April 2026 will see Volvo celebrate its 99th birthday. The brand released its first car, the OV4 or ‘Jakob’ as it was affectionately called back in April, 1917! With the car industry being such a tough nut to crack, an automotive marque doesn’t get to this vintage without making an impact on the world. For Volvo, that has largely been a positive one, firstly for the safety of this planet’s residents and more recently, the planet itself.
While the Swedish brand are most famously known for their invention of the seatbelt and subsequently the decision not to patent this technology, its stables have also produced some very memorable nameplates. Amazon, 760, 850 were some of last century’s most famous whilst the 2000s have given rise to the S60, XC60 and of course the XC90. The seven seater flagship SUV became the brand’s safest ever car when it debuted back in 2002. Since then, it has gone on to establish itself as a legacy nameplate within the SUV realm, being equally at home in the snow as it is in the school pickup line.
As Volvo transitions into its fully electric future, the arrival of an EX90 was intended as a replacement to the petrol powered XC90 but given the nature of the car industry right now, the brand find itself in the fortuitous position of being able to retain both! XC90 was given a refresh last year and in doing so, has prompted a resurgence in the vehicle’s popularity. Priced from $112,990 in our market, it represents an excellent value luxury proposition for those wanting a premium seven seater vehicle. However, this piece isn’t about the XC90 but rather its electrified relative which is here to begin “a new era” for Volvo as described by Brand Manager, Daile Stephens.
EX90s taking over at Archibald & Shorter Volvo North Shore at the start of the car’s New Zealand launch
Late 2024 saw the arrival of the EX30, a compact fully electric SUV designed to introduce new buyers, particularly younger ones to the Volvo brand. On the other hand, the EX90 comes in at the flagship end of the range, aimed squarely at the brand’s loyalists as well as those wanting a true premium seven seater EV that isn’t a van! It sits alone in this category as well, a point that Volvo made sure to hammer home over the course of this event.
As Tarmac Life’s resident Volvo fanboy, my credentials come in the form of owning a V40 T5 R-Design (Rebel Blue of course) and as a frequenter of Volvo North Shore so it was only fitting that I snapped up the invite for this launch. And indeed, the event would kick off at the largest Volvo dealership in the Southern Hemisphere. From there, we would get to test the EX90s comfort on a long motorway drive, followed by some windy roads to explore its dynamic capabilities before arriving in the Bay of Islands close to the Northern tip of New Zealand for the rest of the afternoon/evening’s events.
Three shades of EX90 were up for selection, ‘Crystal White’, ‘Denim Blue’ and ‘Mulberry Red’, but being the colour connoisseur that I am, it had to be the latter of course! A shade that can alter its appearance under different lighting conditions is always welcome. Under the dullness of a cloudy morning, the red hue makes itself scarce but once the sun peers through, the rich depth of it becomes apparent, the metal flake is of particular note. While I could spend all day talking about how fascinating car colours are, and I really could, we were here to do some driving!
‘Mulberry Red’ is one of seven colours available on the EX90
Our journey from Auckland’s North Shore to our overnight accommodation at The Copthorne Hotel in Paihia would see us traverse a mix of smooth state highways and coarser back roads. This route would provide us with a brief taste of what an EX90 would have to deal with on a fairly typical New Zealand weekend road trip. Some roadworks were even thrown in for a truly authentic experience!
Let’s talk style and design first. For those familiar with Volvo’s range and the EX30 in particular, this 90 should be instantly recognizable as part of that family. The front features the brand’s signature ‘Thor hammer’ LED headlights with the LEDs arranged into blocks almost, similar to that of the EX30 but on a larger scale. There’s no grille as such with just a small vented opening on the lower side of the nose to help with battery cooling. Otherwise, the flat face is once again typical of what we have seen of Volvo’s EVs, just larger this time! Despite its height and boxy proportions, the EX90 still boasts a drag coefficient of 0.29 cd which is probably more aerodynamic than my face if I’m honest.
A range of wheels are available but because the featured model here was the top spec EX90 Twin Motor AWD Performance, it wore 22 inch units, 20s and 21s are also available for those either hoping to squeeze some more range out of the battery or wanting less tyre roar. It’s not like you need it though because the top spec boasts 600km WLTP, although we were on track to between 550-580kms on our trip but it was mostly made up of motorway driving rather than a traffic filled commute. Still, a 20kWhr/100km average consumption figure is respectable for a car of this proportion and weight.
Over the course of the near four hour long journey, I got to experience the EX90 as both driver and passenger, both offering a different perspective on the car but its underlying strength is in the comfort on offer. Riding on air suspension, the EX90 is buttery smooth on a well finished state highway but can get upset on occasion over a carved up stretch of gravel. Either way, all occupants remain at ease thanks to massaging seats and a well insulated cabin that keeps any tyre roar or wind noise out!
It was clear that we were starting to get complacent inside the quiet oasis that was the EX90’s cabin so we were picked up from those front seats and dropped at the bow of a boat, a stern reminder of the wind’s sheer power. The speedy boat trip would take us across from Paihia to The Landing for lunch, a property of frankly epic proportions.
The Landing provided a serene backdrop for the afternoon’s meals and vehicle presentation
For a venue to play host to a brand like Volvo, it must have a similar level of gravitas. The place in question must be synonymous with the idea of understated luxury but at the same time have a respectable place in the history books.
The Landing fitted that brief perfectly, situated on the Purerua Peninsula in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, the venue dramatically unfolds itself as you approach from the water. Perhaps it was an experience of this nature that drew the first Missionaries and European settlers to these grounds, a site that still exists on the property. The owner’s private residence also houses the largest collection of Maori artifacts outside of a museum, even extending to journals and other cartographs maintained by the early Europeans. See what I meant about aligned values and history!
Once ashore, our charter captain invited us to choose from one of two vehicles available, a Polaris thingy and a 1984 Land Rover Defender 110. Being the old soul that I am, it had to be the Landie, I’ve never actually ridden in one of this era so it only added to the memorability of this experience. In fact, I walked away from this launch desiring two cars, an EX90 of course and an old Land Rover, arguably one being easier to live with than the other. Nostalgic pining aside, our guide would take us on a tour of The Landing, pointing out its place as a historic site as well as its purpose as a modern day working venue. Vine covered rolling hills help create some of the North Island’s most premium wines, with an infusion of the ocean given the location’s proximity to the water. Conservation efforts have also made the site a haven for Kiwi who are upwards of 350 in number. The trek was a solid lesson in the land’s history and its contributions of various kinds, the best way for us to experience the latter being through a good meal paired with wine.
Nothing like good food, wine and views to disconnect you from the bustle of life
Our lunch included a variety of options, largely locally sourced in nature. Seasoned Northland Snapper and locally raised grilled chicken glazed with Kanuka honey produced at The Landing formed the two meat staples. These were accompanied by baby carrots and caramelized pumpkin. A delicious meal that had me going for seconds and possibly thirds. Our product presentation was sandwiched by dessert which was made up of chocolate brownies and lemon slices, can’t go wrong with either of those two!
Having had our fill, it was time for to see how Volvo get down to business. The presentation would go further than covering the EX90, providing us with a market update of the Swedish brand’s performance as well as its intentions for the near future. The Volvo brand had its best year on record (NZ only) back in 2022 but experienced a brief fall from grace in the following year. Positively though, the Swedish marque is on its way back to the top and quickly too, being the third largest growing brand in the premium SUV space, recording a 45% leap between 2024 to 2025, similar figures have been recorded between 2025 and the year to date thus far! Refreshing the existing XC90 last year certainly appeared to be a fruitful exercise with that particular model recording a near 97% increase in sales between 2024 and 2025.
It’s all positive reading for fans and customers alike, with the brand currently holding presence across 88% of the premium SUV market, a space that has also adopted EVs at a higher rate than any other segment in the market, 30% as compared to 13%. As the reigning ‘World Luxury Car of the Year’, it is no surprise then that Volvo are bullish about the EX90’s presence in our market. And although a large vehicle overall, the EX90 has a dainty footprint on the globe, incorporating recycled steel and plastics in its production where it emerges from a plant that is entirely powered by renewable energy, Volvo’s Chengdu facility in China.
‘Sand Dune’ is the hero colour for the EX90’s debut
Even though the EX90 is made with the planet in mind and in a facility in China, the build feels very Volvo, solid all around but with soft close doors meaning there’s no slamming needed. Once inside, its ‘Cinema Style Seating’ ensures each row is slightly perched above the other for an optimal view out front. Combine this with the panoramic glass roof and you can expect compromised headroom but that’s only apparent if you stick a six foot tall adult in the third row, the other rows are plenty comfortable even for taller adults.
Still, it’s thoughtful in the way that Volvos often are. Generous storage solutions dot the cabin as well as other enhancements like air purification and a built in booster seat for the middle row to name a couple. The wireless phone charging pad is cooled too, although turned off by default to prevent any ill effects on those with Bluetooth operated pacemakers, how about that for consideration!
Interior is minimalist but fresh, largely a comfortable place to be bar an over reliance on the screen at times
In keeping with the brand’s history, the interior is based on the idea of a ‘Scandinavian Living Room’, comfortable seats all around, a notable Volvo trait from way back when. Most surfaces are either covered in soft materials in the form of leather or ‘Nordico’ in our vehicle’s case, a material that is made up of recycled cork and plastics, 74% more carbon friendly than leather!
The dashboard and doors are also lined with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved ‘Light Ash’ wood trim which feels smooth to touch and is backlit as well, creating a cool effect at night. A lot of thought has gone into little details like these, from the Swedish flag motif on the dashboard to the textured rotary volume dial or the Bowers & Wilkins tweeter set atop the dashboard, a cornerstone of the 25 speaker, 1600W unit that comes standard on this Twin Motor AWD Performance model. While on the note of the audio system, not only has it been designed to replicate the experience of a spectator at Gothenburg’s fabled concert hall but Volvo even teamed up with the crowd at Abbey Road Studios to give the occupants more control over their listening experience. This mode allows the user to experiment with a range of presets, the end product resulting in a truly individualised sound experience!
Attention to detail and cabin quality is deserving of praise aplenty
Notice that I haven’t addressed safety yet and there’s a very good reason for that. In fact, the EX90 is a big Volvo so you just assume it to be secure. When someone departed in one over the course of the launch, I simply wished them ‘travels’ because the safe bit is implied. So much so that the EX90 is the brand’s safest car to date. It received the highest combined occupant safety rating for a large SUV during ANCAP’s crash testing, ranking best in its class overall. It uses technology to go above and beyond the call of duty too, an example being its ability to sense the presence of a living occupant in a locked car and then trigger the air conditioning automatically to maintain temperature!
Technology is indeed the name of the game with the EX90 because even though our New Zealand specific model lacks its famed LiDar systems, it still packs a punch. Being Volvo’s first ‘software defined’ vehicle, development of the EX90 put a focus on the capabilities of its software as well as the usability, an approach that has made using its 14.5 inch central infotainment screen a breeze for the most part. Deleting buttons from the interior and replacing it with icons on the screen does present several drawbacks though. One is having to adjust the mirrors or the steering position, both of which have to be engaged through the screen. Opening the glovebox as well has been turned into a complex exercise when a neat handle would have done just fine. EX90 power delivery on the other hand is a much tidier experience, putting its horses to the road with ease, the near 2.8 tonne seven seater will hit 100kph in under five seconds! That figure can credit a mix of 500kW of power and 870Nm of torque drawing from the 111kWhr battery which will deliver nearly 600km of WLTP range if you are driving sensibly.
EX90 is one of Volvo’s best yet. Comfortable yet safe and stylish, it certainly is a well rounded vehicle
And the price for all of this? It’s $149,990 to get behind the wheel of the base Twin Motor AWD but for an extra $10k, you could move up to the Performance AWD, the model that Volvo are betting big on for the New Zealand market. It doesn’t just offer upgraded performance but also includes items like the B & W audio system and the panoramic roof that will shade itself on request, all worth shelling out for!
With the formal part of the afternoon wrapped up, we were back on the boat and briskly away, leaving The Landing behind for a venue with history of its own. The charming Duke of Marlborough holds the country’s oldest liquor license, acquired in 1840, it houses various lounges with unique themes as well as a retaurant and accommodation. A long dinner took us into the night where back on the Paihia-Russell ferry, we could enjoy a stellar view of the galaxy above us, the glinting celestial bodies almost serving as the inspiration behind the warm backlit tones of the EX90s interior.
The Verdict
Whether intentional or not, Volvo New Zealand’s decision to delay the launch of the EX90 meant that receiving the upgraded 800V architecture model puts this premium seven seater in a class of its own. It’s comfortable and quiet but can turn surprisingly capable with only brief notice. A well rounded electric vehicle, EX90 sits comfortably atop the Volvo family and with the arrival of the EX60 later this year, the brand’s holistic offering is only going to go one way, that’s up!
Thanks for reading! For more Volvo news and reviews, visit Tarmac Life.
Thank you to Volvo Cars New Zealand and NordEast for the invite.
Pictures and words by Matthew D’Souza.