Peter Lyon
March 18, 2025
Volvo’s all new fully electric EX90 has finally appeared from under the covers and will land in Malaysian showrooms within the next few months. Bookings for the brand-new, all-electric, seven-seater flagship SUV, together with its hybrid sibling, the XC90 facelift, are now open. Volvo Cars Malaysia (VCM) has finally given the press a sneak preview of the EX90, which is expected to start at around RM450,000.
The EX90 was first introduced in Thailand last year, and Malaysia is the second country in Asia-Pacific to launch according to VCM. Apart from its height, the all-new EX90 has expanded in nearly every way. It is now 87 mm longer, 41 mm wider, and 29 mm lower than its hybrid predecessor, even if its external appearance is still essentially the same as the XC90’s design.
The exterior has a LiDAR sensor installed on the roof and 21-inch alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires. Still employing Volvo’s signature Thor hammer design, the headlights now incorporate a pixelated design for its light signature, whose special feature is that they split open to reveal the headlights inside.
With a split vertical design on the rear windscreen, the tail light styling is similar to that of the 7-seater Volvo EX30. Inside the car employs a 25-speaker premium Bowers & Wilkins 3D sound system, a wireless phone charger on the central console, a nine-inch letterbox-style digital instrument cluster, and a wide panoramic sunroof.
Although the 6-seater is an option on the range-topping “Ultra” model in some countries including Thailand, it is unclear at this time whether VCM will offer the EX90 in that configuration or just in seven seats.
There are two powertrain options and both are all-wheel drive with two motors. Boasting a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.9 seconds, the standard Twin Motor configuration produces 408 horsepower and 770 Nm.
Contrastly, the more expensive “Twin Motor Performance” spec has a more potent dual-motor combination with 517 horsepower and 910 Nm that propels huge electric SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds while in typical Volvo fashion, its top speed is restricted to 180 km/h.
The same 111 kWh battery pack powers the electric motors in both versions, allowing the base variant to cruise up to 600 km (WLTP), while the Performance variant just undercuts that with 590 km. Battery replenishment is supported with AC charging at 11 kW and DC charging at 250 kW. The latter allows a 10%-80% charge in approximately 30 minutes.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Even though Volvo is Chinese owned, the EX90’s styling stays uniquely Swedish, which is one main reason why the brand retains its popularity around the world. The EX90 looks clean, stylish and futuristic and offers two excellent powertrains that push the envelopes of performance while coming to market at a competitive price.
