Review: Volvo EX90 is a smooth AWD 7-seat luxury kid-hauler
Volvo flew us to Newport Beach, California, to test its new EX90 7-seat AWD SUV. For many people, including my family, this is the holy grail of EVs. It is part electric luxury sports sedan, part four-wheel-drive off-roader and trailer hauler, and most importantly, part minivan.
How well do these come together? Let’s see…
Volvo EX90 appearance
The EX90 is unmistakenly a Volvo with the signature electric closed grill at the front and Thor’s hammer headlights. The rear is more subdued and could be mistaken for a traditional Volvo XC90 or similar. The vehicles they had us in were either sandstone tan or gray which felt stately but muted.
The front hump at the top of the windshield may seem like it is paying homage to London taxis or stealth police vehicles, but it is, in fact, the housing for Volvo’s very high-tech Lidar safety and eventually self-driving system.
There’s also a “Volvo for Life” tagline underneath, proudly displaying Volvo’s commitment to safety. Is it a little much? Perhaps.
Volvo, more than any other carmaker, is proud of its safety features and seems to want to show them off rather than hide them. See also: those yellow 3-point seat belts in other models, which the company invented and shared freely with the rest of the industry. They’ve saved countless lives, and Volvo expects its Lidar system to do the same.
I think the EX90 has the perfect stance between sedan and SUV, allowing for a good ride height for visibility and mild off-roading but not so far off the ground that handling and turns are too compromised.
High marks all around on outward appearance. But is the EX90 just good looks on the outside? Let’s look inward.
We got to sit in two different interiors, a synthetic leather and recycled cloth. Both exuded Volvo’s spartan luxury feel – not cluttered at all but also not Tesla minimalist either. The four main seats were more than comfortable in over three hours of driving and, my word, this vehicle is quiet and smooth. If you aren’t driving, prepare to nod off.
The third row is a little bit of a compromise and you can probably see why the Polestar 3, built on this same platform, only comes in a 5-seat configuration. Jamie at about 6′ tall found it to be quite uncomfortable unless moving the middle row seats up. This would be mostly for children or quick airport or school runs, not for seven adults on a road trip. We later got to see the 6-seat configuration with two middle row captain’s chairs (including armrests ahem Tesla Model X) which made the 3rd row significantly less cramped. I think the 6-seat option is where I’d go on this car.
Even with the 3rd row seats up you have two rows of grocery room in the back and there’s room under the false floor for more permanent items. It is a good thing too because the “frunk” is small and hard to get to (boo!). We’d like to see some smarter packaging up front to enable a deeper, more accessible frunk.
With the 3rd row down, you’ve got some massive storage space and still room for 5 people.
About that second-row middle seat, though: It sits higher, is firmer/less comfortable with a folded armrest in your back, and, to me, is another reason to go with the 6-seat configuration.
The EX90 center stack runs on Android for Automotive, which means you will get a very Google-centric experience. That, in my usage, is fantastic. Volvo, unlike some other automakers, decided to keep access to Apple’s wireless CarPlay open so that you can run iOS over Google’s OS. Many folks will just use the built-in Google Maps, which also shows up on the fantastic heads-up display. Google’s OS has many, if not all, of the apps you’d use on your iPhone, so it becomes a little bit redundant, but Volvo was adamant about giving their customers a choice here.
The 360 camera was solid all around but sometimes made for some interesting interpreted obstacles (see above). Overall, however, it was certainly helpful in navigating close and unfamiliar territory.
The Volvo EX90 Drive
The most unique aspect of the car was the drive performance, and it was certainly rewarding. With its electric motors and insulated interior, the drive was the quietest I can remember taking in recent years. Add to that the smooth, vibration-free feel of the road, comfy and vented seats, and the fantastic assisted handling, and it felt like a $100K+ Mercedes to drive. Torque vectoring brings incredible ease and confidence to curves. Great visibility is confidence-inspiring and inspiring, as is that Lidar-enhanced safety suite.
However, the performance of the motors was somewhat muted. Talking to engineers at the event, they admitted that they softened the acceleration on purpose here, though it isn’t certain if it was for drive quality, keeping parts from wear, or what. Jamie and I both railed on them, noting that their half-the-price EX30 is somehow over a second quicker to 60mph, and it is a better experience to have your foot deciding the speed, not some computer algorithms.
Still, 4.7 seconds 0-60 is respectable, and the Polestar 3, which is the same SPA platform drivetrain (slightly higher 517 hp), is only .2 seconds faster. I think Volvo could do better here but whenever I talk about speed, Volvo comes back with “safety” and I guess I get it.
Depending on what tire size you pick, the EX90 will get you somewhere north of 300 miles of range, which I think is the sweet spot for vehicles like this. Rivian’s R1S offers more range but at much bigger battery/higher price points. Tesla Model X offers more range on paper, but in reality, is often less than 300 miles. Kia’s EV9 is going to be similar.
Bidirectional Charging is a big hit
While this will go under the Lidar (lol) for some, Volvo really amped up the vehicle’s ability to power homes. Rather than the ~2kW many cars have, the Volvo can put out up to 20kW of power, meaning houses connected to the Volvo will even be able to be heated and cooled electrically. Here’s a quick demo of some use cases with a DCBEL system connected to the EX90:
Our fast charging experience was lackluster because we were on a busy Electrify America station but we still got a 185kW output with 30% state of charge. Volvo tells us that we can expect speeds up to and over 250kW at the right stations and it takes about 30 mins to take the battery from 10 to 80% or add about 210 miles.
Volvo EX90 wrap up
Volvo’s South Carolina-built EX90 is a big win in my book. Historically, the Rivian R1S and Tesla’s Model X have owned the third-row EV space. Recent newcomers like the Mercedes EQS SUV/BMW iX/Audi Q8 and, on the value end, the Kia EV9 have shaken up the market a bit. But I love the Volvo EX90 because it blends performance, style, luxury, and ride really well. Priced from $80-90K based on trim and before incentives, it is going to be a popular option in this growing space.
There’s no better test of a vehicle than the “Do I want one?” test. Often after reviewing a car, I’m happy to give it back. In this case the EX90 is something I’m following up on and therefore a big win. As a Rivian R1S owner, I often ask myself if I really need a 3-second 0-60, crazy offroading skills, or the last 100 miles of range, which I almost never use. I’d love captain’s chairs in the 2nd row (though I’d miss the fold flat). Most of all, I’d love the smoother, quieter ride and, most of all, the enhanced safety features that the EX90 offers. Like they say, it is all about safety.
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Yolo County, California depends on its climate for continued agricultural success. As such, the county’s leaders are taking environmental stewardship seriously by aiming for full carbon neutrality by 2030. To help achieve that goal, they’re putting zero-emission machinery like the Volvo DD25 Electric compactor to work.
We got our first chance to sample the DD25 Electric at Volvo Days last summer, where the all-electric tandem roller’s vibrating drums impressed dealers and end users alike. It was no surprise, then, that when Yolo Country fleet superintendent, Ben Lee, when shopping for a compactor the DD25 Electric was high on his list.
“The DD25 Electric will help us achieve our goals in several ways,” explains Lee. “By reducing emissions, lowering noise levels, being more energy-efficient, improving working conditions and promoting environmentally friendly practices … we’ll use it to compact soil, gravel and other base materials for road and foundation projects, as well as rolling out and leveling asphalt during road construction and resurfacing.”
To help Lee handle those various projects, the Volvo’s drum frequency can be adjusted from 3500 vpm (55 Hz) to 4000 vpm (67 Hz) to cater to different applications and materials.
The DD25 Electric offers other benefits, as well – like a 20 kWh 48V battery that offers up between six and eight hours of continuous operation. That’s could be several shifts in the kind of conditions Yolo’s work crews will encounter, meaning it will only have to get put to bed (Volvo recommend overnight AC charging) two or three times a week.
Getting power to the compactor, too, is something Yolo is considering. “There are some remote areas in the county, so we’re looking into a mobile, self-contained charging unit as well,” explains Lee, apparently referencing the Volvo PU130 mobile battery. “So we wouldn’t have to bring the machine back to the yard each night during a long-term project.”
Yolo County views electric equipment as an essential step in reducing emissions and energy consumption, especially as communities work towards stricter regulations and sustainability goals.
Electrek’s Take
This press release came to us ahead of the devastating wild fires in Southern California that are dominating headlines right now – so much so that I effectively sat on the news for a few days, debating whether or not we should even be talking about a California news story that isn’t about the fires right now.
But I realized: this story is about the fires. Climate change driven by combustion and carbon emissions is driving climate change and that’s making fires like these possible … and I should have run it sooner.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo CE.
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Kubota came to this year’s CES with a sprawling display filled with electric equipment, hydrogen gensets, and an onslaught of commercial robots ready to mow, farm, dig, and build. If you weren’t impressed by Kubota’s display this year, you weren’t paying attention.
Kubota gave us a sneak peek of its KATR farm robot – itself a smaller, updated version of last year’s New Agri Concept – before the doors officially opened last week. Kubota’s robotic farm buddies promise to be able to quietly and autonomously haul stuff from one end of the farm to another, or pull carts and specialized implements along predetermined paths.
KATR uses self-leveling technology and active suspension to ensure its cargo deck stays level when working on the sort of uneven terrain found on farms or construction sites.
That doesn’t mean the New Agri Concept is dead, though. Agri Concept 2.0 debuted as an electric tractor concept offering AI-powered automation and a fully electric powertrain. The new version features a Lite Brite-style “grille” that it uses to communicate its current mode, direction, and other important information with the people it shares a job site with.
On the more practical side, Kubota showed off its KX38-4e Electric compact excavator. First shown in overseas markets in 2022, the KX38-4e Electric features a 49.2 kWh lithium-ion battery that’s good for up to five hours of continuous operation. More than enough to complete a typical day of work on a construction site when you factor out idle time.
An onboard DC fast charger means it can be quickly recharged between shifts, too. But when there’s no grid power on the site, charging can be a challenge. That’s why Kubota has hydrogen genset for zero-emission on-site power generation.
Looked at individually, each of the new electric Kubota products on display might be impressive. The real magic, though, is in the way the Kubota machines work together as a holistic job site or farm solution.
“At Kubota, we believe that truly listening to our customers drives innovation in every aspect of what we call the ‘Work Loop’,” explains Brett McMickell, Chief Technology Officer of Kubota North America. “The Work Loop — an essential cycle of assessing, analyzing, and acting — has always been fundamental to effective task management. With the integration of advanced sensors, AI-driven analysis, networking protocols, automation, and robotics, we are enhancing this cycle to be more seamless and efficient than ever before.”
That was obvious in some of the more thoughtful implements and attachments on display, including a Smart Plant Imager that uses advanced robotics and “hyper-spectral imaging” cameras to capture real-time data and insights on a plant-by-plant level – as well as a Smart Autonomous Sprayer and Robotic Pruner that that classifies buds and canes based on position and fruiting potential, it optimizes production precision and accuracy.
The more you look, the more impressive Kubota’s farming solution gets. “We will continue to learn from many of our customers across segments to iterate the next product and technology solution that will help them manage tomorrow’s challenges and grow their businesses,” McMickell added. “This is how Kubota works to make a better quality of life for individuals and society.”
There was more, of course. Autonomous versions of the company’s electric zero-turn mower with GPS-powered route memory, fun accessory baskets for the robots, even a weird, jet engine looking thing that I forgot to ask about (below). I was genuinely impressed, in other words, and can’t wait to see what Kubota comes up with next year.
Kubota CES2025 | more photos
Original content from Electrek.
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The e-bike industry has stalled a little bit in terms of features, and with harsh new legislation coming in from places like California, maybe it is time to start looking at e-bikes that are light, efficient, and smooth rather than how much wattage they can output. The Tenways CGO 600Pro, which comes in at just 37 pounds, is a model e-bike you should keep an eye on…
The CGO 600Pro comes in 2 flavors: a carbon belt single-speed version that Micah reviewed and this one, which is a chain and 8-speed Shimano gears. The belt drive is going to win out on simplicity and weight but if you are expecting to get close to the ‘class 1’ top speed of 20mph or need to go up some significant hills, you’ll want to opt for the chain/gear version here.
One thing I love about this bike is the tradeoff decisions. These keep the price low and weight down while still providing a great ride. The spec sheet overall is solid but not top-shelf.
Tenways CGO600 Pro tech specs (chain/geared version)
- Motor: 350 Watt rear hub motor with 45 Nm of torque
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Range: Claimed up to 53 miles (85 km)
- Battery: 36V 10Ah (360 Wh)
- Weight: 37 lb (16.8 kg, over 40lbs with fenders, kickstand, etc)
- Frame: 6061 aluminum alloy
- Tires: CST Puncture-proof 700*45C-size Tires
- Brakes: Tektro dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Gearing: Shimano 8-Speed Claris
- Extras: Compact LED display, 4 pedal assist levels, slim fender set, kickstand, internally routed cables, LED lighting, removable battery, Tenways app integration, torque sensor, four color options
No Throttle?
Note that as a class 1 e-bike, neither belt/chain version has a throttle. While this may be controversial to some, it not only simplifies the bike, it makes it a Class 1, which will be legal in the most places. I tend to think of no throttle as a “foot throttle” and for the commuter application, this will serve well. Would I appreciate a throttle on a hill start? Perhaps.
The idea of this bike is to just enhance your pedal bike experience. You are going to get some exercise on this bike versus a bike that is a glorified low-power moped that runs on throttle with vestigial pedals.
More importantly, the torque sensor here is phenomenal; I mean, it is probably the best torque sensor I’ve ridden connected to a rear hub motor. The acceleration is smooth and strangely powerful for the 350W/45nm motor. Significant hills are a breeze, and this is one of the few bikes where I forget that I’m using an e-bike sometimes (until I look down and I’m going 20mph with little effort). Hills are also where the gearing really helps.
The tires are also the perfect size for a commuter with puncture resistance and treads that will do OK in rain and snow.
The bike itself is also very stealthy in terms of showing that it is a powered e-bike. The small 36V, 10Ah battery is integrated magnificently into the narrow downtube of the bike. All of the cables are integrated into the bike frame for a super-clean look. The rear hub motor is small but packs a punch. Many people won’t even recognize this as an e-bike. While I’m proud to be riding an e-bike around, perhaps some people would like to keep that on the down-low.
Brakes are great with hydraulic Tektros clasping against 160mm rotors in front and back. It is such a light bike that stopping can be jarring.
Assembly was super easy and took about 30 minutes with the included tool set. The battery came about 40% charged but was ready to go within a few hours with the 3A charger. Shoutout to Tenways for using a water-resistant standardized barrel charger adapter and not some proprietary adapter so that I can use one from another bike when I inevitably lose it.
Electrek’s take
The Tenways CGO600 is a fantastic light, clean, stiff and smooth e-bike that I have 0 reservations about recommending. While the battery and motor are small, they power the light bike admirably and for around 50 miles (your mileage will vary).
Currently there is a $200 off promotion code “HAPPY2025TW” at checkout bringing the CGO600Pro down to $1399 which is an amazing price for this bike:
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