Volvo is not new to the fully electric SUV game, they currently produce the Volvo XC40 Recharge, which is a compact SUV. However, they are now going to be offering their largest form factor the 90 as a fully electric SUV under the branding of the EX90. Some may rejoice. However, what I’m sure they are not going to be happy with is the price. We have now entered the world of the £100K Volvo. I know inflation is high at the moment, but come on…
Table of Contents
Key Volvo EX90 Specs
- Official Towing Capacity – 2,200 kg (Twin Motor & Performance)
- Availability – Late 2023
- Price – £96,255 (Twin Motor) > £100,555 (Performance)
- Range (EV Database) – 285 miles (Twin Motor), 275 (Performance)
- Estimated Towing Range (50%) – 143 miles (Dual Motor), 138 (Performance)
- Maximum DC Charge Rate – 250 kW
- Rapid Charge 10% to 80% – 32 mins
- Check Used Volvo EX90 Specs
Volvo EX90 HP & Torque
- Twin Motor: AWD with 483 HP and 620 lb-ft of torque
- Performance: AWD with 510 HP and 671 lb-ft of torque
Volvo EX90 Towing Capabilities
For those of you who frequently browse this site looking at the latest electric cars which are rated to tow, the above specifications will appear very similar, they are almost identical to the Polestar 3.
The simple reason being, Volvo and Polestar, both owned by the Chinese company Geely have developed the platform together. Therefore, both the Polestar 3 and Volvo EX90 share similar specs.
Similar, but not identical, the Volvo EX90 may share the same battery/motors etc, but its a larger, heavier vehicle than the Polestar 3. Hence its range is less, and its efficiency is worse (we’ll get to that).
In terms of towing capacity though, both vehicles are identical. Whether its the Twin Motor EX90 or the Performance EX90, both vehicles get an official towing capacity of 2,200 kg.
So in the very flash Volvo presentation to the motoring press above, it is stated that the Volvo EX90 has a range of 600 Km (373 miles), and I cannot work out where they are quoting this from.
The WLTP range of the Volvo EX90 is only 364 miles, and no one should be referring to that as a ‘real world range’ figure.
As always, I quote the figure provided by the EV database, which for the longest-range version of the Volvo EX90 (Twin Motor) is 285 miles.
Even then, that’s only an average ‘guestimate’. Cold day, up a hill, into a headwind with rain, you wouldn’t even get close to 285 miles, but that’s the case for any electric vehicle.
My problem is for Volvo to prominently state the EX90 is capable of 600 km is just misleading. Downhill all the way to your destination, sure. Other than that, not a chance.
The Volvo EX90 Weight & Efficiency
In my article on its sibling, the Polestar 3, I’m not overall impressed, to say the least, with the efficiency of that vehicle compared to its direct competition.
So take the underpinnings of the Polestar 3 and then put an even heavier body on top, and you have an even more inefficient EV.
Seriously, I’m shocked by the efficiency figures of the EX90 Twin Motor (375 Wh per mile) and the EX90 Performance (389 Wh per mile). Just check out my article on electric car efficiency figures to see why.
Part of the reason for the poor efficiency of the Volvo EX90, I do think, is partly down to software/hardware that is not by any means industry-leading.
However, there is also another factor, the Volvo EX90 is heavy, and I mean really heavy. Unladen, it weighs over 2.8 tonnes! Seriously, that’s before you even sit in the thing or load it up!
I know I write about the benefits of the increased weight of an electric tow car and that it can provide more stable towing performance etc.
But there is a point where excessive weight is just killing your range, and the Volvo EX90 is that example, and that’s before you even try to tow with it!
My Thoughts On The Volvo EX90…
While we need more EVs with decent towing capacities, and the EX90 has a very practical towing capacity of 2,200 kg, its very heavy, very inefficient and, on top of that, very expensive.
Compared to other electric SUVs currently on the market, and even electric SUVs, which have been on the market for several years now, there are better value propositions for the money, battery size, range etc.
There are no video reviews I can reference as yet, as the Volvo EX90 is not expected to be in customer’s hands until early 2024, but when a decent review is available, I’ll reference it above.