World Car Awards: Volvo EX90 claims World Luxury Car title

Our seven-seater family SUV claims the title of World Luxury Car, convincing the jury with its comfortable and refined interior, advanced technology and distinctive Scandinavian design.

The EX90 took the crown as the results were announced at the New York International Auto Show during a World Car Awards ceremony. The jury, made up of 96 car journalists from 30 countries, was won over during extensive test drives where they could fully appreciate the silent yet powerful ride of the EX90, along with its ergonomic and luxurious interior designed for long-journey comfort.

“We’re pleased to see the EX90 get the recognition it truly deserves,” says Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive officer of Volvo Cars. “It was up against some tough competition, but this award proves that the EX90 appeals to some of the most demanding customers across the world.”

The design approach for the EX90 is straightforward and boils down to some of the underlying fundamentals of Scandinavian design. An important aspect is that form follows function, meaning designing for a purpose.

For the EX90, we drew inspiration from yacht design to create sleek proportions. The front end is confident, yet smoothly rounded, allowing air to flow optimally around the car. This design, combined with flush elements such as side glazing, also significantly improves aerodynamics and efficiency.

Integrating the LiDAR on the EX90 was an aerodynamic challenge, but worthwhile due to its contribution to safety when combined with cameras, radars and ultrasonic sensors. Together, they provide a detailed image of what's going on around the car. The LiDAR helps detect vulnerable road users up to 200 metres away, even in complete darkness.

The challenge lies in its placement: to maximise its effectiveness, the LiDAR needs to be positioned high on the roof. To reduce aerodynamic drag and maintain the car’s sleek proportions, it’s integrated at the centre of the roofline. It sits just at the top of the windshield, under a low-profile cover – a nearly seamless solution.

Another key feature of the electric design is the longer wheelbase and flat floor inside the car, possible thanks to short overhangs and the battery placed low between the wheels. This opens the interior space for passengers and allows for greater modularity and ergonomics, as well as new design possibilities.

Inside the cabin, which is among the quietest of the segment, the EX90 introduces new progressive materials that highlight Volvo Cars’ unique perspective on modern luxury. Nordico, for example, is a bio-attributed leather-free upholstery with an elegant look. This smooth material is made from recycled materials and bio-attributed material from forests in Sweden and Finland. The advanced interior LED technology, which reproduces a light spectrum close to natural sunlight, and the back-lit FSC-certified wood decor add to the ambience onboard.

Thanks to its true seven-seater configuration, the EX90 comes with a perk that is rare in its segment: ample trunk space. With all seven seats up, the EX90 has a load capacity of up to 310 litres behind the third row. With the third row folded, the storage capacity goes up to 655 litres, which makes the EX90 stand out among many of its peers.

With this title, Volvo Cars has won three World Car Awards, including the overall 2018 World Car of the year for the Volvo XC60 and 2024 World Urban Car for the Volvo EX30. In 2018, Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson was the inaugural winner of the World Car Person of the Year award.