The Volvo EX90 and XC90 facelift seven-seater SUVs are now open for booking. Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) calls the two electrified SUVs its 90/90 flagships – basically, you can choose between a full EV (the EX90) or a plug-in hybrid (the XC90) for RM450,000 estimated.
“With the imminent introduction of the Volvo EX90 and new XC90 for Malaysia, we are making good progress towards our global ambitions of 90 to 100% electrified car sales before the end of the decade. Last year, our BEV and PHEV models already made up more than 80% of our sales,” said VCM MD Chris Wailes.
“The EX90 is a compelling addition to our current BEV portfolio of compact SUVs as it represents an option for owners who require more space, luxury, comfort and technology in a powerful, fully electric package. The EX90 complements the new, facelifted XC90 as the best of Volvo with our unwavering focus on safety to give you the freedom to move,” he added.
By the way, Volvo’s definition of electrified means cars that come with a charging cable, which includes PHEVs like the T8 AWD but not mild hybrids like the B5. The outgoing pre-facelift XC90 has a B5 option in Malaysia, but VCM is focusing on the PHEV, at least for the 90/90 launch.
The XC90 T8 AWD facelift pairs a 2.0L turbo-four (310 PS/400 Nm) with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and an electric motor (145 PS/309 Nm) at the rear axle. Total output is 455 PS/709 Nm and the 0-100 km/h sprint is dispatched in 5.4 seconds. By the way, the outgoing T8 AWD is rated at 462 PS and 5.3 seconds, so the figures are lower but marginally so, and inconsequential in a big Volvo SUV. More on the XC90 facelift here.
Let’s focus on the EX90, which is an all-new badge and model for Gothenburg. First things first, the EX90 is not the XC90 converted into an EV, but a completely different car underpinned by Volvo’s SPA2 platform that is exclusive to EVs.
It looks exactly like how you’d imagine a giant, seven-seater EX30 would look like, and much of the small EV’s cues are replicated here, including the pixel daytime running light signature (the way it opens up to make way for the headlamps is very cool), C-shaped taillights and little dash light bars bookending the glass. The clamshell bonnet opens to reveal a small 37-litre ‘frunk’.
The EX90 is 5,037 mm long and 1,964 mm wide, which makes it 87 mm longer and 41 mm wider than the already-large XC90. The wheelbase is about the same length (2,985 mm, + 1mm), but the EV sits 29 mm lower (1,747 mm) than its PHEV sister.
This big electric SUV is offered with two all-wheel drive configurations. The base model is the Twin Motor with 408 PS (300 kW) and 770 Nm, but we’re getting the Twin Motor Performance with 517 PS (380 kW) and 910 Nm of torque. It’s the car you see here, which we shot in a preview last week. The 111 kWh (107 kWh usable) nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery provides 590 km of WLTP range, which is 10 km less than the Twin Motor.
As for charging, maximum AC input is 11 kW, which gets the big pack fully charged in approximately 10 hours. DC fast charging’s peak rate is 250 kW, and getting the battery from 10-80% state of charge takes about 30 minutes.
We understand that for now, Malaysia is getting a single top-spec variant of the Twin Motor Performance with a very long list of equipment. Everything that the top Thailand spec has is here, including a panoramic glass roof (doesn’t open, no sunshade), 9.0-inch instrument cluster display and 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system (powered by Android Automotive OS, but there’s wireless Apple CarPlay).
Also present are four-zone climate control, air suspension with adaptive damping, high-def pixel LED headlamps with active high beam, massage for the front seats and a posh 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins 3D sound system.
Our neighbours get 20-inch alloys, but the wheels you see here are 21-inch items – curiously, they’re not even the largest available for the model, which is 22″. The contraption you see on the roof, above the windscreen, is the EX90’s LIDAR, which is not in use now, but is something for the future. Aside from that, this SUV has five radars, eight cameras, two interior cameras and 16 ultrasonic sensors. No unsupervised driving for now, just regular ADAS.
As for trim, we’re getting black leather with responsibly-sourced wood in a light brown tone. The latter, which is backlit, is genuine, unpolished and oozes a warm feeling. Luxuries that will be appreciated by affluent families in real-world usage include limo-style soft close doors (a first for Volvo), double glazing front windows and powered steering column adjustment via the touchscreen.
Open the rear hatch and you’ll find decent space even with the third row seats erect (310 litres), and on the right side panel there’s a row of buttons for the third-row powered fold/unfold (50:50) and lowering of the rear air suspension. The latter makes loading things easy, and if you’re wondering if a big item will fit, Volvo has etched the interior dimensions and a ‘will it fit?’ guide on the boot trim. There’s also a rather deep bin under the boot floor.
Parents of young children, the middle row centre seat has a booster. Does your parental habit include opening/closing the rear windows? If yes, note that there are only two window switches on the driver’s door – like in the EX30, you’ll need to press a rear button first to control the rear windows.
That saving of one switch coincides with Volvo’s super minimalist dashboard style, again, as sampled in the EX30. Away from the steering spokes, there’s one rotary dial on the centre console and nothing else – but at least there’s a ‘meter panel’, HUD and stalks, so it’s not quite the full Tesla madness.
Again, both the EX90 and XC90 facelift (there will be no media preview for the still-handsome PHEV – see what’s new here) will be priced circa RM450,000, and we’ll have to wait for next month’s launch for the final RRP. The EX90 will kick off as a CBU import from China, but CKD Shah Alam is in the plan, just like the EX30 and most Volvo models before EVs.
If you’re looking for a big three-row electric SUV, there aren’t many options, but the RM370k Kia EV9 is one. What do you think of the EX90?
GALLERY: Volvo EX90 in Malaysia
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Audi Q7 looks prominent and promising compare to XC90
Most Malaysian elite buyers prefer buying a Volvo more than an Audi anytime of the year. Which is true.
Your money your choice, for certain buyers they prefer not so”common” car like Volvo they will choose AUDI. Btw Audi don’t have hybrid in Malaysia.
Overpriced, nuff said. Better get a Xpeng G9
Apple to apple la weii
Your small wallet I think only can afford myvi
Are hybrid and PHEV reliable and cheap to maintain? Haha wait until you have to replace the bearing and gear of the electric motors
Drive a v6 or v8 lexus and spend money on fuel in the long run could be cheaper than spending money on the repair bills of hybrid and PHEV
literally anything from china looks and have way better tech. even though this is from china. purely selling on brand.
I miss the old Volvo
John 3:16