Alrik Söderlind has checked out the new Volvo XC90 facelift in Gothenburg. He likes what he sees, but wants more.
The automotive industry’s journey to selling only electric cars has encountered more challenges than many thought, say five years ago.
Worse finances, higher interest rates, problems with infrastructure – and of course a hesitation to buy because electric car technology is developing so quickly that many are happy to wait a little longer.
On the really fast-charging car with really low consumption and lower weight – at even lower prices because battery prices are on the way down.
Sales of electrified cars continue to increase worldwide, but it is mainly the plug-in hybrids that are taking the lead.
Volvo is following the trend of keeping its plug-in hybrids alive, but unlike, for example, BMW, which developed both plug-in hybrids, hybrids and electric versions of the new 5 series, the new Volvo EX90 is only electric – a decision that might not have been the best at the moment.
This means that you are now forced to keep alive the old XC90 that came back in 2014 by giving the old man a second facelift.
That’s good. I like the design and it somehow has a bit more of a luxury feel to it, whereas the EX90 is a bit more Range Rover understated.
What is best is obviously a matter of taste.
But the big disappointment with the updated EX90 is of course that the drivetrain has not been updated. The same 18.8-kWh battery and the same electric range of about seven miles. No DC charging, and only 6.4 kW AC charging.
It certainly doesn’t feel like 2025.
Competitors often offer around ten miles on electricity and much faster charging.
Prices are not official at the time of writing this, but the old XC90 T8 costs 935,000 kroner, compared to 997,000 for the EX90 with 408 hp and about 60 miles of range.
To choose the old man, you really have to have special driving needs and like to tow really loud trailers, 2.4 tons versus 2.2 tons. Or really distrust the country’s fast charging network. Love driving on petrol on long journeys.
You have a charging post at home, otherwise you wouldn’t buy a charging hybrid.
In my world, the Volvo EX90 wins by a large margin. In Sweden, the XC90 feels quite dead.
But of course, where fast charging is difficult, it can have its points.
