Volvo EX90 review: India drive, performance, range and everything you need to know

The Volvo EX90 is a large SUV, but it does not make a great deal of fuss about its size. Instead, it relies on the restrained design language that has become a Volvo signature, combining clean Scandinavian lines with the visual solidity you expect from a luxury SUV. It is unmistakably a Volvo, yet the absence of a conventional grille and the cleaner surfacing give it a distinctly modern character. There is an elegance to the way it sits on the road, and despite its considerable dimensions, it never looks unnecessarily imposing.

The lighting is perhaps the most distinctive element of the design. The familiar Volvo ‘Thor’s Hammer’ signature has evolved into a more intricate pixel-like arrangement, and the EX90’s headlights are as much about function as they are about form. Their ability to shape the light beam around other road users allows the car to maintain excellent illumination without simply flooding the road ahead with glare. Combined with the large 21-inch wheels, the carefully controlled surfacing and the substantial stance, they give the EX90 the sort of road presence expected of a flagship SUV without resorting to visual excess. The India-spec car uses a staggered tyre setup, with 265/45 tyres at the front and 295/40 at the rear, both Michelin Pilot Sport EVs.

That sense of restraint continues inside, where Volvo has resisted the temptation to fill the cabin with visual clutter. The dashboard is clean and contemporary, the materials feel appropriately expensive and the overall ambience is one of understated luxury rather than conspicuous opulence. There is plenty of technology on board, but it is integrated into the cabin rather than used as decoration. The EX90 is also a six-seater in India, with individual captain’s chairs in the second row, and the seats across all three rows are properly contoured. That matters because the EX90 is intended to be a genuine long-distance luxury SUV, not simply a large vehicle with an occasional-use third row.

One of the more interesting features is the panoramic glass roof, which uses electrochromic technology. At the touch of a button on the centre display, the glass can switch from clear to opaque, allowing occupants to control the amount of light entering the cabin without the need for a conventional powered blind. It is a small detail, but one that fits neatly into Volvo’s approach to luxury: technology that has a useful purpose rather than technology for its own sake.

The centrepiece of the cabin is the large 14.5-inch touchscreen, which controls virtually every major vehicle function. That approach will not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer physical switches, but the interface is logical and the screen itself is responsive and easy to navigate. With Google built in, wireless smartphone connectivity and over-the-air updates, the EX90 also feels like a vehicle designed to evolve rather than remain fixed to the specification it had when it left the factory.

The EX90’s distinctive lighting signature adds a modern touch to its otherwise restrained design.
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Special Arrangement

The standard Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system is another highlight. With 25 speakers, 1,610 watts of amplification and Dolby Atmos, it delivers a level of sound quality that is entirely appropriate for a cabin this quiet and refined. The Abbey Road Studios mode adds another layer to the experience, recreating the acoustic character of the famous London studio. In the EX90, the audio system is not simply another item on a long equipment list. It takes advantage of the car’s exceptional acoustic isolation and becomes an integral part of the luxury experience.

Underneath all this is an 800V electrical architecture and a 106kWh battery powering a twin-motor all-wheel-drive system. In India, the EX90 produces 456hp and 670Nm, enough to take it from 0-100kph in 5.5 seconds. Those numbers make it properly quick, but the character of the powertrain is less about outright acceleration than the way it delivers its performance. The response is immediate, smooth and almost entirely devoid of drama, which suits the EX90 far better than a more aggressive calibration would. Volvo claims a range of up to 625km, while a 350kW DC charger can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 22 minutes.

The EX90’s substantial dimensions are matched by a calm, confident road presence that suits its flagship status.
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Special Arrangement

The EX90’s sheer size and weight might suggest that it would feel cumbersome on the road, but that is not how it comes across from behind the wheel. The driving position is commanding, visibility is good and the combination of all-wheel drive, air suspension and well-judged steering makes the SUV surprisingly easy to place on narrower roads. The steering is light at lower speeds and gains weight as you build pace, while the controlled body movements mean there is very little of the unwelcome roll that can sometimes accompany a large, softly sprung SUV.

The air suspension plays an important role in that balance. In its normal setting, it provides the kind of cushioned ride quality expected of a luxury SUV, absorbing broken surfaces without allowing the body to float excessively. The system can also raise the vehicle by 40mm when additional ground clearance is required. With the ability to alter the ride height and multiple drive modes, the EX90 is more versatile than its polished exterior might suggest, although its natural environment remains the highway rather than serious off-road terrain.

Volvo’s flagship electric SUV feels surprisingly agile and approachable despite its considerable size.
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Special Arrangement

What is particularly impressive is the way the EX90 manages to feel substantial without ever feeling heavy from behind the wheel. The ride is composed, the cabin remains exceptionally quiet and the suspension does a good job of isolating occupants from the imperfections of the road. The brakes, too, are well judged, offering a progressive response that makes it easy to modulate the car’s considerable mass. There is a reassuring solidity to the way the EX90 slows down, changes direction and settles back into a straight line.

Safety, inevitably, is central to the EX90’s appeal. Volvo has equipped the India-spec car with an extensive ADAS package using five cameras, five radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors, supporting functions such as Pilot Assist, collision avoidance and other driver assistance systems. Unlike some global versions of the EX90, the Indian car does not get LiDAR, but the overall sensor suite remains comprehensive. The important point is that these systems are designed to support the driver rather than overwhelm the experience, and the EX90 retains the calm, predictable character that defines the car elsewhere.

There is also a sense that Volvo has understood what the flagship position of the EX90 requires. It is not trying to be the fastest electric SUV, nor is it chasing the kind of visual drama associated with some of its newer rivals. Instead, it concentrates on refinement, comfort, technology and the feeling of security that has always been central to the Volvo proposition. That makes the EX90 a rather different interpretation of electric luxury, one that feels more mature than attention-seeking.

The EX90 combines 456hp and 670Nm with a smooth, refined power delivery.
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Special Arrangement

Ultimately, the EX90 gets most of the fundamentals right. It looks elegant without being anonymous, has an interior that feels genuinely premium, offers serious performance without compromising refinement and brings together technology in a way that generally enhances rather than complicates the experience. Its dimensions may appear intimidating on paper, but the driving experience is considerably more approachable. The one factor that will determine how compelling the package is in India is its price. Get that right, and Volvo has a very credible flagship electric SUV on its hands.

Expected Price: 90 lakh – 1 Cr (ex showroom)

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Published – September 09, 2026 10:00 am IST