The best place is in the back: Volvo EM90 – a comfortable luxury car for the Chinese

The best place is the back
Volvo EM90 – a luxury luxury car for Chinese people

November 17, 2023, 5:49 pm

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Enjoy yourself in the armchair or work on the go: Many Chinese love to drive – and increasingly in luxury cars like the new Volvo EM90. The Swedes call it their “moving living room”. The price is of course high.

A brand new type of vehicle has recently hit the streets of China’s cities: luxury cars. Models like the Lexus LM, Denzo D9 or Zeekr 009 with comfortable seats and the latest communication technology are intended to increase the time spent in traffic for wealthy businessmen. Because here the best seats are not in the front, but in the second row.

Anyone who used to drive in a limousine, preferably with a wide wheel, now replaces a large car in the form of a VW Multivan or a Mercedes V-Class. And at the weekend the car is used as a luxury transport for the family. But while European minibuses are usually derived from cargo vans and never deny their commercial vehicle origins, the new Asian models were designed as luxury cargo vans from the start.

The latest representative is the fully electric Volvo EM90, which the Swedes call their “moving living room”. It was developed specifically for the Chinese market and is only sold there. Considering the model name EM90, one can assume technical similarities with the large electric SUV EX90, which is also available in Germany. But instead of the Volvo platform, the EM90 uses a completely new foundation that parent company Geely uses, among other things, in the luxury van Zeekr 009 and the electric sports SUV Lotus Eletre.

Very high price

The EM90 costs 105,000 euros, a luxury price for a car made in China even in the Middle Kingdom. But he also does something for her. Visually, the EM90 is a big deal: 5.20 meters long and more than 2.30 meters wide, with a large rear radiator cover. And just so you know what’s coming, the big Volvo logo shines brightly.

The flexible six-seat interior is dominated by two leather seats that could have come straight from first class on the plane. At the push of a button, the two thickly padded center seats swivel back and forth, and those indulging in soft textured leather can adjust their sitting or sleeping position for comfort using a switch in the armrest. To create a foot rest on the right seat, the front passenger seat is moved straight forward.

Of course, seat heating and ventilation as well as various massage programs should not be missed. And just like on the plane, there are small folding pockets in the back.

If you want to relax after a hard day at work, you can extend the large screen from the roof terrace. The entertainment system is integrated with various streaming services. Like most of the car’s functions, it can be controlled by voice. If nothing works on Netflix & Co, you can just watch the news on TV or listen to audio through the 21 embedded speakers from Bowers & Wilkins. Or you can spend time in the car to work. You can participate in meetings using a camera connected to a connected laptop or smartphone. Compatible USB and HDMI ports are also available.

Touch switches on the sliding doors darken the large glass roof or, which has become unusual for vans, open the electric windows of the sliding doors. As a trick, the engineers installed a small round touch screen on the door. It usually shows the time. If you swipe down, various options for air conditioning settings appear. Does it smoke? Press one and the ventilation fan runs the other way around.

738 kilometers on a single battery charge? Maybe more than 500

As usual, the battery is located on the floor of the car. No steps, no central tunnel disturbing the interior. The floor extends flat to the rear seats. If the middle seats move forward, the two rear seats are also easy to reach. Considering the 3.25 tons that the EM90 has in full weight, it is not motorized beyond 200 kW/272 kW. Volvo rates the sprint to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds, and a top speed of 180 km/h. On the other hand: In traffic everyone goes at the same speed and in China you can only drive at a maximum speed of 120 km/h anyway. In addition, using the power pedal defensively provides a range. The EM90 should cover 738 kilometers on a single battery charge. However, the calculations based on the Chinese usage cycle. In fact, a good distance of 500 km should be possible.

The Volvo is charged through two separate ports. Using a fast charger, he fills the battery from 10 to 80 percent in less than half an hour through the left rear connection. The cable from the wall box of the house is connected to the left side of the front, where it draws power in one phase of 7.4 kW. That is enough for China, because almost all public payment terminals work with direct current. This means that the battery can be charged quickly wherever you are. And if necessary, the battery can also be used as a power source, for example for an e-bike or other electric vehicle.