The 2025 Volvo EX90 is set to be one of the brand’s most ambitious electric vehicles, designed to meet the rising demand for luxury electric SUVs. As part of Volvo’s larger vision to electrify its fleet and become a carbon-neutral company by 2040, the EX90 represents a bold step forward. While it impresses with its sleek design, advanced safety features, and innovative technology, the model still faces a few challenges that prevent it from being road-ready.
As Volvo moves towards electrification, the EX90 shows significant promise but also highlights areas where refinement is necessary. From range concerns to interior functionality, there are several tweaks Volvo must address before it can fully realize the EX90’s potential as a dominant force in the electric SUV market.
1. Range Limitations: Still Falling Short of Expectations
One of the most significant factors for any electric vehicle is its driving range. While the 2025 Volvo EX90 promises impressive battery technology, its range doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by its competition. With an estimated range of around 300 miles on a full charge, the EX90 lags behind competitors such as the Tesla Model X, which can reach over 350 miles, and the Lucid Air, which stretches over 500 miles on a single charge.
This gap in range could be problematic for Volvo, especially for consumers who require a longer range for their daily commutes or road trips. Volvo will need to improve its battery efficiency or provide more robust charging infrastructure to address this limitation. As the electric vehicle market becomes more competitive, range anxiety remains a significant concern for potential buyers, and falling short in this aspect could affect the EX90’s market performance.
2. Charging Infrastructure and Speeds: A Critical Weak Spot
While Volvo is investing heavily in charging technology, the current infrastructure supporting the EX90 leaves something to be desired. Although the EX90 supports fast charging, the network of compatible stations in many regions remains sparse. Tesla’s Supercharger network is far more extensive and has set a high standard that competitors are struggling to meet.
Additionally, while the EX90 can charge to 80% in approximately 30 minutes using a fast charger, some rivals offer faster charging speeds, further diminishing the convenience factor. For Volvo to fully realize its electrification goals, it must work on expanding its charging network or partnering with third-party providers to ensure drivers can access fast, reliable charging wherever they go.
3. Interior Functionality: Balancing Minimalism with Practicality
Volvo has embraced a minimalist approach with the interior design of the 2025 EX90, featuring sleek lines, minimal buttons, and a large central touchscreen to control most of the vehicle’s functions. While this creates a clean and modern aesthetic, it may come at the expense of user-friendliness. Many drivers still prefer physical buttons for certain critical functions, such as climate control or volume adjustment, and relying solely on touchscreens can be distracting while driving.
Volvo’s choice to focus on a minimalistic cabin is undoubtedly in line with current design trends, but it may alienate some traditional SUV drivers who are looking for a more practical interface. A blend of both digital and physical controls could make the EX90 more accessible and enhance the driving experience. Tweaking this balance between form and function is crucial for the vehicle to appeal to a broader audience.
4. Software Integration: Smooth, But Not Perfect
The EX90 boasts some of the most advanced software in the automotive industry, including Volvo’s proprietary infotainment system powered by Google’s Android Automotive OS. While the interface is intuitive and easy to use, some early reviewers have noted glitches and connectivity issues with features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Seamless software integration is vital in today’s cars, particularly in a luxury EV that prides itself on offering a high-tech experience. Volvo will need to iron out these software bugs to provide a consistent, smooth, and enjoyable user experience. Given the reliance on digital interfaces for everything from entertainment to navigation, addressing these software hiccups is crucial before the EX90 can be considered truly road-ready.
5. Safety Technology: World-Leading, But Unpolished
Volvo has built its reputation on safety, and the EX90 is no exception. It’s packed with cutting-edge safety technology, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), collision avoidance features, and an array of sensors designed to monitor the driver’s alertness. Volvo’s ambition is to build a vehicle that could potentially avoid all crashes, which is no small feat.
However, the execution of some of these systems is still not flawless. For example, the lane-keeping assist has been described as overly sensitive, sometimes leading to jerky corrections even in mild situations. Adaptive cruise control is another area that could benefit from more refinement, as it occasionally struggles with smoothly adjusting speeds in heavy traffic. As impressive as these systems are, they still need polishing to ensure the best possible driving experience.
6. Price Point and Market Positioning: Are Buyers Ready to Pay?
The 2025 Volvo EX90 is priced as a luxury SUV, with expected starting prices around $80,000. While this price range places it squarely in the premium segment, some consumers might question whether the EX90 offers enough to justify the cost, especially given its range limitations and the aforementioned tweaks needed in interior and software functionality.
Additionally, the EX90 enters a fiercely competitive market where established electric SUVs like the Tesla Model X, Audi e-tron, and Rivian R1S already dominate. Volvo’s brand loyalty and reputation for safety will undoubtedly draw in customers, but without addressing these key areas, the EX90 may struggle to stand out against rivals offering similar or better specs at comparable or lower prices.
7. Performance: A Balance Between Luxury and Power
Performance-wise, the EX90 promises to deliver impressive acceleration and a smooth, quiet ride typical of electric vehicles. However, for those seeking a more dynamic driving experience, the EX90’s performance feels more subdued compared to some of its more performance-oriented competitors. While the EX90 isn’t necessarily designed for high-speed thrills, refining its driving dynamics could make it more appealing to a broader range of buyers, particularly those who want the best of both worlds—luxury and exhilarating performance.
Conclusion: Room for Improvement, but Immense Potential
The 2025 Volvo EX90 embodies Volvo’s vision of an electric, luxury future, and while it shows immense promise, it’s clear that the model still needs some refinement. From addressing range anxiety to refining its software and safety features, Volvo has a few critical areas to tweak before the EX90 can fully compete with other electric SUVs in the market.
That said, the EX90 is a significant step forward for Volvo, and once these issues are resolved, it could become a major player in the EV space. With the potential to offer a luxurious, safe, and eco-friendly driving experience, the EX90 is poised to redefine what an electric SUV can be. However, to make this vision a reality, Volvo will need to ensure that its flagship EV is free of the kinks that currently hold it back.