Volvo is kicking off 2026 with serious momentum, confirming not one but two all-new fully electric SUVs headed for New Zealand, and both are set to make a major impact on the premium EV landscape. The brand has locked in arrival timing, specs and pricing for the flagship EX90, while also revealing that the hotly anticipated EX60 will follow later this year.
The charge begins in late March when the award‑winning EX90 touches down. Priced from $149,990 + ORC for the Plus Twin Motor AWD, and $159,990 + ORC for the Ultra Twin Motor Performance AWD, Volvo’s first fully electric seven-seater promises to redefine what Kiwi families can expect from a premium EV. And it already arrives with major street cred, having taken home the 2025 World Luxury Car of the Year title.
What makes the EX90 such a landmark model? For starters, it’s a premium, fully electric seven-seat SUV, an immediate advantage in a family-focused country like ours. With a WLTP range of up to 600km, a clean and minimalist Scandinavian design, and advanced software-driven engineering, it’s an SUV that feels as much like a next-generation device as it does a mode of transport. Over‑the‑air updates, modern proportions and a cabin stripped of unnecessary clutter complete the picture of a vehicle designed very much for tomorrow.
But Volvo’s product onslaught isn’t stopping there.
Arriving later in 2026 is the EX60, set to deliver the longest EV range the brand has ever offered. An astonishing 810km on a single charge puts it front and centre in the conversation around long‑distance electric driving, directly addressing Kiwi concerns around range anxiety and charging convenience. The EX60 represents the next leap in Volvo’s electric platform technology, promising greater efficiency, faster charging and the clean, purposeful design language that has come to define the brand’s modern EV lineup.
“Together, the EX90 and EX60 represent a step‑change for Volvo in New Zealand,” says Volvo NZ Brand Manager Daile Stephens. “They elevate the brand in every dimension, range, technology, design and safety, while staying true to our core values”.
It’s a bold statement, but one backed up by the company’s staggering 40.5% year‑on‑year growth in 2025, making Volvo one of the fastest-growing premium marques in the country. Support from refreshed XC60 and XC90 updates, the reinstated all-wheel-drive XC40, and the rugged new EX30 Cross Country has only strengthened that momentum.
And for buyers, safety remains at the heart of the appeal.
The EX90 achieved a five‑star Euro NCAP rating and was one of the highest-performing vehicles tested in 2025, impressive even by Volvo’s already lofty standards. An advanced suite of radar, cameras and sensors creates a 360-degree protective bubble, enhancing assisted driving and even bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop and calling for help if the driver becomes incapacitated. It’s safety tech that moves well beyond conventional driver assistance into genuinely life‑saving capability.
Technology lovers won’t feel short-changed either. The EX90’s electronic heart is powered by NVIDIA DRIVE AI and Snapdragon Cockpit platforms, run through Volvo’s in-house software. That means supercomputer-level processing, ultra-responsive graphics, seamless Google integration, wireless CarPlay and 5G connectivity, all displayed on a crisp 14.5-inch centre screen. In the flagship Ultra, a 106kWh battery feeds dual permanent-magnet motors producing 500kW (680hp) and 870Nm of torque, serious performance for a seven-seat family hauler, with 10–80% charging achievable in around 30 minutes.
Sustainability is another pillar of the EX90’s identity. With recycled steel, aluminium and 48kg of recycled plastics and bio-materials (the most ever used in a Volvo) it’s a tangible step toward the brand’s climate ambitions. It’s also Volvo’s first vehicle capable of bidirectional charging, meaning its battery can one day be used to power homes, devices or even other EVs in the Volvo lineup.
With competitive pricing, standout range performance and technology that positions both the EX90 and EX60 at the top of their segments, 2026 is shaping up to be a transformational year for Volvo in New Zealand.
