Almost everything about the Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra is about reducing clutter. I for one love this uniquely Swedish trait. They’ll make one button perform multiple tasks, because why have half a dozen when one will do. And in today’s world of information overload, this approach may seem a little uncomfortable to some, initially. But I’d argue this holistic approach has some serious health benefits.
Before we get carried away with all this new-age stuff, let’s run through the usual facts and figures. The Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin Performance Ultra you see here is priced at R2.65 million. Think of it like an EV version of the brand’s famous seven-seater XC90. 380 kW and 910 Nm of torque from twin electric motors hustles it from zero to 100 km/h in a near-silent 4.9 seconds. A 111 kWh / 400V lithium-ion battery delivers a claimed (WLTP) range of 620 km on a full charge. Got it? Good …
VOLVO EX90 TWIN PERFORMANCE ULTRA
Don’t forget that the Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra arrives in South Africa with considerable momentum behind it. The Swedish marque currently commands an astonishing 50% share of EV sales in Mzansi. Pretty impressive for a nation that’s shown stoic resistance for whatever reason to EV adoption. Nevertheless, this dominance is built largely on the success of the compact and relatively affordable EX30. So, how does the bigger and more luxurious EX90 fare?
Like me, you may think the Volvo EX90 Twin Performance is simply a larger, scaled-up version of the EX30. However, as I would find out driving it around Cape Town for a week, such a surface-level assessment does it a profound disservice. From the moment you approach the EX90, its physical presence commands attention. In the metal, it gives off ultra-luxurious Range Rover aura. And yet, Volvo’s designers have managed a sort of Scandinavian restraint rather than ostentatious excess.
STUDY IN TIMELESS DESIGN
The exterior maintains Volvo’s characteristic design vocabulary. You can tell immediately it’s a Volvo, with that strong shoulder and ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED headlight arrangement. Better still, the latter is reimagined for the electric age with an ornate light show every time you approach the vehicle. We particularly like the flush-fitting door handles and aerodynamically optimised wing mirrors. These look positively tiny from the outside but still provide excellent field of vision from inside.
This minimalist masterclass builds to a crescendo on the inside of the Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra. All the clutter is reduced to almost zero. And while it takes a while to figure somethings out, once you are setup, it’s an absolute pleasure. There’s no starter button, for example. Simply flick D for drive and away you go. Flick the drive selector down once more and you’ve got autonomous driving. Flick it again to deactivate. I love that simplicity.
HOW DOES THE VOLVO EX90 TWIN PERFORMANCE DRIVE?
Once you’re orientated in the driver’s seat and begin threading this machine through traffic, its inherent sophistication starts to shine through. Suffice to say, the Volvo EX90 Twin Performance is more refined, composed and luxurious than the EX30. I’m talking about the supple suspension that absorbs road irregularities like they were nothing. All the while, the cabin remains extraordinarily quiet even at highway speeds.
Furthermore, the power delivery from the twin electric motors is totally linear. The Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra builds with the inevitability of an ocean tide, rather than a sudden, jolting surge. Volvos don’t exactly have a reputation for sportiness, but I was thoroughly impressed at the steering precision and accuracy. And on the move through tight city streets, it feels nimble, as if it’s much smaller than it really is. For me, this is the sign of an excellent luxury car.
RECHARGES WITH SPEED
But there’s one avenue where the Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra truly distinguishes itself. For the first time in many years testing EVs in South Africa, I finally experienced a charging speed close to claimed. At the Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town, we plugged the EX90 into a 250 kW Direct Current (DC) fast charger. And By Jove, we witnessed a rate of 146 kW. Of course, it wasn’t the claimed 250 kW, but most other EVs don’t even get close to this in real life. Therefore, in just 30 minutes, we replenished the battery from below 50% to 90% state of charge. That’s some 300 km of range added in the time it took to do the weekly shop.
Plus, true to Volvo’s heritage, the latest safety technology permeates every aspect of the EX90’s design. The vehicle bristles with an unprecedented array of cameras and sensors, including LiDAR technology integrated directly into the roof. This slightly bulbous protrusion resembles the roof scoop on a rally car. But it also enables its advanced driver-assistance systems, which are some of the finest on the road today.
VOLVO EX90 TWIN PERFORMANCE ULTRA VERDICT
Of course, I would be remiss not to acknowledge some minor frustrations during our test period. One is the expansive glass roof with no integrated sunshade. On Cape Town’s bright summer days, this is a bummer. Next is the touchscreen interface. For the most part it is intuitive and easy to use. However, the user experience (UX) would be improved with menu-in-menu functionality. That way you can adjust the HVAC, for example, at the same time something else displays. You don’t need to use the entire screen for each task. And then have navigate all the way back to Home again.
However, these small issues receded into insignificance after several days of calm, composed EV commuting. The Volvo EX90 Twin Performance Ultra’s fundamentals simply cannot be improved upon. We’re talking about its refinement, luxury and practicality (655 litres boot and 1 915 litres utility capacity). As promised, this is a vehicle touted to be the safest SUV from the safest car company ever. Never mind safest, we believe it might just be the best. Full stop …
THE FIGURES: VOLVO EX90 TWIN PERFORMANCE ULTRA
- Power unit: 111 kWh / 400V electric battery and dual motors
- Power: 380 kW
- Torque: 910 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: 4.9 sec (claimed)
- Energy Consumption: 22 kWh/100 km (tested)
- Range: 620 km (claimed WLTP)
- Price: R2 650 000
