Even if the current climate has some people questioning the future of electric cars, EVs are where luxury is firmly planted and taking root. Luxury purveyors, after all, deflect the short term flash, instead investing in innovation, design and technology to stay ahead of the market. They operate in a different strata, and that’s where Volvo is orchestrating its future, much of it seen in the Volvo EX90 three-row electric SUV.

The luxury in the all-electric Volvo EX90, which delivers up to 310 miles of range on a charge, starts with a 111 kWh battery pack that delivers an incredible amount of power for a three-row SUV: either 402 hp in the Twin Motor option or 510 in the Twin Motor Performance. For comparison, the Twin Motor delivers more power than the BMW X7 40i’s 375 hp output, and the Performance option nearly matches the BMW X7 M60i’s 523 hp.

From there, the EX90’s two trims, Plus and Ultra, feature all wheel drive, premium sound, seating for six or seven passengers, a panoramic sun roof, a large center screen with Google Built-in and new interior design options.

Volvo EX90’s Design Preserves The Tried And True

Volvo approached the design of EX90, priced from $79,995 to $85,640, by preserving the classic details and proportions of the Volvo XC90, one of the top-selling luxury three-row SUVs. The size and shape of the XC90 is what makes it popular with families for its flexible space, extra seating, a reinforced frame and plentiful safety features.

Building on the foundation of a Scandinavian lounge theme with an open cabin feel, light colors and sculpted seats, the EX90 takes the idea further with a floating center console and a minimalistic approach to the interior. That isn’t to say that there is a lack of detail, in fact, it’s the opposite. Details are not eliminated, but instead highlighted with ambient lighting. The result is a minimalist dashboard bisected by air vents, USB ports hidden in a lower under-dash storage area and light wood veneer panels that glow with backlighting at night.

Few Buttons Or Dials Add To The Minimalist Approach

The streamlined look of the dashboard and center console is thanks to the lack of panels of buttons or dials. In fact, there is only one dial: the multimedia controller on the center console. Functions that a driver might look for are found on steering wheel stalks or on the multimedia screen, which is where headlight controls and side mirror adjustments are found. The steering wheel also holds function buttons that come to life with backlighted controls when the car is powered on.

And, there is no starter button. To power on the EX90 requires only sitting in the driver’s seat with the key fob, key card or an enabled smart phone and pressing the brake to power on the car. The car will also lock when someone walks away with the key.

Volvo also eliminated some buttons for window controls, a feature that may take getting used to. The new window buttons on the driver’s side door require toggling between front and rear windows—one for the driver’s side and one for the passenger’s side. Volvo says that eliminating equipment helped to reduce the carbon footprint of each vehicle.

Driving The Volvo EX90 Is A True Luxury

The driver’s seat may be the Volvo EX90’s most luxurious position due to a delightful amount of power under foot. The torque response is quick thanks to Volvo’s belief that power is a luxury. Floor the accelerator on the highway and enjoy the thrill of instant propulsion.

With one pedal driving turned off (a selection on the multimedia system), the Volvo EX90 manages low-speed driving through neighborhoods quite nicely. But it’s worth learning to use one-pedal driving, which stops the car quickly at low speeds, though less so at higher speeds. Once you learn to use this system, though, its entirely possible to use the brake pedal only occasionally and still not make your passengers feel carsick.

A Sustainable Approach To Upholstery Adds To The Luxe Feel

One of the most noticeable details in the Volvo EX90 is one that may not be immediately clear: the use of leatherette rather than leather. Volvo’s proprietary faux leather, called Nordico, is sourced from sustainable and renewable materials such as pine sap and recovered plastics. The clean-slate approach to the interiors allowed Volvo’s designers to rethink the colors, textures and other materials used in the EX90’s interior, resulting in a layered assemblage that adds to the Scandinavian salon feel.

Buyers of both the Plus and Ultra models can opt for heated and vented massaging seats, center row captains chairs with integrated cup holders in the arm rests and a woven upholstery option for those who don’t want leatherette.

The Volvo EX90, which is a few inches longer than the XC90, features center seats that slide and tilt forward for third row access. The third row, while nicely appointed, takes a bit more agility to reach; with the center row seats fully pushed back, third row leg room is limited, though it is both more accessible and comfortable with center row captains chairs.

Google Built-in Defines All Modern Volvos

The lack of buttons, dials and control panels may be of concern to those who think hunting through screens while driving is dangerous (it is). But Volvo’s answer to that is to simply ask for what you want, a function that is at the core of the Google Built-in system. Along with “hey Google” voice assistance, the system features Google Maps, apps and other functions on the oversized touch screen system, and yes, it also allows the use of Apple CarPlay.

The screen is divided into sections for ease of use: The top of the screen displays the system in use, such as navigation or entertainment; below it, two boxes feature current systems in use such as radio or phone; a narrow tool bar below it shows most recent apps used for quick access and below that a fixed climate panel offers temperature and fan settings.

Overall, the Volvo EX90 challenges drivers to think and function differently. There are certainly learning curves, but all cars come with those and it’s part of the mystique: Learning to drive smarter and more efficiently in a luxury car is to beat the machine at its game without sacrificing comforts or conveniences.