After what feels like an eternity of waiting, Volvo's new electric flagship, the EX90, is finally rolling off the production line in the US. But at £100k a pop, will anyone actually buy it?
Better Late Than Never? Volvo's Electric Odyssey
Cast your mind back to 2022. Remember when Volvo unveiled the EX90 with all the pomp and circumstance of a royal wedding? They promised us the electric future was just around the corner, ready to hit showrooms in a year. Well, folks, it turns out that in Volvo time, a year is more like... two years.
But fear not, dear reader, for Volvo has finally vanquished those pesky software gremlins (or so they claim) and deemed the EX90 fit for human consumption. This week, the first EX90s started rolling off the production line in the good ol' US of A, ready to save the planet one overpriced SUV at a time.
The XC90 Replacement That... Isn't
Remember when Volvo touted the EX90 as the electric replacement for the beloved XC90? Well, it seems they've had a change of heart. In a move that screams "hedging our bets," Volvo's decided to keep the XC90 around for a while longer. And honestly, can you blame them?
When you consider that the EX90 starts at a wallet-melting £100k - roughly double the price of an XC90 - it's no wonder they're not quite ready to put all their Swedish meatballs in one basket. After all, who wouldn't want to pay supercar money for a family SUV with a Volvo badge?
But Is It Any Good?
Now, before we get too carried away with the price tag, let's give credit where it's due. If you're in the market for a big electric SUV (and have a spare £100k burning a hole in your pocket), the EX90 does promise to be a decent offering.
Sitting pretty on Volvo's new electric platform - the same one used by the Polestar 3, because why reinvent the wheel? - the EX90 comes in two flavors of "fast" and "faster":
- The "I have more money than sense" version: 402bhp and 568lb/ft of torque
- The "I really have more money than sense" Performance version: 510bhp and 671lb/ft of torque
Both versions come with a 111kWh battery, good for a range of around 360 miles. Perfect for those long trips to... well, wherever people who can afford £100k SUVs go.
Tech Overload: Because More is More
If you thought the EX90 was just about electric motors and big batteries, think again. Volvo's thrown every piece of tech they could find at this thing, presumably to justify that eye-watering price tag:
- LIDAR on the roof, because regular sensors are so 2023
- Multiple sensors and cameras, in case you forget how to use your eyes
- New Pilot Assist that will "eventually" morph into autonomous driving (don't hold your breath)
- A massive 14.5" infotainment screen, powered by more chips than a computer store:
- Nvidia Drive platforms
- Qualcomm's Snapdragon Cockpit
- Volvo's own software (what could go wrong?)
- Google Android software with a variety of Apps, because who doesn't need Candy Crush while driving?
- 5G connectivity, for when 4G just isn't fast enough to update your Facebook status
The Price of Progress
Now, let's address the elephant in the room - or should I say, the mammoth in the garage. The EX90 starts at a cool £96,255 for the "base" 402bhp version. But if you're feeling particularly flush (or just hate money), you can splash out £100,555 for the Performance version.
To put that in perspective, for the price of one EX90, you could buy:
- Two XC90s
- A small fleet of Volvo V40s
- A decent house in some parts of the UK
- Approximately 33,333 Swedish meatball meals at IKEA
The Verdict: A Shocking Price for an Electric Future
So, there you have it. The Volvo EX90 is finally here, ready to save the planet and empty your bank account in one fell swoop. Will people actually buy it? Well, if there's one thing we've learned from the luxury car market, it's never to underestimate people's willingness to overpay for a brand name.
Sure, it's packed with more tech than a Silicon Valley startup, and it's got enough power to tow a small country. But at £100k, it's hard not to feel like Volvo's taking the proverbial piss.
Then again, if you're the type who thinks nothing of dropping six figures on an SUV, the EX90 might just be the perfect way to show the world you care about the environment... while simultaneously flaunting your wealth.
As for the rest of us? We'll be over here, waiting for the inevitable depreciation to kick in. After all, nothing says "bargain" quite like a second-hand, £100k electric Volvo with outdated software and a battery warranty that's about to expire.
Welcome to the future, folks. It's electric, it's Swedish, and it's bloody expensive.
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