When I drove the compact Volvo EX30 last year, I thought it was probably the best EV I’d driven to date. It was right-sized, well-priced and properly equipped. Then it got delayed for the U.S. market because initial models were being built in China. (Insert sad trombone.) Now, the Swedish automaker has another chance to make waves with the 2025 Volvo EX90 – and there’s no chance it will be delayed since it’s being built right here in the U.S. of A.
In fact, production has already begun at the Charleston, South Carolina, plant. Pre-orders are available now, and deliveries will begin by the end of the year.
While the seven-passenger EX90 is quite a bit bigger (and pricier!) than the EX30, I’d argue it’s still a BFD.*
The 3-row EV options
When you look at the EV market, there aren’t currently a lot of three-row options, and there are really only three midsize three-row SUVs: Kia EV9, Rivian R1S and now the Volvo EX90. Outside of that, you have a couple full-size SUVs, a small SUV and a minivan. And their pricing and range, as you can see in the chart below, is all over the place.
2025 Volvo EX90 compared to other 3-row EVs
| Base price | Range | 10-80% charge time | Vehicle Class | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes EQB | $53,050 | 246-333 miles | 32 min | Small SUV | |||
| Kia EV9 | $54,900 | 230-304 miles | 24 min | Midsize SUV | |||
| VW ID.Buzz | $59,995 | 231-234 miles | 28 min | Minivan | |||
| Rivian R1S | $75,900 | 258-410 miles | 30 min | Midsize SUV | |||
| Volvo EX90 | $79,885 | 300-310 miles | 30 min | Midsize SUV | |||
| Mercedes EQS | $104,400 | 285-305 miles | 31 min | Full-size SUV | |||
| Cadillac Escalade IQ | $127,700 | 460 miles | 36 min | Full-size SUV | |||
In many ways, EX90 hits a sweet spot of excellent minimum range and included amenities. But the price might have you doing a double take. Especially when the R1S, which could also be deemed a luxury SUV EV, has a lower base price. But I will say, when you increase the range to be on par with the EX90, the R1S is more expensive.
300+ mile range
Right now, 300 miles of range seems to be the desired minimum, and all trims and levels of the 2025 Volvo EX90 hit that. Plus, the 10% to 80% public fast-charge time is about 30 minutes, which is also the current standard.
Though we didn’t have enough time to do a true range test in the EX90, I will say that I have previously driven several Volvo EVs over longer distances, one included a road trip from Denver to Seattle, and I found the range in those vehicles to be largely accurate. Plus, the range estimates the vehicle gave for percentage of battery at arrival were spot on. More spot on than any EV from other automakers I’ve driven, actually.
The 14.5-inch screen on the center stack of the 2025 Volvo EX90 houses everything from maps to steering wheel adjustments. (Photo by Jill Ciminillo)
Quiet, smooth, fast
The 2025 Volvo EX90s we were driving were the Twin-Motor Performances models in the Ultra trim level. That means we were driving the top trim with the most performance, and it was everything I wanted from an electric vehicle. It was fast off the line, offered smooth and seamless passing acceleration and had an incredibly quiet cabin.
We didn’t test the 4.7-second 0-to-60-MPH time, but there was plenty of oomph to push you into the seat when you put the pedal to the floor.
The EX90 also offers a one-pedal driving option. This allows you to speed up and slow down to a stop simply by the pressure you apply to the acceleratory pedal. The system is aggressive on the EX90, and it took me a hot minute to get used to it and how quickly it would slow down when taking your foot off the pedal. But I really grew to like it, especially when we were driving on some twistier roads. My driving partner, however, hated it and turned it off while he was driving. So, it comes down to personal preference, and I like that Volvo gives you options.
Cool but sometimes complicated tech
The 2025 Volvo EX90 is packed with tech from power-folding third-row seats to the Google built-in operating system and wireless Apple CarPlay. For the most part, I liked it. The large 14.5-inch screen is easy to navigate with quick hot buttons for menu items and the HVAC system.
But, yes, pretty much everything you do is through the screen. Your headlight on/off button is in the screen. Opening the glove box? That’s through the screen as well. Your steering wheel adjustment? Also through the screen. Oh, and your side mirrors? Yep, that’s through the screen.
While the first two didn’t bother me – and the lack of manual operations in general didn’t bother me – the last two items are annoying. When I brought this up to some of the team at Volvo, they said: Well, you set it once and then you never have to touch it again. Me: Spoken like a dude who wears the same pair of shoes every day. I wear Converse flat-soled sneakers, running shoes with padded soles, 4-inch wedges, 5-inch heels with a platform throughout any given week. That means a different pair of shoes every time I’m behind the wheel, so I’m adjusting and re-adjusting my seat, steering wheel and side mirrors essentially every time I drive. Having to tap, tap into the screen every time I drive would get old fast. Real fast.
One of my favorite bits of tech, though, centered around the 360-degree camera. In addition to giving high-def views surrounding the vehicle, it gives you an actual number in inches away from an obstacle that you are approaching. That’s useful information in a tight parking situation.
One of the great features on the 2025 Volvo EX90 was the high-def around-view camera. (Photo by Jill Ciminillo)
Subscription redux
I’ve been on a tear lately about subscription fees in cars. You spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle and then you have to spend $15 to $50 a month to get cool features. No, thank you. Though the 2025 Volvo EX90 isn’t subscription free, the number of subscriptions are at a minimum. Essentially you have two: Google built-in and Wi-Fi. You do get a four-year trial, so if you’re leasing, the impending subscriptions won’t matter to you.
But it’s the things that are always going to be free that are important: using your phone as a key and remotely accessing your vehicle through the app (think pre-conditioning and lock/unlock functions). A lot of automakers make these subscription-only features.
Furthermore, the EX90 has Apple CarPlay, which means you will always have a navigation option even after your Google built-in (and thus Google Maps) subscription expires.
2025 Volvo EX90 pricing
For the 2025 model year, you essentially have two trims (Plus and Ultra) and two powertrain options (Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance.
Pricing with options spans about $10k and is as follows:
- Plus Twin Motor: $79,995
- Ultra Twin Motor: $84,345
- Plus Twin Motor Performance: $84,995
- Ultra Twin Motor Performance: $89,345
The Plus trims will come standard with adaptive cruise control with lane centering, parking assist, an integrated booster cushion in the middle row, Thor’s hammer headlights, the ability to use your phone as the key, an air purifier, a fixed panoramic roof, Bose premium audio, a head-up display and 20-inch wheels. The Ultra adds air suspension, active chassis, soft-close doors, massaging front seats, a puddle light and 21-inch wheels. Optional on the Ultra are the 22-inch wheels and Bowers & Wilkins audio, which is awesome.
The vehicles we tested were completely tricked out and had an as-tested price of $93,345.
The 2025 Volvo EX90 has a standard bench seat in the middle row, but captain’s chairs are available. (Photo by Jill Ciminillo)
Made in the USA
People love to point out that Volvo is currently owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a company based in China. But this is what it is to be a company in the global economy in 2024. Ram is owned by Stellantis, whose headquarters is in the Netherlands. And Buick, owned by General Motors builds the Envision SUV in China. I could go on, but you get this gist. If you question how “American” a brand is these days, you only have to look at the American-Made Index from Cars.com, which states that Honda produces the most American truck.
But I digress, my point: The Charleston plant shows a commitment on Volvo’s part to build American cars and contribute to an American economy. It’s been open since 2018, and it currently builds the S60 sedan in addition to the EX90. It has the capacity to build up to 150,000 vehicles – and that means it will be building vehicles not only for the American market but also to export since it only sold 128,701 cars in the U.S. in 2023.
The bottom line
At a luxury level, I think the 2025 Volvo EX90 is well equipped and rightly priced. I appreciate the subscription redux, and I loved the available Bowers & Wilkins audio system. This is a really great vehicle from Volvo, and I can’t wait to see this American-made vehicle on the streets in the U.S.
*BFD = Big F*cking Deal
2025 Volvo EX90 photo gallery
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