Volvo EX90 review

Overview

This review covers the UK 2025.5 EX90 Twin Motor Ultra with seven seats, the early 111 kWh nominal battery and all-wheel drive. It is not the more powerful Twin Motor Performance and it does not inherit the later electrical architecture or charging figures. The EX90 is most persuasive for households that regularly carry more than five people and have reliable home or work charging. Even then, check whether the purchase price, size and remaining warranty suit your actual use. The powertrain is only one part of the decision: software, family access, charging on habitual routes and rear luggage room with all seats occupied are equally important.

Exterior and interior

The tall tail and long wheelbase are useful for packaging, but they make this a large vehicle to manoeuvre in an ordinary UK car park. The interior favours a small number of visible controls and a large portrait display. The design can feel airy and calm, yet common settings ask more of the screen than drivers coming from an older XC90 may expect. Sit in every row and try the features you adjust most, with the car stationary. Check the condition of pale trim, rear seat catches and door sills. Test the view around the pillars and the camera display before assuming that the electronics solve every visibility issue.

Practicality

The MY25.5 guide lists 310 litres to the glass line with all seven seats in use and 655 litres with five seats in use. Those are not roof-high or front-storage figures. The difference matters if every passenger needs a bag. Try the third row with the people who will actually ride there; the ease of stepping through and the support under knees are harder to assess from a specification table. Fit child seats before relying on access to row three. Check loaded weight and the plate before planning to combine seven passengers and a trailer, and measure your garage with enough room to reach the charge port.

Driving experience

The EX90 is at its best when asked to cover distance smoothly. A quiet powertrain and substantial cabin encourage a measured pace rather than hard cornering. The mass is still noticeable when you have to stop, turn sharply or place the car between kerbs. Make the test drive include a tight bay, poor tarmac and an ordinary motorway run instead of judging it only on acceleration. The feel of the brakes, the interaction with regenerative braking and the ride over short bumps are worth checking. Passengers in the third row may judge noise and movement differently, so take them along if the layout is a deciding factor.

Performance

The standard Twin Motor is rated at 300 kW, about 402 bhp, with power sent to both axles. Volvo quotes 5.9 seconds to 100 km/h, approximately 62 mph, in the early UK guide. That is already a substantial amount of performance for a seven-seater. There is little reason to buy the Performance version unless the extra response itself is important to you. On a test drive, prioritise smooth pull-away, predictable braking and how the power is delivered in a safe merge. Do not use the acceleration figure for newer variants when comparing older adverts. Check the exact build, battery and drivetrain rather than assuming the badge has stayed unchanged.

Fuel economy

The MY25.5 guide lists roughly 372–374 miles of combined rated range and 21.1–21.2 kWh per 100 km, about 2.94 miles per kWh. These are WLTP comparison numbers, not what the car must deliver in winter or while towing. The early battery is 107 kWh usable, and Volvo's approximately 30-minute 10–80 per cent rapid-charge figure requires suitable conditions and a compatible 250 kW charger. Rate varies with temperature, state of charge and the charger. Plan actual motorway stops with a reserve and use your normal route, charging tariff and payload. The example energy budget below uses 2.7 mi/kWh rather than assuming the maximum test-cycle range.

Reliability

Long-term evidence for this early model year remains limited. Software and hardware release timing make the car in front of you more important than a demonstration at launch. Ask Volvo for the installed version, completed campaigns, hardware changes and what remains outstanding by VIN. Check if the owner app, both key methods and home charging work, and request battery and underbody inspection if there is any history of impact. A remaining warranty helps only if the particular issue is covered, so read the limits and transfer terms. Our limited-confidence judgement is an editorial assessment of ownership uncertainty, not an observed failure rate or a prediction about the high-voltage battery.

Safety

Euro NCAP awarded the EX90 five stars under its 2025 protocol. It tested an EX90 Plus in left-hand-drive form and explicitly lists the right-hand-drive seven-seat Twin Motor in the rating's applicability table. That is broader than one crash-test car, but not a claim that every optional feature was tested on a UK Ultra. The manufacturer lists driver monitoring and assistance equipment; these do not replace an attentive driver. Verify software and camera or windscreen repair history, and use the UK recall checker for the registration. Ask Volvo which campaigns have been completed and check that your child restraints fit the seats and positions you intend to use.

Technology and features

The central screen uses Google built-in for navigation and other apps, which is distinct from projecting an Android phone via Android Auto. Early delivery software and subsequent updates can make two cars with the same trim behave differently. Volvo's period specification lists wireless CarPlay, but check that it is active and test both your actual phone and any claimed Android Auto support rather than relying on a general listing. Try camera views, parking aids, the main temperature controls and charge scheduling. If a feature depends on an online subscription, check its expiry and account transfer. Ask the seller to remove their vehicle account and keys as part of handover.

Running costs

Our £55,000–£78,000 November 2026 purchase band is an editorial planning assumption, not a valuation or a count of live stock. At ten thousand miles and assumed 2.7 mi/kWh, adding ten per cent for charging losses and paying £0.25/kWh at home gives roughly £1,020 for electricity. Add a £600 illustrative tax allowance and £550–£1,250 for servicing, tyres and wear to budget around £2,150–£2,900. Verify the actual registration-specific tax, any applicable supplement and the tariff. Public charging can materially increase spend. Insurance, financing, depreciation and exceptional repairs are outside the range, and home charge-point installation is a separate one-off expense.

Advantages and disadvantages