Volvo EX90 2025 Review

The Malaysian pure electric midsize SUV market in 2025 is witnessing a new wave of competition. The needs of family users for three-row space, range reliability, and luxury features are continuously rising. As the flagship electric SUV of the brand, the Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin, with its 517PS dual-motor all-wheel drive, official range of 623km, and 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system as core selling points, precisely caters to the high-end family user demands. This test drive will focus on its space practicality, dynamic performance, and intelligent features to verify whether this model can stand out in the 440,000 RM pricing segment.

From the exterior, the EX90 Ultra Twin continues Volvo's family-style minimalist design language. The overall lines are sleek and smooth. Its 5037mm length and 2985mm wheelbase not only ensure the demand for three-row space but also prevent it from appearing bulky. The front adopts a closed shield-shaped grille, and the surrounding vertical LED light strips connect with the Thor's Hammer headlights, forming a highly recognizable design. The body side waistline extends from the front fender to the taillights, paired with 21-inch dual five-spoke wheels (front 265/45 R21, rear 295/40 R21), enhancing its sporty appeal. At the rear, the Viking Axe LED taillights continue to serve as a distinctive design feature, with a striking visual effect when illuminated. The hidden exhaust layout on the rear bumper (designed for aesthetic consistency despite being an electric car) further strengthens the overall simplistic style. The lighting system comes standard with LED light sources across all models, and the automatic headlights and adaptive high-beam functions respond sensitively during actual use, automatically adjusting to the environment to enhance nighttime driving safety.

Upon entering the cabin, the interior predominantly features light tones, with abundant soft-touch leather materials and wood grain trims, creating a luxurious feel. The central control area eliminates traditional physical buttons, with all functionalities integrated into a 14.5-inch vertically oriented touchscreen. The system offers high fluency and clear menu logic, enabling frequently used functions like air conditioning and navigation to be directly accessed via the main menu, ensuring ease of use. The instrument cluster comprises a 9-inch fully digital display, showing information such as range, speed, and driver assistance features in a clear and easy-to-read interface. The HUD (head-up display) system projects navigation, speed limit reminders, and other information, reducing the frequency of drivers looking down at screens. In terms of equipment, the front seats support electric adjustments (including lumbar support) and feature heating and ventilation functions. The second-row seats are also equipped with heating functionality, and all three rows provide ISOFIX anchors to meet the needs of families with multiple children. The dual-zone automatic air conditioning supports independent control for the rear occupants, and the third row is equipped with air-conditioning vents and USB-C ports, showcasing meticulous detail consideration.

Regarding space performance, the 2985mm wheelbase offers spacious seating comfort: a 175cm tall individual sitting in the front row still has 1 fist and 2 fingers of headroom remaining. When the second row is adjusted to an appropriate position, the legroom measures 2 fists, and the headroom measures 1 fist. Although the third-row seats are designed for children or short-distance use, passengers under 170cm tall can still find legroom of approximately 4 fingers and headroom of 3 fingers, making it superior to competitors in the same category. As for storage capacity, the standard rear trunk offers 324L of space, adequate for two 28-inch suitcases. When the second-row seats are folded down in a 40:20:40 split and the third-row seats in a 50:50 split, a flat large storage space is created, catering to camping, moving, and other scenarios. Additionally, the door storage slots, central armrest box, and front cup holders feature a reasonable layout, making everyday use convenient.

In terms of dynamic driving, the EX90 Ultra Twin is equipped with dual front and rear permanent magnet synchronous motors, delivering a combined output of 380kW (517PS) and a peak torque of 910N·m. The official 0-100km/h acceleration is just 4.9 seconds. In actual experience, the power response is swift during the initial phase, providing an obvious sense of push-back with a light press on the accelerator. Acceleration remains strong in the mid-to-high speed range, and the power responds instantly when the pedal is pressed deeply for highway overtaking, without any sense of power loss. The driving modes include Comfort, Sport, and Eco. In Comfort mode, the power output is smooth, making it suitable for daily commuting; in Sport mode, the throttle sensitivity is increased, and the steering feel becomes heavier, offering more driving pleasure; in Eco mode, power output is limited to prioritize range. The chassis adopts front double-wishbone and rear multi-link air suspension, tuned for comfort. It effectively absorbs vibrations when facing speed bumps or uneven roads, keeping the vehicle stable. During high-speed cornering, the air suspension automatically lowers the vehicle's height, reducing body roll and ensuring handling stability.

In terms of range and charging, the car is equipped with a 111kWh lithium-ion battery, with an official pure electric range of 623km. This test drive covered approximately 200km, including urban traffic, highway cruising, and rural roads, achieving an average power consumption of 18.2kWh/100km. When converted, the actual range is about 590km, achieving more than 94% of the official figure, which is impressive. Its fast charging function supports charging up to 80% in just 0.5 hours, making it relatively convenient for long-distance travel with Malaysia's current fast-charging network. Slow charging takes 10 hours to fully charge, making it suitable for overnight home charging. As for the driver assistance system, features such as ACC adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and active braking perform consistently: ACC can accurately follow the vehicle ahead on the highway with smooth acceleration and deceleration; the lane-keeping system gently corrects the steering when the vehicle deviates from the lane, ensuring a non-intrusive experience for the driver; the 360-degree panoramic view camera provides high-resolution images, and, together with front and rear parking sensors, becomes highly practical for parking in narrow spaces.

In terms of comfort, the vehicle's noise control is excellent. When traveling at 120km/h on the highway, wind and tire noise are both minimal. The Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker sound system delivers excellent audio quality, with rich mid and low frequencies that effectively isolate external noise. The seat padding is soft yet supportive, ensuring comfort even during long periods of use. The energy recovery system offers three adjustable levels; at the highest setting, releasing the accelerator allows for noticeable deceleration, similar to the braking feel of a fuel-powered car. Once accustomed to it, single-pedal driving is achievable. In terms of braking performance, the front and rear ventilated disc brakes respond quickly with linear braking force. During emergency braking, the vehicle maintains stability without veering.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2025 Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin can be summarized as three key points: First, its spacious three-row seating and rich comfort features, catering to the travel needs of families with multiple children. Second, its powerful dual-motor performance and reliable range deliver a balance of performance and practicality. Third, its standard safety systems and luxurious interior give it a clear competitive edge in the same price range (e.g., Mercedes EQE SUV, BMW iX3) — compared to competitors, the EX90 has more practical three-row seating, and features such as the Bowers & Wilkins sound system and air suspension are rare in this price range.

This model is suitable for users with a budget of 400,000 to 500,000 MYR, focusing on family practicality and luxury experience, especially for middle- and high-income families that often travel fully loaded. It combines the smoothness and low operating cost of an electric vehicle with the comfort and safety of a traditional luxury SUV, making it an exceptionally well-balanced flagship electric SUV.

Overall, the Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin sets a new benchmark in the high-end electric SUV market with its comprehensive performance in space, capability, and features. Although the 440,000 MYR price tag is not exactly budget-friendly, considering its product strengths, it still offers high value for money and is worth considering for high-end family users.