Volvo EX90 Electric Ultra 106 kWh Review

by Joel Tam, 1 April 2026

The one that quietly does everything right.

Having spent years in advertising, I remember a line from a former creative director who once described the Volkswagen Golf as the Rolls-Royce of hatchbacks. It was clever because it captured something deeper than specs. It spoke about completeness.

These days, “Rolls-Royce” gets thrown around quite freely. Footballers, watches, even kopi machines. It has become shorthand for something that does everything well, with a sense of effortlessness and quality.

I wanted to call the Volvo EX90 the Rolls-Royce of SUVs. That thought lasted about two seconds before I remembered that Rolls-Royce already makes one.

Still, the point stands. The EX90 is exactly that kind of product. Smooth, powerful, spacious, well-built and deeply considered. It does everything, and it does it with a quiet sense of confidence.

What this car really represents

The EX90 is more than just a new flagship. It marks a shift.

This Twin Motor Ultra we’re driving sits at the top of the local range. It packs a 106 kWh battery and produces 449 bhp and 670 Nm of torque. That is enough to get this large, family-oriented SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.

You would not guess that from behind the wheel.

There is no drama. No sense of urgency. Just a smooth, composed surge forward. It feels fast, but more importantly, it feels controlled.

For context, even the “entry” variant, the Plus with a single motor and 92 kWh battery, produces 329 bhp and does the century sprint in 6.8 seconds. That is already more than enough for most people.

The Ultra simply adds a layer of effortlessness on top.

The 800V shift

One of the biggest changes here is what you don’t immediately see.

The EX90 is now built on Volvo’s new 800V architecture. It is their first step into the next generation of EV systems, and it shows.

Charging is quicker and more consistent. You are looking at roughly 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes under the right conditions. More impressively, it can add up to 300 km of range in around 10 minutes on a high-powered charger.

That is the kind of number that starts to change behaviour.

Beyond speed, the higher voltage system reduces heat and improves efficiency. Lighter components, thinner wiring, better energy management. It is all quite technical, but the end result is simple. The car feels more refined, more stable, and more resolved.

There is also serious computing power running in the background. Dual NVIDIA-based systems handling safety, updates and overall vehicle intelligence. You do not notice it directly, but you feel the polish in how everything works together.

Interior and space

Step inside, and it feels exactly how a modern Volvo should.

Clean, calm and quietly premium.

The Scandinavian influence is strong, but not in a showy way. Materials feel properly chosen rather than over-designed. Soft-touch surfaces, subtle textures, and a layout that makes sense without needing a tutorial. It even features a high-end, 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system and a slick Abbey Road Studios sound mode.

Space is generous across all three rows. This is a proper family car. The kind that can handle school runs, road trips and everything in between without anyone complaining. Speaking of school runs, the centre section of the middle row even has an integrated booster seat that a 7-year-old can easily operate.

Practicality has always been a Volvo strength, and the EX90 carries that forward without trying too hard.

On the move

This is where the EX90 really earns its place.

It is quiet. Impressively so.

At city speeds, it glides. On the motorway, it settles into a calm, composed rhythm that makes long drives feel shorter than they are. You arrive less tired, which says a lot about the car.

The ride is supple without feeling floaty. There is enough control to keep things tidy through corners, but it never pretends to be something it is not. The 21-inch Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres will squeal when pushed. So yes, with 449 bhp on tap, it’s very quick. But it’s not a performance SUV. More like a fast and refined one.

The one thing that needs work

One area stood out, and not in a good way.

The braking feel.

At lower speeds, it is acceptable. Smooth, predictable, easy to modulate. As speeds rise, the final portion of the brake pedal travel feels disconnected from the actual stopping force.

You press further, expecting a stronger bite, but the response does not quite match that expectation.

It is not a dealbreaker, but it is noticeable. In a car that gets so many things right, this stands out more than it should.

So it’s good?

Hell yeah. But the EX90 does not shout about itself.

It does not try to impress you with theatrics or exaggerated character. Instead, it focuses on getting the fundamentals right: design, comfort, refinement, usability, performance and safety.

That’s a lot that it does well. I won’t be surprised if, a few years from now, this becomes the benchmark that others quietly chase.

Fun fact: at the time of publishing, it’s the only large (7-seater) premium EV SUV in the market right now. The KIA EV9 is a close contender, but it isn’t quite as premium.

Technical Specifications