Volvo Cars has unveiled significant enhancements to its flagship three-row electric SUV, the EX90, focusing on faster charging, bolstered safety systems, and superior computing power. These updates arrive as the Swedish automaker continues international deliveries that began in Q1 2025, with an India debut anticipated by year-end. The refreshed model, applicable to the 2026 lineup, maintains the EX90’s sleek Scandinavian design while elevating its performance and intelligence.Priced to compete in the luxury EV space—potentially mirroring the XC90’s Rs 96 lakh to over Rs 1 crore ex-showroom bracket in India—the upgraded EX90 addresses key pain points in electric mobility, making it a stronger contender against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and BMW iX.
800V Architecture: Revolutionizing Charge Times and Efficiency
The headline upgrade is Volvo’s adoption of an 800-volt electrical architecture, supplanting the original 400-volt setup for enhanced power delivery, reduced charging durations, and sprightlier acceleration. This shift enables DC fast-charging peaks of up to 350 kW, a jump from the prior 250 kW limit, allowing drivers to replenish approximately 250 km of range in just 10 minutes under optimal conditions. Real-world gains may vary based on temperature and preconditioning, but the system’s efficiency also trims battery and motor material needs, contributing to a lighter curb weight without sacrificing the 107 kWh pack’s estimated 580-600 km WLTP range.Notably, the 800V tech is exclusive to 2026 models, though existing 2025 EX90 owners can access the complementary core computing upgrade at no cost via authorized service centers. This move underscores Volvo’s responsiveness to early adopter feedback, transforming potential drawbacks into strengths.AI-Powered Safety: Next-Level Protection for Every Journey
AI-Powered Safety: Next-Level Protection for Every Journey
Safety remains Volvo’s north star, and the EX90’s refresh amplifies this ethos with a dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin core computer—boasting 500 tera operations per second (TOPS) of AI processing. This powerhouse sharpens collision avoidance, hazard prediction, and semi-autonomous capabilities, building on the SUV’s LiDAR, radar, and camera suite.Fresh safety additions include:
- Emergency Stop Assist (ESA): Detects driver incapacity and steers the vehicle to a safe halt in-lane, activating hazards en route.
- Automatic e-Call: Seamlessly dials emergency services with GPS coordinates in the event of a detected incident.
- Connected Safety Alerts: Cloud-sourced warnings for road hazards like black ice or accidents ahead.
- Enhanced Automatic Emergency Steering: Improved low-light performance for pedestrian and cyclist evasion.
- Refined Park Pilot Assist: Smoother, more accurate hands-free parking.
These features, enabled by the upgraded processor, position the EX90 among the safest EVs available, potentially reducing accident risks in diverse driving scenarios from European autobahns to India’s bustling cities.
Subtle Luxury Enhancements and Seamless Integration
While aesthetics stay untouched, Volvo introduces an electrochromic panoramic sunroof for adjustable tinting, ideal for glare management in sunny climes like India. Software tweaks ensure fluid over-the-air (OTA) updates and intuitive use of the 14.5-inch Android Automotive OS touchscreen, with bolstered connectivity for navigation and entertainment.The dual-motor setup now feels more responsive, though exact power figures for the AWD variants (previously around 402 hp) await confirmation—expect incremental boosts from the 800V backbone.
Electrifying India’s Premium EV Landscape
As Volvo expands its EV offerings in India—including the compact EX30 and mid-size EX40—the EX90 arrives as the pinnacle of sustainable luxury. With FAME-II incentives and a burgeoning charging ecosystem, its late-2025 launch could accelerate premium EV adoption. Bookings should open imminently; prospective owners are advised to monitor Volvo India’s channels for reveals.In an era of rapid EV evolution, these EX90 upgrades don’t just patch gaps—they propel Volvo toward a vision of zero-emission driving that’s faster, safer, and smarter than ever.
