MOTORS Volvo’s EX90

Growing Pains for flagship Volvo EX90

Volvo’s big seven-seater family SUV, the XC90, gives way to an all-electric successor: the EX90. But along with a modern electric drivetrain comes an eye-watering price that will see the car go head-to-head with Range Rover...

SINCE ITS RELEASE in 2002, Volvo’s XC90 has taken just one new generation model and a couple of facelifts in between to remain one of the most dependable and desirable family cars on the market. Over 108,000 XC90s were sold in 2021, making it the third best selling model behind the XC40 and the XC60. It’s easy to see why. As a mild hybrid from £62,000 or a plug-in hybrid from £71,000, the car offers plenty of metal for the money, lots of standard kit, seven seats, Volvo’s reputation for safety and a bit of Scandi-individuality too. But with a push towards electrification, the XC90 must give way to the all-electric EX90, and to a huge hike in price to £96,225 for the Twin-Motor version and £100,555 for the Twin-Motor Performance variant... and that puts it in Range Rover territory. We can very easily discount the Performance version. The regular model produces 408hp, it has a range of 363 miles combined, and zero emissions from the tailpipe, reaching 60mpg in 5.9 seconds, with top speed limited to 112mph. We see no point in opting for the Performance version to shave a second off the car’s acceleration. Seven seats are standard, and Volvo’s seats are regarded as the most comfortable car seats on the market. Luggage space is an OK-ish 310 litres with all seven seats, a more than decent 655 litres in five seater configuration and a whopping 1,912 litres with just the two front seats in use. Also standard is a huge amount of kit, from a 14.5” touch-screen to built-in Google and 5G, a panoramic roof, 360° camera, blindspot assist, four-zone climate control, massaging heated seats, cabin pre-heating, adaptive cruise, automatic parallel and perpendicular parking, a Bowers & Wilkins stereo, wireless phone charging and a power tailgate.

The cabin has a lovely Scandi feel to it, with artificial leather or tailored wool blend upholstery and light ash wood trim. We like it best in the lighter Nordico colourway, though.

Off-road, the EX90 won’t get near a Range Rover, and the six-figure price tag puts it within sniffing distance of some seriously desirable competitors. But there’s no denying the subtle, tasteful and really very beautiful execution Volvo has achieved with the EX90.

THE DETAILS Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin Motor

Price: £96,255 (on sale now). Powertrain: All electric, 408hp with front and rear motors, and automatic gearbox. Performance: Top speed 112mph, 0-60mph 5.9secs. Range 363 miles. Equipment: Artificial leather, heated massaging seats. Seven seats, 14.5” screen, Google and 5G connectivity, adaptive cruise, 360° camera, Bowers & Wilkins stereo, power tailgate, panoramic roof, wireless phone charging. n

A Volkswagen for the 21st Century, it’s The VW ID.Buzz

Remember those old Volkswagen Kombi campers, with their split screens and fold down beds? Now, the company has given the vehicle a hippy-hippy-shake-up with a 21st century reboot...

THIS MIGHT BE A TOUGH SELL, for one of two reasons. Firstly, Volkswagen faces the same problem as Land Rover when it reinvented the Defender, and Mini when it reinvented its beloved small car from the swinging sixties. Volkswagen’s classic campers and Kombi models are synonymous with hippies, surfers, and those who enjoy a bit of retro camping. Fans of the original are likely to draw comparisons, and it probably won’t be pretty. Secondly, though, even without us making reference to its forebear, the ID.Buzz is still a bit of a Marmite car; you’ll either love it, or hate it, looks-wise. The company says it’s a ‘visual homage’ to the original camper, which is marketing speak for ‘we’ve not actually made it into a camper, yet.’ A camper will inevitably follow, but for now, there’s a van-based ID.Buzz, with just under four square metres of cargo space, and then the passenger version, in Life or Style trim, costing £57,115 or £61,915 respectively. Both are fully electric, powered by a 77kWh motor with 204ps of power and a respectable electric range of 258 miles. Brisk? It is not. 60mph is reached in 10.2 seconds, top speed is 90mph. More than plenty for safe and legal drivers, in fairness. Spacious? It is. Just the five seats, but decent headroom and 1,121 litres of boot space with the seats in place. Fold the rear seats down, and there’s 2,205 litres of space... which is positively van-like.

A sliding door adds practicality, and aids egress for passengers in tight car parks. And that’s just the beginning of the car’s list of standard kit. A heated front windscreen, heated seats and steering wheel keep you toasty in winter. Adaptive cruise control, a rear view camera and Park Assist all help with manoeuvrability, and there’s sat nav, Apple CarPlay and ambient lighting.

Modern? Definitely. Has it lost a bit of character when compared to the old one? Certainly. Are we crying out for a camper van version? Absolutely. However, as a family car proposition, The ID.Buzz is spacious, practical and well-equipped. Unusual, but not bad at all. n

THE DETAILS Volkswagen ID.Buzz Life

Price: £57,115 (On sale now). Powertrain: 77kWh electric motor, generating 204ps, RWD. Performance: Top speed 90mph, 0-60mph 10.2secs. WLTP range 258 miles combined. Equipment: Electric windows, mirrors, two-zone climate control, sat nav, DAB radio, adaptive cruise, heated seats and steering wheel, Apple CarPlay, Park Assist Plus (automated parking), and sensors 10-colour ambient lighting. n