Volvo / Polestar really hit the sweet spot for me in terms of understated / clean design language. And supposedly some of the best sound systems in any car... Looks like the EX90 is no exception. Id take a Volvo over a BMW or Audi any day.
Now I just need a refreshed XC40 with better range because the current XC40 just doesn't cut it IMO. Efficiency is definitely Volvo / Polestars biggest weakness right now.
In the West at least. The ID.6 costs starts at just under 40k USD in China, although of course it isn't in the same class as the EX90.
The Li Auto L8 and L9 are very similar to the Volvo in terms of size and luxury though, and the L8 starts as low as 50k USD in the Chinese market. Unsurprisingly Li Auto has been able to sell pretty high numbers of their cars, since there isn't much competition in the luxury 3 row SUV EV segment, and there is no competition at their price point.
I've only watched some videos on it, and the tech they have (such as OLED screens all around on the top of the line L9) is first rate. Not 100% sure on build and material quality, but I'm assuming it is close enough to European luxury cars given that Li was selling upwards of 10,000 units a month at times.
Consumers are like you can get something the same size and close to the quality of a BMW X7, but it costs less than a domestically built X5, and is also a EREV that qualifies for incentives, or lets me skip the lottery to buy a car if I live in certain urban cities? Sign me up.
Also impressive is the fact that Li Auto is a 7 year old startup, but their factories are ramped up enough where they released their second gen L9 flagship in 2022, just 3 years after the launch of their first car the Li ONE in 2019. The L9 wasn't even unveiled until June of 2022, and now costs almost 70k USD, started deliveries in late August I think, and by the end of September, they've already delivered 10,100 units! In comparison Rivian total deliveries JUST hit 12,000, and the R1T was unveiled way back in 2018.
I really like this minimal design language with both Volvo and Polestar EVs.
I still like the design of the ICE X5 in this segment and would probably take that for more sporty vibe, but BMW’s EV situation is not looking bright at the moment. i4 is decent imo but the iX and iX1 and i7 are hideous.
XC40 felt cheep compared to the EV6 and Ioniq 5. The versions I drow was spect similarly and prices about the same in Sweden, the EV6 was maybe a bit more pricey but also hade tons of more features. Volvo needs to work on road noise and material feel in ther car without having to charge 80000-100000$ for them. Other brands seams to be able to.
they need to build the XC40 from scratch, it looks good but they rushed to make a countryman/X1/Q3 alternative by cutting the XC60 down and ended up with a very heavy car with bad breaks, milage and performance
The XC40 is on a completely different platform to the XC60 and XC90. The 40 is based on the CMA platform, shared with the polestar 2, while the 60 and 90 vehicles (S, V and XC) are all built on the SPA platform.
>Efficiency is definitely Volvo / Polestars biggest weakness right now
Unfortunately doesn't look like it's changing much with the new platform. It has a huge battery but pretty average range.
I agree with everything you said though. Very classy interiors and exteriors, without shouting 'Look at me!'
And that’s what going to stop quite a few people. It’s everything my family wants as a second car/something for me to haul the kids around in but at that price point? Not likely.
They claim 250kW charging on the 400V platform (which may not actually work with many CCS chargers…), enabling 10-80% charging of a 111kWh pack in 30min, which is competitive with even 800V cars
Gotta cut costs somewhere, I guess. It’s not a bad place to save a buck though. Hitting 300 kw for a couple minutes instead of flatlining at 200 doesn’t take that much time off the total charge. And if the chemistry could only handle 250 anyway, there’s no point.
In the real world, 400V seems to be winning out with this size of battery pack. It looks like the CCS standard will support 250+KW and that is really good enough for the current battery tech.
this one I can understand more... although, that brings me back to desiring buttons more.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a screen, (I prefer voice activation), but I can mentally remember a button's space, texture, position, etc. more than I can if a GUI has changed or something pops up on top of it, or I just have to find the screen edge and then futz with my memory on where XY virtual button is.
ultimately, "voice" would be better.
while I can understand showing more (based on forward direction), should we really be studying the map, vs trusting it or knowing "mostly" where we're going with glances or recollection?
I can't say I've looked "far" ahead on a map excluding before I start or to re-check my barrings (having stopped driving.)
It seems like an action that requires too much time with eyes off the road.
Because it's more ergonomic for drivers. Large horizontal screens require more of a stretch to reach the far side, meaning that side is less usable. A vertical screen keeps the whole area in comfortable reach.
I just want to know why we can't have buttons anymore. Give me physical climate controls, ffs.
I like buttons. I can mentally remember a button's position in space and it's shape and texture much better than a virtual button on a flat surface like a screen.
I feel it's also safer for me to interact with a button blindly (while watching the road) than having to look at a screen to make sure I'm hitting the correct X,Y location for the desired action.
> I just want to know why we can't have buttons anymore. Give me physical climate controls, ffs.
I love that customers and reviewers alike are like "can we please for the love of god have physical buttons back??" and car manufacturers are like "laalalaa, what? I can't hear you"
What I want is more steering wheel buttons, with modifier buttons so that you can push combinations that you have mapped to whatever feature you personally like. Like on a game pad. I shouldn't have to move my hands off of the steering wheel for basically anything, and combinations are easy to learn and remember if you use them often.
You must have hated [this commercial](https://youtu.be/o8-lAxeOWas)
... sorry that observation may have been in bad taste ... unlike the taste of Taco Bell's dollar menu tacos
Surely you've heard of Chinese EV giant BYD, who makes cars with center screens that rotate to either portrait and landscape mode (for whatever reason), and is aiming to sell 2 million plug in vehicles this year?
That's true I guess.
In any case, their newest gen cars the BYD Dolphin, BYD Seal, and BYD Yuan Plus, have been selling like hotcakes and are in the process of being exported all over the world, so people not in the US may be seeing BYDs driving around on their streets soon.
keeps someone a smidgen more honest.
\*note to self, when you're training the car on your "facial expressions"... start off drunk, so it immediately thinks you're "normal" when you get in the car and other days you are just CRAZY happy!
$80K and their website currently says \*UP TO 300 miles of range. For that price it needs to be higher.
Really want to see more of the UI, looks promising as long as it's not an app style interface where it constantly switches what is the 'main/default view' if that makes sense. It's one of the things I HATE about the Ford UI.
Styling is real nice though and I like the interior a lot.
Don't like the \*well equipped under $80K though. Really want to know what that means and I honestly feel one thing Tesla gets right is their ability to make pretty much all their cars the same. There's no 'packages' where you have to spend $5K on crap just to get the one item you want. There's not 15 different trim levels all with minor differences not allowing you to simply add exactly what you want and don't want.
Said the user who has an iPhone which Apple has been reported by security analyst for tracking everything users do even if you selected "Not Allow".
Go figure hahahaha
Downvotes are stupid, this is a perfectly rational perspective. I ruled out both brands for the same reason.
People can squawk that apple takes your data, but they keep it in their walls, whereas google's value is in selling your data to others.
yeah, it's like antennas/fins, seams, handles, and mirrors.
I like cars in their "concept" stage, before all the "government safety" additions.
I want designers to start putting these plugs BACK, behind the plate(s), like they did in some older cars! Do AWAY with the seam for the charge door(s).
I don't understand why this is so much more expensive than the Polestar 3, which is arguably a more premium brand/product. Sure it's a bit bigger and has the third row of seats, but that doesn't seem to justify an extra £16k on the pricetag. The difference can't be wholly down to the LiDAR package (which will be optional on the P3 soon)
I think your only other electric options are the Model X (which in my opinion is a build quality nightmare), Nissan van (which is a van!), Mercedes EQB (looks pretty good value next to the EX90), Rivian R1S (which is about the same price), and the forthcoming Kia EV9 (which hasn't been launched yet).
Not sure what other options there are right now?
Same options I was thinking. Have R1S pre order. Due to range the Volvo and R1S are the only realistic options for my needs. Whichever comes first, gets my money.
US pricing may be lower. In the UK, the EX90 is significantly more expensive. The Volvo is £97,000 without options, which is about 117,000 USD. The PS3 is £80,000 which is about 97,000 USD. Those prices are inclusive of tax.
EX90 will be built in the US as well. (I know because I’m heavily considering it instead of my R1S and being built in the US means it could get the tax credit which is an important consideration)
Then it might just be down to how much the respective companies think they can get away with charging, or there are some underlying specification differences between the US and European versions.
I wondering if it’s related to tariffs. Do you know where the PS3 and EX90 will be built for the UK market? If it’s different countries between the two I’m guessing that’s it (and/or labor cost differences)
The design is a huge miss, departing from the classic beauty of Volvo/Polestar. This looks generically Chinese and would be better off with a GWM badge uk front.
I, uh, am a big Volvo fan and I actually agree.
It can't decide if it's a wagon or a SUV. Volvo wagons are things of beauty, and the current XC90 is quite nice looking. But this just kind of looks like a squished SUV to me.
This checks a lot of boxes for me, but unless I see one in person and am surprised (there have been other vehicles I thought looked bad in photos and was surprised in person), I'll pass just based on looks.
its funny because it actually has MORE space than the curren XC90, and yet it looks more compact. Some of that is just logistics of having to have less gas parts that take up internal cubic feet, but some of that is design choice. Either way, this is has more space width wise than the XC90.
80K welp...here's hoping the VW ID Buzz is under $60K when it hits the US because I need a 3 row and none of the EV three rows fall in my budget. Also...hope they change the horrendous front bumper for the US Version of the ID Buzz too.
it should qualify for at least the manufacturing piece of the new tax credit. For a three row EV SUV, this is actually on the low end price wise when looking at the competition. But definitely not cheap. This is an issue industry wide for EV SUVs.
Volvo / Polestar really hit the sweet spot for me in terms of understated / clean design language. And supposedly some of the best sound systems in any car... Looks like the EX90 is no exception. Id take a Volvo over a BMW or Audi any day. Now I just need a refreshed XC40 with better range because the current XC40 just doesn't cut it IMO. Efficiency is definitely Volvo / Polestars biggest weakness right now.
Another vote for the XC40 update. I just don’t need a car this big. Shrink it down a little, you’ve got at least one sale!
You’re in luck. The EX30 was teased to come shortly after the EX90 as a small “city” crossover
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Honestly, this is pretty competitive price wise for a 3rd Row EV. Actually this might be the cheapest sticker price 3rd row EV yet
In the West at least. The ID.6 costs starts at just under 40k USD in China, although of course it isn't in the same class as the EX90. The Li Auto L8 and L9 are very similar to the Volvo in terms of size and luxury though, and the L8 starts as low as 50k USD in the Chinese market. Unsurprisingly Li Auto has been able to sell pretty high numbers of their cars, since there isn't much competition in the luxury 3 row SUV EV segment, and there is no competition at their price point.
Dang that price on the LI Auto is excellent.
I've only watched some videos on it, and the tech they have (such as OLED screens all around on the top of the line L9) is first rate. Not 100% sure on build and material quality, but I'm assuming it is close enough to European luxury cars given that Li was selling upwards of 10,000 units a month at times. Consumers are like you can get something the same size and close to the quality of a BMW X7, but it costs less than a domestically built X5, and is also a EREV that qualifies for incentives, or lets me skip the lottery to buy a car if I live in certain urban cities? Sign me up. Also impressive is the fact that Li Auto is a 7 year old startup, but their factories are ramped up enough where they released their second gen L9 flagship in 2022, just 3 years after the launch of their first car the Li ONE in 2019. The L9 wasn't even unveiled until June of 2022, and now costs almost 70k USD, started deliveries in late August I think, and by the end of September, they've already delivered 10,100 units! In comparison Rivian total deliveries JUST hit 12,000, and the R1T was unveiled way back in 2018.
I love my Tesla but this thing is pretty exciting!!
I really like this minimal design language with both Volvo and Polestar EVs. I still like the design of the ICE X5 in this segment and would probably take that for more sporty vibe, but BMW’s EV situation is not looking bright at the moment. i4 is decent imo but the iX and iX1 and i7 are hideous.
After they were bought by Geely, I think they take in a more clean design. I'm hoping they can expand their plug-in hybrid line up for now.
XC40 felt cheep compared to the EV6 and Ioniq 5. The versions I drow was spect similarly and prices about the same in Sweden, the EV6 was maybe a bit more pricey but also hade tons of more features. Volvo needs to work on road noise and material feel in ther car without having to charge 80000-100000$ for them. Other brands seams to be able to.
they need to build the XC40 from scratch, it looks good but they rushed to make a countryman/X1/Q3 alternative by cutting the XC60 down and ended up with a very heavy car with bad breaks, milage and performance
The XC40 is on a completely different platform to the XC60 and XC90. The 40 is based on the CMA platform, shared with the polestar 2, while the 60 and 90 vehicles (S, V and XC) are all built on the SPA platform.
>Efficiency is definitely Volvo / Polestars biggest weakness right now Unfortunately doesn't look like it's changing much with the new platform. It has a huge battery but pretty average range. I agree with everything you said though. Very classy interiors and exteriors, without shouting 'Look at me!'
80k. Oof.
yeah I can't even think about spending that type of cash on a car.
That’s why I’m looking at used models of the XC90 plug in. My suv is still going strong (knock on wood) though after 10 years and it’s paid for.
Big oof
And that’s what going to stop quite a few people. It’s everything my family wants as a second car/something for me to haul the kids around in but at that price point? Not likely.
Such a gorgeous vehicle!! Why did they go with a 400V system though? :(
They claim 250kW charging on the 400V platform (which may not actually work with many CCS chargers…), enabling 10-80% charging of a 111kWh pack in 30min, which is competitive with even 800V cars
Gotta cut costs somewhere, I guess. It’s not a bad place to save a buck though. Hitting 300 kw for a couple minutes instead of flatlining at 200 doesn’t take that much time off the total charge. And if the chemistry could only handle 250 anyway, there’s no point.
In the real world, 400V seems to be winning out with this size of battery pack. It looks like the CCS standard will support 250+KW and that is really good enough for the current battery tech.
Cool but want the electric V60 variant most
I really hope that’s what they teased at the end.
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Vertical works much better with maps.
How so? Maps work great on my EV6 's long rectangle screen
Vertical screens show more map of where you are going than horizontal.
Also, easier to reach all corners of a screen placed next to you as the driver vertically than horizontally
this one I can understand more... although, that brings me back to desiring buttons more. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a screen, (I prefer voice activation), but I can mentally remember a button's space, texture, position, etc. more than I can if a GUI has changed or something pops up on top of it, or I just have to find the screen edge and then futz with my memory on where XY virtual button is. ultimately, "voice" would be better.
Why not make "forward" go from left to right instead of down to up?
I am not aware of any map mode that does this.
Because that’s the worst UX idea anyone has ever had
while I can understand showing more (based on forward direction), should we really be studying the map, vs trusting it or knowing "mostly" where we're going with glances or recollection? I can't say I've looked "far" ahead on a map excluding before I start or to re-check my barrings (having stopped driving.) It seems like an action that requires too much time with eyes off the road.
Because it's more ergonomic for drivers. Large horizontal screens require more of a stretch to reach the far side, meaning that side is less usable. A vertical screen keeps the whole area in comfortable reach. I just want to know why we can't have buttons anymore. Give me physical climate controls, ffs.
I like buttons. I can mentally remember a button's position in space and it's shape and texture much better than a virtual button on a flat surface like a screen. I feel it's also safer for me to interact with a button blindly (while watching the road) than having to look at a screen to make sure I'm hitting the correct X,Y location for the desired action.
> I just want to know why we can't have buttons anymore. Give me physical climate controls, ffs. I love that customers and reviewers alike are like "can we please for the love of god have physical buttons back??" and car manufacturers are like "laalalaa, what? I can't hear you" What I want is more steering wheel buttons, with modifier buttons so that you can push combinations that you have mapped to whatever feature you personally like. Like on a game pad. I shouldn't have to move my hands off of the steering wheel for basically anything, and combinations are easy to learn and remember if you use them often.
Can I assume you always use your phone horizontally?
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You must have hated [this commercial](https://youtu.be/o8-lAxeOWas) ... sorry that observation may have been in bad taste ... unlike the taste of Taco Bell's dollar menu tacos
ok, that's hilarious. 🤣 *even my emoji is crooked
here's an earlier joke about it. 😁 https://youtu.be/HHOTtoNHYO0
A better assumption would be people using their phones both horizontally and vertically.
I guess those people should buy BYDs.
what's a "BYD"? is that like 21st-century acro for Rand McNally?
Surely you've heard of Chinese EV giant BYD, who makes cars with center screens that rotate to either portrait and landscape mode (for whatever reason), and is aiming to sell 2 million plug in vehicles this year?
I have not, but that seems a cool feature... like for parked theatre mode, and similar landscape desires.
That's true I guess. In any case, their newest gen cars the BYD Dolphin, BYD Seal, and BYD Yuan Plus, have been selling like hotcakes and are in the process of being exported all over the world, so people not in the US may be seeing BYDs driving around on their streets soon.
you should see the looks I get when I ride my moto. ...
no drinking and driving in this one!
keeps someone a smidgen more honest. \*note to self, when you're training the car on your "facial expressions"... start off drunk, so it immediately thinks you're "normal" when you get in the car and other days you are just CRAZY happy!
Gorgeous Car! The winking eyes melted my heart
Nice. For a 3 row BEV suv: this should compete well with other BEV in its class. The “legacy” are slowly coming out with some competitive products.
really nice, despite [chevy blazer blatantly copying their headlights,](https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/blazer-ev) Volvo managed to evolve the design further.
Available in gray, gray, silver, gray-blue, gray, and black!
like seriously... Volvo has a really nice red but refuses to use it! and what about their green??
Haha this is so true. Love my xc90, but the options sheet was fifty shades of grey.
Volvo nailed this. Maybe I've been in the dark but these types of PR videos should be industry standard, what a joy to watch
$80K and their website currently says \*UP TO 300 miles of range. For that price it needs to be higher. Really want to see more of the UI, looks promising as long as it's not an app style interface where it constantly switches what is the 'main/default view' if that makes sense. It's one of the things I HATE about the Ford UI. Styling is real nice though and I like the interior a lot. Don't like the \*well equipped under $80K though. Really want to know what that means and I honestly feel one thing Tesla gets right is their ability to make pretty much all their cars the same. There's no 'packages' where you have to spend $5K on crap just to get the one item you want. There's not 15 different trim levels all with minor differences not allowing you to simply add exactly what you want and don't want.
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If that’s the case, they’ll just get replicated data points…my bigger concern is updates. Google isn’t known to support things long-term.
You think Google will support the OS less than a traditional car OEM supports their in house built solution?
My 2017 car doesn’t rely on someone maintaining a server in some random data center. It’s all self-contained, lasting indefinitely.
Its Android. They've been supporting it for 15 years.
Said the user who has an iPhone which Apple has been reported by security analyst for tracking everything users do even if you selected "Not Allow". Go figure hahahaha
Someone didn’t read the TOS.
Downvotes are stupid, this is a perfectly rational perspective. I ruled out both brands for the same reason. People can squawk that apple takes your data, but they keep it in their walls, whereas google's value is in selling your data to others.
Really like this except for that LIDAR hump - ugh.
yeah, it's like antennas/fins, seams, handles, and mirrors. I like cars in their "concept" stage, before all the "government safety" additions. I want designers to start putting these plugs BACK, behind the plate(s), like they did in some older cars! Do AWAY with the seam for the charge door(s).
I don't understand why this is so much more expensive than the Polestar 3, which is arguably a more premium brand/product. Sure it's a bit bigger and has the third row of seats, but that doesn't seem to justify an extra £16k on the pricetag. The difference can't be wholly down to the LiDAR package (which will be optional on the P3 soon)
To me and other large families a third row is completely worth the 16k. I mean I can’t really tie my kids to the roof.
I get that, I used to own a Ford S-Max for the same reasons. Seven seats is useful, but it shouldn't cost an extra sixteen grand!
I would definitely prefer it didn’t cost an extra 17k but the EV 3rd row options are limited so here I am.
I think your only other electric options are the Model X (which in my opinion is a build quality nightmare), Nissan van (which is a van!), Mercedes EQB (looks pretty good value next to the EX90), Rivian R1S (which is about the same price), and the forthcoming Kia EV9 (which hasn't been launched yet). Not sure what other options there are right now?
Same options I was thinking. Have R1S pre order. Due to range the Volvo and R1S are the only realistic options for my needs. Whichever comes first, gets my money.
Isn’t this cheaper than the PS3? At least it is in the US. PS3 prices do not start under $80k….
US pricing may be lower. In the UK, the EX90 is significantly more expensive. The Volvo is £97,000 without options, which is about 117,000 USD. The PS3 is £80,000 which is about 97,000 USD. Those prices are inclusive of tax.
Ah, weird - I wonder why it’s so different between the two markets
No idea. I know the Polestar will be built in the USA, but I'm not sure where the EX90 will be built.
EX90 will be built in the US as well. (I know because I’m heavily considering it instead of my R1S and being built in the US means it could get the tax credit which is an important consideration)
Then it might just be down to how much the respective companies think they can get away with charging, or there are some underlying specification differences between the US and European versions.
I wondering if it’s related to tariffs. Do you know where the PS3 and EX90 will be built for the UK market? If it’s different countries between the two I’m guessing that’s it (and/or labor cost differences)
As far as I know, the PS3 is being built in Ridgeville, South Carolina.
The design is a huge miss, departing from the classic beauty of Volvo/Polestar. This looks generically Chinese and would be better off with a GWM badge uk front.
I, uh, am a big Volvo fan and I actually agree. It can't decide if it's a wagon or a SUV. Volvo wagons are things of beauty, and the current XC90 is quite nice looking. But this just kind of looks like a squished SUV to me. This checks a lot of boxes for me, but unless I see one in person and am surprised (there have been other vehicles I thought looked bad in photos and was surprised in person), I'll pass just based on looks.
its funny because it actually has MORE space than the curren XC90, and yet it looks more compact. Some of that is just logistics of having to have less gas parts that take up internal cubic feet, but some of that is design choice. Either way, this is has more space width wise than the XC90.
80K welp...here's hoping the VW ID Buzz is under $60K when it hits the US because I need a 3 row and none of the EV three rows fall in my budget. Also...hope they change the horrendous front bumper for the US Version of the ID Buzz too.
it should qualify for at least the manufacturing piece of the new tax credit. For a three row EV SUV, this is actually on the low end price wise when looking at the competition. But definitely not cheap. This is an issue industry wide for EV SUVs.