The all-electric Volvo EX90 is the most impressive new luxury car launched in the past 12 months, says the World Car Awards expert jury. The seven-seat family SUV claims the title of World Luxury Car with its comfortable and refined interior, advanced safety technology and distinctive Scandinavian design.
Image: Supplied, Volvo Cars South Africa
LET'S face it, these days it’s not that easy to agree on anything. Along with the fact that the world has advanced technologically comes the rather juicy ‘problem’ of being spoilt for choice.
It’s easy to pick a shiny gemstone from amongst grey, dull stones, but it’s harder to spot the genuine article from amongst other shiny stones. For that you need an expert eye.
Now imagine 96 expert eyes from 30 different countries all looking at the same shiny stones. What do you think are the odds of the majority of them agreeing on the one stone that is most precious, the proverbial ‘diamond in the rough’?
Well, that’s exactly what happened when 96 car journalists from 30 countries had the task of choosing the World’s best Luxury Car for 2024; and their choice?
The top of the pile, the best of the best, turned out to be the Volvo EX90.
This vivacious Volvo slugged it out with some impressive entries. Look at this line-up: The BMW 5-Series, the BMW i5, the Lexus LM, the Mercedes-Benz CLE, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. To beat this bunch, the Volvo really had to pack a punch!
Yes, punch it did because the all-electric Volvo EX90 has been named the 2024 World Luxury Car by the World Car Awards jury, receiving high praise for its blend of comfort, advanced safety features, and understated Scandinavian design.
“We’re pleased to see the EX90 get the recognition it truly deserves,” said Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars. “This award proves that the EX90 appeals to some of the most demanding customers across the world.”
Announced ahead of the New York International Auto Show, the award comes from that panel of 96 automotive journalists from 30 countries that I mentioned earlier, who got to test drive the EX90. No doubt they noted its quiet, powerful performance and spacious, refined interior – they must have been really impressed; I know I’d have been.
But there’s more to the EX90 than just a quiet drive. The seven-seater SUV, I am told, is powered by twin electric motors delivering 510 horsepower. The cabin, one of the quietest in its class, features sustainable materials like Nordico – a leather-free upholstery made from recycled and bio-based content. Subtle ambient lighting and backlit wood trim enhance the interior feel.
The all-electric Volvo EX90 is the most impressive new luxury car launched in the past 12 months, says the World Car Awards expert jury. The seven-seat family SUV claims the title of World Luxury Car with its comfortable and refined interior, advanced safety technology and distinctive Scandinavian design.
Image: Volvo Cars South Africa
One thing we know about Volvos, the feature that’s always been true is its emphasis on safety and once again in the EX90, safety remains a Volvo hallmark. The EX90 incorporates lidar, cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors to create a detailed picture of its surroundings – part of its effort to reduce collisions and eventually reach zero fatalities in its cars.
Don’t worry, I see that frown; you’re wondering what ‘lidar’ is. Simply put, Light Detection and Ranging (lidar). It’s a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and map surroundings in high detail. Lidar helps the vehicle “see” the world around it more accurately – even in low light or bad weather, and this means that it can detect objects far ahead, with precise depth information, which is crucial for safety. In essence, it gives your car a ‘sixth sense’.
But what good would all that oomph and safety features be if they were housed in an ugly, boxy hunk of metal? Far from that, the EX90 is beautiful, sleek and somehow bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. Because while its clean design helps reduce drag, the EX90 is also practical: it offers 324 litres of cargo space with all seats up, expanding to 697 litres with the third row folded.
With this win, Volvo Cars now holds three World Car Awards:
Who doubts that there are probably more on the horizon, maybe beyond our sight, but plainly visible on Volvo’s lidar!
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