Volvo EX90 - first hand experience?

[Mellowyellow]

Dear Rivian family,

I regret to inform you that I have failed in persuading my better half to get a Rivian as well. She has her eyes set on a Volvo EX90 ( for some reason).

I’ve only ever seen a single one on the road. It seems like they’re not selling many of them at all?

I was looking at the EX90 forums and it seems like a complete sh!t show over there. I know forums can be biased and a place to vent and complain (who knew?). Thus, I’m wondering if any members own a EX90 and can provide any honest feedback and first hand experience. It would be much appreciated.

Kind regards,
Charles

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[Polar]

Do not own; and shit show I agree.

Our C40 may be our last Volvo, which we both LOVE. Had an EX90 res, but once it was pushed back and our R1 res pushed forward the decision was then made.

I think @Count Orlok may have owned one, or I’m remembering wrong.

 

[voxel]

Dear Rivian family,

I regret to inform you that I have failed in persuading my better half to get a Rivian as well. She has her eyes set on a Volvo EX90 ( for some reason).

I’ve only ever seen a single one on the road. It seems like they’re not selling many of them at all?

I was looking at the EX90 forums and it seems like a complete sh!t show over there. I know forums can be biased and a place to vent and complain (who knew?). Thus, I’m wondering if any members own a EX90 and can provide any honest feedback and first hand experience. It would be much appreciated.

Kind regards,
Charles

Not an owner but ordered one (arrived and decline)and test drove one on the same day as 10 other EVs. Sales guy said American-built Volvos are kinda of a sh*t show due to parts QC.

With that said.. the ride quality, silence, and audio system is next level compared to a Rivian (G1 and G2!) or even a BMW iX with air suspension. The interiors are very nice and that B&W audio system is worth the premium.

Still... QC issues are real with the EX90.

 

[Mellowyellow]

I know a lot of their issues are very slowly getting fixed via OTAs and promised features are slowly getting enabled.

I’ve read many posts about the EX90 stranding owners because their PAAK is terrible. I have tolerance for this but my wife will have none of it. Either way, whatever happens, it’ll be my fault.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Volvo is one of the brands hardest hit by anti-China tariffs. I wouldn’t expect ownership to be less turbulent than Rivian.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

If she buys the Volvo, she might swear off EVs forever. Honestly, with all the quirks out there, any EV could push even a loyalist to the edge. I mean, back in our Lexus days, “stranded” wasn’t even in our vocabulary.

But credit where it’s due my wife has embraced the EV life. She adores her R1S. Loves it more than her Lexus, actually. And after two flawless years? Can’t blame her.

If I were you, I’d level up and go Macan EV. Show her EVs can be thrilling and reliable (deep breath).

 

[Mellowyellow]

If she buys the Volvo, she might swear off EVs forever. Honestly, with all the quirks out there, any EV could push even a loyalist to the edge. I mean, back in our Lexus days, “stranded” wasn’t even in our vocabulary.

But credit where it’s due my wife has embraced the EV life. She adores her R1S. Loves it more than her Lexus, actually. And after two flawless years? Can’t blame her.

If I were you, I’d level up and go Macan EV. Show her EVs can be thrilling and reliable (deep breath).

I would if I could but with 4 kids we need at least 6 seats. She doesn’t want R1S, gravity, Id buzz, ev9, ioniq9, etc.

 

[Great Gatsby]

I would if I could but with 4 kids we need at least 6 seats. She doesn’t want R1S, gravity, Id buzz, ev9, ioniq9, etc.

Is there a reason all of those much more reasonable choices are off the table compared to the EX90? Volvo and Polestar just sit at a weird spot for pricing and competition, given the performance and range that they offer. They make good looking, comfortable and futuristic looking vehicles for sure - but those price tags don't make any sense with what they offer.

 

[kvenom]

There is supposed to be a big software update that will fix a lot of the remaining glitches and random errors by the end of the summer (whenever that is in Volvo speak). However the 3% per day phantom drain and Lidar activation won't be fixed until they move to the updated Nvidia Orin chip. I'd wait for a 2026, because the 2025s will have to be retrofitted with them.

 

[ATLRivvy]

I would if I could but with 4 kids we need at least 6 seats. She doesn’t want R1S, gravity, Id buzz, ev9, ioniq9, etc.

Ehh - with that list of do not wants it sounds like she isn’t a tech forward person at all. Given that, she will likely use the ex90 exactly like she would an xc90 and not notice or care about most of the ex90 software issues. Just lease one and call it a day - with 4 kids, probably got enough other stuff to think about

 

[BigSkies]

I have the R1T, but my wife's coworker is one of those EX90 disaster stories.

This coworkers first EV roadtrip turned into a disaster. Somehow, they managed to trip some type of safety switch or control that disabled fast-charging. A half-day trip from Denver to Grand Junction turned into an overnight ordeal with young kids and a tow from Glenwood Springs to Grand Junction.

I may not have the details right, as I heard this second-hand. But regardless, it turned into a sh*t-show, and they're probably going to sell it.

Based on the available data, I'd at least give Volvo a year or two for working out the big issues before committing. It sounds like the EX90 was rushed to market without proper testing.

Hopefully Volvo is able to work out the issues soon. I think the EX90 has some great features that were executed on poorly.

 

[ENVErider]

Dear Rivian family,

I regret to inform you that I have failed in persuading my better half to get a Rivian as well. She has her eyes set on a Volvo EX90 ( for some reason).

I’ve only ever seen a single one on the road. It seems like they’re not selling many of them at all?

I was looking at the EX90 forums and it seems like a complete sh!t show over there. I know forums can be biased and a place to vent and complain (who knew?). Thus, I’m wondering if any members own a EX90 and can provide any honest feedback and first hand experience. It would be much appreciated.

Kind regards,
Charles

I'm an R1T owner, but the EX90 was my second choice. Out of spec did a review and called its premium audio system the best audio system they've ever heard, and some other reviewers have raved about the audio. I've seen other reviewers comment on the software interface needing some work, but honestly, if we were 2 years in the past, we'd see that there are many R1 reviewers and forum members talking about how buggy Rivian software was and their story of being stranded in a "bricked" R1. Today, the R1 is quite solid, and I love that my truck continues to improve every month, even years after its release. Despite some of the doomsday advice you're getting, Volvo is an established car brand and you have much more certainty that they will be around 5-10 years from now; I have faith in Rivian's future becaure the product is freaking amazing, but their continued existence is not guaranteed and arguably carries a higher risk of folding than legacy car brands.

 

[Mellowyellow]

Is there a reason all of those much more reasonable choices are off the table compared to the EX90? Volvo and Polestar just sit at a weird spot for pricing and competition, given the performance and range that they offer. They make good looking, comfortable and futuristic looking vehicles for sure - but those price tags don't make any sense with what they offer.

Is there a reason? Yes. Is it logical? I can't answer in case she checks the forums and reads this haha. She likes the way it looks and she likes the interior. That is pretty much it.

 

[Mellowyellow]

There is supposed to be a big software update that will fix a lot of the remaining glitches and random errors by the end of the summer (whenever that is in Volvo speak). However the 3% per day phantom drain and Lidar activation won't be fixed until they move to the updated Nvidia Orin chip. I'd wait for a 2026, because the 2025s will have to be retrofitted with them.

Good tip for the lidar, I had no idea. The thinking was to take advantage of the expiring $7500 and lease it, possibly buy it out immediately.

 

[Mellowyellow]

Ehh - with that list of do not wants it sounds like she isn’t a tech forward person at all. Given that, she will likely use the ex90 exactly like she would an xc90 and not notice or care about most of the ex90 software issues. Just lease one and call it a day - with 4 kids, probably got enough other stuff to think about

I had plans to lease and then immediate buy out. But I'm leaning more and more maybe just leasing.

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