Volvo EX90 The Volvo EX90 is the Swedish brand's new all-electric flagship. Picture: Supplied
Image: Supplied
The Volvo EX90 has landed in South Africa, and it packs some impressive technology. But is it worth the money? We attended the local launch in Stellenbosch to find out.
It's not every day that Volvo launches a new flagship SUV, and in all fairness the EX90 is a lot more than just 'new'.
Heralding the company's SPA2 platform for electric vehicles, it takes the company's battery-powered ambitions to the luxury SUV space, while introducing a new electronic architecture. The EX90 is essentially a super-computer on wheels.
But it doesn't replace the XC90 just yet, with the former flagship gaining an imminent facelift as it prepares to soldier on in hybrid form.
Styling is modern, but the rear design won't suit all tastes. Picture: Supplied Styling is modern, but the rear design won't suit all tastes. Picture: Supplied
Image: Supplied
The all-electric EX90 is a more upmarket proposition, with a steep price tag of R2.65 million, and Volvo readily admits that this is a halo product rather than a volume seller.
That deep dig into your well-lined pockets buys a full-house product though, complete with the flagship Twin Power Performance powertrain and enough features to sink a cruise ship. Which the EX90 is, to a degree, tipping the scales at over 2.8 tonnes.
It's surprisingly brisk, considering its bulk, as local media found out on a short 20km route in the vicinity of the launch venue near Stellenbosch this week.
Its twin electric motors, one on each axle, conspire to produce 380kW and 910Nm, which is enough to haul it from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds, according to claims.
Power delivery is incredibly smooth, and as a result this vehicle is deceptively fast. It doesn't push you back in your chair like its smaller pocket rocket of a sibling, the EX30, but it has impressive thrust nonetheless and overtakes slower vehicles like a hungry cheetah.
The EX90 has Lidar system and numerous radars and cameras. Picture: Supplied The EX90 has Lidar system and numerous radars and cameras. Picture: Supplied
Image: Supplied
It's oh-so-quiet too, and the standard air suspension delivers a cushy ride quality. It also feels relatively agile for its size, thanks largely to the low centre of gravity resulting from floor-mounted batteries.
On that topic, the EX90 is juiced by a 111 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which enables a claimed range of up to 751km in urban conditions and 604km on the combined cycle.
Plugged into a 250kW fast charger, the EX90 can charge from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes, Volvo says.
While its advanced crumple zones and hefty kerb weight will keep you safe, sadly to the detriment of occupants in lighter vehicles also involved in the collision, Volvo has really pulled out all the stops to ensure that this vehicle avoids that scenario altogether.
To that end, it has a full array of radars and cameras as well as a Lidar system, hence that taxi-like hump on the roof, all acting as beady eyes for the comprehensive suite of driver assist features that come standard on this vehicle.
The system scans the road hundreds of metres ahead to detect potential hazards, reducing the chances of a crash by around 9%, according to Volvo. That number would, of course, be much higher if the driver was concentrating too..
The cabin is packed with features and tech. Picture: Supplied The cabin is packed with features and tech. Picture: Supplied
Image: Supplied
The EX90's computing systems are powered by Nvidia Drive technology, and the large 14.5-inch vertical touchscreen runs Android software, seamlessly integrating Google applications like Assistant and Maps. The Google system also allows certain vehicle functions to be operated remotely, via the user's phone.
Unlike the Volvo EX30, the EX90 also has a small digital instrument cluster, which is helpful.
But as with its smaller sibling, there is an almost complete lack of buttons and physical controls in the cabin. Even the glovebox is operated via the screen. Although one can become accustomed to the infotainment system over time, we feel that Volvo has simply buried too many essential functions into the vast array of screen icons and menus. It's not an uncommon practice nowadays, but we feel the carmaker has taken this minimalistic approach too far.
The cabin, as you'd expect, appears minimalistic and uncluttered, and I was impressed with the general build quality, although the overall ambience is not quite in Range Rover territory as far as I'm concerned.
It is packed with features, and to that end EX90 buyers can look forward to a fantastic Bowers and Wilkins audio system, as well as head-up display, wireless phone charging and extremely comfortable 'chairs', upholstered in high-quality synthetic leather, and featuring a massage function and electric adjustment for the front occupants.
The cabin offers spacious seating for up to seven occupants, across three rows.
The EX90 is an impressive, albeit expensive vehicle, but apart from the price one potential elephant in the room is Volvo's current restructuring process in South Africa.
Although the local importer has not released full details on the restructure, numerous sources indicate that more than half of its dealers are closing their doors, meaning the brand will only have representation in the major centres of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.
Volvo representatives have indicated to IOL that customers living outside of these centres, who currently have vehicles under plan or warranty, will be adequately "looked after", but a comprehensive customer plan has yet to be formally announced.
IOL
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