• Over 300 miles of real-world range
• Up to 250kW charging speeds
• Not very efficient

Twin motor EX90s come with a huge 107kWh (usable capacity) battery, one of the largest EV power packs sold in Europe, with the single motor dropping around three kWh of capacity. The longest WLTP certified electric driving range is held by the regular twin motor in Plus trim at 385 miles, followed by the single motor plus at 377 miles. Both the regular and Performance versions of the Ultra are good for 376 miles according to official figures.

But the real-world electric driving range has been disappointing for us. Our initial UK testing route was on a fairly gentle route around Surrey with a mix of urban and dual carriageway, and though carried out in winter, it was not in especially cold ambient temperatures. We averaged 2.7 miles per kWh (kilowatt hour). This gives an electric range of around 290 miles – a respectable figure, sure, but shy of the WLTP figures, and it’s a bit disappointing for something with such a big battery.

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We did get the chance to try another EX90 in warmer conditions which raised the efficiency figure to 2.9 miles per kWh (mpk) – the same as a Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB and 0.1mpk better than a Kia EV9 tested on the same day – which is good for a calculated 310 miles of range. That said, the far cheaper, lighter and less powerful Peugeot E-5008 managed a respectable 3.5mpk, again on the same day. The Volvo’s giant battery meant it could travel the farthest out of this group of e-SUVs.

The rapid charging speeds are impressive, though, as the EX90 can be topped up at up to 250kW, allowing a 10-to-80% rapid charge to be completed in just 30 minutes. If you plug it in to a slower 7kW charger (most wallboxes at home have this charging rate), it will take a hefty 16 hours. 

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Not only will it be expensive to run by EV standards, it’ll cost you a pretty penny to buy or lease, too. Even the base model is over £80k, and pushing past £100k is easily done.

Servicing and warranty

Volvo continues to offer a stingy three year or 60,000 mile warranty for the car, with the high-voltage battery covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. This can be extended to four years and 60,000 miles or four years and 80,000 miles for high-mileage drivers.

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While an EV should be cheaper to service than a big SUV with a petrol or diesel engine, expect consumables like tyres to still cost a fair amount. Service plans are available to spread the cost, and you won’t pay any interest on them.

Reliability

• Early cars having teething troubles
• Reports of poor dealer knowlege
• Some features not yet available

The EX90 has suffered from a number of delays relating to its software, yet this still hasn’t given Volvo enough time to seemingly sort everything. A quick search of owner’s forums reveals plenty of infotainment woes, issues with using their phone as a key, poor dealer knowledge and even issues with the AC charging system.

Furthermore, some of the EX90’s more advanced features such as LiDAR-based advanced driver assist features aren’t activated at launch. In other words, it might be prudent to wait before buying, although most issues could be fixed with over-the-air software updates.