Volvo slashed the price of its electric SUV and a whole motor paid for it
The new base EX90 is 18,000 dollars cheaper in Australia. But rear-wheel drive, a smaller battery and shorter range are the price of that bargain.
Want to make a flagship EV cheaper? Just take out one motor. That’s exactly what Volvo did. Australia has just seen the debut of a fresh base version of the electric EX90 SUV — the Plus Single Motor. It belongs to the 2027 model year, orders are already open, and the crossover lands in local showrooms in September or October.
The big story here is the price. And it is a stunner. The new Volvo EX90 Plus Single Motor costs 106,990 Australian dollars before on-road costs, roughly $74,300. The previous entry model, the Plus Twin Motor, asked 124,990 Australian dollars, about $86,700, while the flagship Ultra Twin Motor Performance sits at 134,990 Australian dollars — nearly $93,700.
But that discount had to be paid for, and not only in cash. The Single Motor lost its front electric motor and turned rear-wheel drive. Output is 245 kW, torque 480 Nm. The battery was trimmed too, down to 92 kWh, and the claimed range now stands at 479 km on the WLTP cycle. For comparison, the old EX90 Plus Twin Motor carried two motors making a combined 330 kW, a 106 kWh battery, covered 521 km and cracked 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.
The new base EX90 hits 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. There is one pleasant twist: a fast charge from 10% to 80% takes 22 minutes against 24 minutes for the bigger-battery car. But here is what will upset trailer fans — the braked towing capacity has crashed from 2200 to 1500 kg.
On equipment, the Plus Single Motor barely trails the Plus Twin Motor. The list runs to a 14.5-inch multimedia screen, four-zone climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, 20-inch wheels and a 14-speaker audio system.
Earlier, Subaru revealed prices for the electric Trailseeker EV 2027 for the US market.