By Eoin Cuttle
Late last year Volvo slashed almost €18,000 off the entry-level price of its new flagship EX90. That may seem bizarre without any context, but frankly it was necessary.
The original price tag of the EX90 in 2025 was from €117,910 before delivery and related charges. Along with a clean Scandi design, that got you a twin motor version on a 400-volt system with a claimed range of 600km and a DC charge speed of 250kW.
Enough to tempt shoppers into an electric seven-seater? I'm not so sure. Particularly when the likes of Kia and Hyundai offer the same for considerably less.
Volvo did act accordingly by making the EX90 more affordable. I'll refrain from saying cheaper as it is still a seven-figure car. The 2026 model year EX90 offers more choice in terms of power and tech. The pricing structure is Single Motor Plus from €99,895; Twin Motor Plus from €106,995; Twin Motor Ultra from €119,895; and Twin Motor Performance Ultra from €124,895. That's all before delivery charges.
I tested the latter. It should go without saying that the EX90 is the electric version of the XC90, a model that has done very well for Volvo over the years in petrol and diesel guises, and one that I have a lot of time for.
The main point of note for 2026 is that the EX90 is now powered by the Volvo’s new 800-volt electric system, promising faster charging and sharper collision avoidance and driver support features. It does seem peculiar that one of the safest cars in the world weighs almost three-tonnes. Safe for its occupants, but what about everyone outside the steel shell?
The lidar system that sits above the windscreen uses infrared light waves to collect information about the car's surroundings and can detect pedestrians up to 250-metres away. Furthermore, Nvidia computer chips run Volvo's in-house software to create a real-time, 360-degree view of the world.
It may sound intrusive, but Volvo has done a good job in letting the driver feel in full control while also keeping any annoying bings and bongs to a minimum.
Unfortunately, the EX90 has fewer physical buttons compared to the XC90, with all functionality controlled through the central 14.5-inch screen. This includes opening the glove box, adjusting the wing mirrors and the steering wheel. The EX90 is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay, which is an improvement over its combustion sibling. I also found the keyless entry tech to be very temperamental.
Volvo quotes a range of 600km from the 111kWh battery, but expect around 480km this time of year. The car didn't always charge as fast as one would hope. It struggled to achieve speeds over 100kW from a 350kW Ionity charger, for example. It also has 11kW of AC charging on tap (home charging limited to 7.2kW ).
With the third row not in use, the EX90 offers a boot space of 650-litres (310-litres with all seats up ). A 46-litre frunk is also included. As with most, if not all seven seaters, leg room in the third row is snug and is more suited to children. Second row passengers do enjoy ample space.
Despite its larger 22-inch wheels, the 517hp Volvo EX90 is an excellent cruiser and offers a soft ride. There is minimum roll through corners and overall visibility is excellent.
While Volvo may call the EX90 its new flagship, I'm not so sure it is the seamless passing down of the torch from the XC90 that the brand would have hoped. The latter still feels a more complete product.
