so focused on minimalism and digital sophistication that it occasionally forgets to feel emotional. And that matters because Volvo, at least historically, always managed to blend luxury with warmth and character. The EX90 still carries traces of that old Volvo magic. The comfort is there. The safety is there. The effortless long-distance refinement is there too. But emotionally, something feels slightly missing.

And maybe that is simply the reality of where modern luxury EVs are heading. Still, if you want one of the most refined electric family SUVs currently on sale, the EX90 deserves serious consideration. But if you still crave a little mechanical soul and emotional connection from your luxury SUV, honestly, the XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid may remain the sweeter spot in Volvo’s lineup for now.

Sources: Volvo USA, Edmunds, IIHS, Kelly Blue Book