'A listening room on wheels': Volvo EX90 review

The Volvo EX90 is a family car that manages to be both whisper-quiet and genuinely powerful. From the driver's seat, it delivers an exhilarating sense of speed; from the rear, passengers can sit back, enjoy the open feel and rest in near silence. Add Bowers & Wilkins audio to the mix, and the drive becomes something else entirely — the cabin transforms into what feels like a listening room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

On Wednesday, this reporter took the EX90 Twin Motor Performance Ultra on a roughly 60-kilometer round trip through central Seoul and out to Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province. The top-trim model delivered the kind of forceful performance its spec sheet promises, while remaining composed and refined enough to earn its family-car credentials.

The exterior is clean and purposeful, embodying Volvo's design philosophy that form follows function. The Thor's Hammer headlamp signature asserts the brand's identity, while everything else is stripped back to leave a neatly composed silhouette. At 5,040 mm long, 1,965 mm wide and 1,740 mm tall, the EX90 sits in line with rival family SUVs.

The interior carries the same Nordic restraint — leather and wood surfaces combine to feel both clean and warm. Particularly striking is how few physical controls there are: a 14.5-inch center display dominates the dashboard, and apart from a dial on the center console for music playback and volume, almost no buttons enter the driver's field of view. Frequently used functions — air conditioning, hazard lights, the camera — are pinned to the bottom of the center display, reducing the need to navigate through multiple menus.

The driving feel is smooth yet forceful. Throughout the test drive, the EX90 moved with an agility befitting its 680-horsepower (500 kW) output and maximum torque of 81.1 kg·m. It reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in just 4.2 seconds — a figure that made every stretch of congestion feel like a missed opportunity.

Ride comfort is equally impressive. Hard acceleration produces no noticeable pitch, and lifting off the throttle brings none of the abrupt deceleration jolt common to electric vehicles. A passenger prone to motion sickness reported no discomfort at all. The credit goes to the dual-chamber air suspension fitted to the Ultra trim. "With an electric vehicle, maximum torque hits the moment you press the accelerator, which can send the car lurching forward and lift the front end," a Volvo Car Korea official said. "The dual-chamber air suspension fills with air to prevent the rear from squatting."

Adaptive cruise control kept the large vehicle consistently centered in its lane, adjusting speed smoothly when other cars merged in or out. Cornering, too, felt stable and assured.

The rear seats feel like a separate retreat, thanks in large part to the panoramic glass spanning much of the roof, giving the impression of sitting before a wall of windows. The electrochromic glass roof can be switched to opaque, but curiosity about heat buildup prompted a one-hour drive with it left clear. Outside temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius, and touching the glass directly was uncomfortably hot — yet sitting beneath it, the cabin never felt warm.

What stood out most, front and rear alike, was the combination of quietness and audio quality. The electric motor was nearly inaudible, and wind noise was effectively absent. In that hushed environment, the 25 Bowers & Wilkins speakers positioned throughout the cabin turned every playlist into a proper listening experience.

The third row, however, felt cramped for actual use on the road. Even at 160 centimeters tall, this reporter found the space tight enough to make any journey of more than 30 minutes impractical. With all seats folded flat, though, the cargo area opens up considerably — well suited for car camping or hauling luggage.

The EX90 is available in South Korea in three trims: Twin Motor Plus, Twin Motor Ultra and Twin Motor Performance Ultra. The Twin Motor Ultra and Twin Motor Performance Ultra can be configured as either a six- or seven-seater. Prices start at 106.2 million won ($74,900), with the Twin Motor Performance Ultra seven-seater tested here priced at 121.2 million won.