Volvo EX90 vs Kia EV9 vs Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV — Which Luxury Electric SUV Is the Value Pick?

Three Flagship Electric SUVs, One Value Question

Volvo has just launched the EX90 in India at an introductory ₹1.26 crore, and in doing so it has thrown a sharp question at the luxury electric SUV market: if you can get a flagship electric SUV for less money, more power and a newer platform, why would you pay more for a Kia EV9 or a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV? That question is worth answering carefully, because the three cars are not competing on the same terms. Their range figures are measured on different cycles, their seating layouts differ, and the badge on the grille carries a different kind of weight. This is the comparison that matters for anyone shopping in the ₹1.25 crore to ₹1.5 crore electric SUV bracket.

Volvo EX90 vs Kia EV9 vs Mercedes EQS SUV — Price

Start with the numbers that decide most purchases. The Volvo EX90 is the cheapest at ₹1.26 crore ex-showroom, the Kia EV9 sits at ₹1.30 crore, and the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV starts at ₹1.33 crore for the 450 4MATIC and rises to ₹1.48 crore for the 580 variants. On sticker price alone, the EX90 undercuts the EV9 by about ₹4 lakh and the EQS SUV by about ₹7 lakh at the entry point, and far more against the top Mercedes. For buyers who care about the badge least and the package most, that gap is the whole argument.

Model	Price (ex-showroom)	Battery	Claimed range	Power	Seats
Volvo EX90 Ultra	₹1.26 crore	106 kWh	Up to 625 km (WLTP)	450 bhp	6
Kia EV9 GT Line	₹1.30 crore	99.8 kWh	561 km (ARAI)	379 bhp	6
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4MATIC	₹1.33 crore	122 kWh	820 km (ARAI)	355 bhp	5 or 7

Range and Battery — Read the Fine Print

Here is where the comparison gets tricky. The Volvo's 625 km is a WLTP figure, the global test cycle, while the Kia's 561 km and the Mercedes's 820 km are ARAI-certified figures, measured on India's own cycle. These are not directly comparable, and a WLTP number usually looks better than an ARAI number for the same car. In other words, the Volvo's 625 km should not be read as comfortably ahead of the EV9's 561 km; on real-world Indian roads, the gap may be smaller than the spec sheets suggest. The Mercedes, meanwhile, has the largest battery at 122 kWh and the longest claimed range by a clear margin, and its 820 km ARAI figure is the kind of headline that reassures a buyer nervous about charging.

Power and Performance

On output, the Volvo is the surprise winner. Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup makes 450 bhp and 670 Nm, more than the Kia's 379 bhp and the Mercedes 450's 355 bhp. The EX90 also claims a 0-100 kmph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed limited to 180 kmph, and it runs on an 800V electrical architecture, which is the modern standard for fast charging. The Kia EV9 counters with 700 Nm of torque, which is more than the Volvo, and a top speed of 200 kmph. The Mercedes 450 4MATIC is the least powerful of the three at the entry level, though the 580 variants close that gap. If you drive yourself and enjoy the shove, the Volvo's numbers are the most compelling.

Charging Speed and Practicality

Charging is where these cars will be judged on long trips. The Volvo EX90 supports DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, the Kia EV9 charges from 10% to 80% in about 24 minutes on a 350 kW charger, and the Mercedes EQS SUV takes roughly 31 minutes for the same 10-80% window on a 200 kW charger. The Volvo and Kia therefore have the faster peak charging capability, while the Mercedes trades some speed for a much larger battery. On seating, the Volvo and Kia are both six-seaters, while the Mercedes offers five- or seven-seat layouts, which makes it the most flexible for larger families. The EX90's six-seat-only configuration is the least flexible of the three.

What You Get for the Money

The Volvo's introductory package sweetens its case further. Buyers who book before 31 December 2026 get an 11 kW home charger, a three-year service package and an assured buyback of 65% of the car's value after three years. That is a meaningful ownership-cost benefit, because a home charger alone can cost a lakh or more to install properly, and an assured buyback removes a chunk of resale uncertainty. Volvo has also positioned the EX90 as a more modern, tech-loaded alternative to its own XC90, which it sits above in the range — the EX90 is in fact ₹27.2 lakh pricier than the XC90, so it is a step up rather than a like-for-like replacement.

Ownership, Service and the Badge Question

Spec sheets rarely capture the cost of ownership, and this is where the three cars diverge sharply. Mercedes-Benz has the deepest luxury service network in India, a long-standing local assembly operation and the kind of brand pull that holds resale value better than almost anything else in the segment. Kia's network is smaller but growing fast, and its EV9 benefits from a parent group that is now a genuine global EV leader. Volvo sits at the other end: a smaller network, a newer entrant to the volume-luxury space in India, and a car that is brand new to the market. For a buyer who lives outside a metro and wants easy access to service, that difference is not academic. The Volvo's buyback scheme and service package partly address this by removing some ownership risk, but they do not build a service centre near your home.

Charging in India — The Factor Spec Sheets Miss

All three cars promise fast charging, but the experience depends on what is actually available where you drive. A 350 kW charger is only useful if you can find one; most Indian public DC chargers today deliver far less, which is why a large battery still matters for long-distance peace of mind. That is the strongest argument for the Mercedes and its 122 kWh pack, and the weakest for the Volvo if its WLTP range shrinks in Indian conditions. None of these cars is a compromise on a daily commute, because all three comfortably cover a week of city driving on a charge. The difference only shows up on the highway, where the car with the biggest battery and the most dependable charging plan wins.

Which Is the Value Pick?

If value means the most car for the least money, the Volvo EX90 is the pick. It is the cheapest, the most powerful, the newest and it charges fastest, and it comes with a home charger and buyback to soften ownership costs. If value means maximum range and the reassurance of a German luxury badge with a deep service network, the Mercedes EQS SUV justifies its premium, and its 820 km claimed range is in a class of its own. The Kia EV9 sits neatly in the middle: it is cheaper than the Mercedes, roomier than most rivals, and its 561 km range and 24-minute charging are strong, if not class-leading.

There is one honest caveat. The Volvo is brand new, its Indian service network is far smaller than Mercedes-Benz's, and its WLTP range figure will not translate directly into Indian real-world mileage. A buyer who values convenience and a proven network may find the extra ₹4 lakh for the Kia or the extra ₹7 lakh for the Mercedes well spent. Use our EV running-cost calculator and the compare tool to weigh them on your own usage, and browse more electric models in the news section.

Luxury Electric SUV FAQ

Is the Volvo EX90 cheaper than the Kia EV9? Yes. The EX90 is ₹1.26 crore ex-showroom against the EV9's ₹1.30 crore, a gap of about ₹4 lakh.

Which has the longest range? On claimed figures, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV leads with up to 820 km on the ARAI cycle, against 625 km WLTP for the Volvo and 561 km ARAI for the Kia.

Can I compare WLTP and ARAI range directly? No. They are different test cycles, so a WLTP figure generally flatters a car against an ARAI figure for the same model.

When do EX90 deliveries start? Volvo has said deliveries begin in January 2027, with test drives available from next month.

Which has the biggest battery? The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, at 122 kWh, ahead of the Volvo EX90 at 106 kWh and the Kia EV9 at 99.8 kWh.

Is the Volvo EX90 a six-seater only? Yes. In India the EX90 is offered exclusively as a six-seater in the fully loaded Ultra variant, while the Mercedes EQS SUV can be specified as a five- or seven-seater.

(Sources: Volvo Cars India EX90 launch, 12 October 2026; Autocar India, 12 October 2026; Kia India EV9 price list; Mercedes-Benz India EQS SUV price list; ARAI and WLTP certified figures as published by manufacturers. Images: Wikimedia Commons — Volvo EX90 Auto Zuerich 2024 DSC 6147, CC BY-SA 4.0; Volvo EX90 DSC 7810, CC BY-SA 4.0; Kia EV9 1X7A2472, CC BY-SA 4.0; Mercedes-Benz X296 1X7A1722, CC BY-SA 4.0; Electric car charging station in Begumpet, Hyderabad, CC BY-SA 4.0.)

::KEY_NUMBERS:: EX90 price | ₹1.26 crore | ex-showroom EX90 claimed range | 625 km | WLTP cycle Kia EV9 price | ₹1.30 crore | ex-showroom EQS SUV price | ₹1.33 crore | ex-showroom ::TLDR:: Volvo EX90 launched at ₹1.26 crore, the cheapest of the three It packs 450 bhp and a 625 km WLTP claim Kia EV9 costs ₹1.30 crore with a 561 km ARAI claim Mercedes EQS SUV starts at ₹1.33 crore with the longest claim at 820 km Caveat: the Volvo's range is WLTP while the other two are ARAI, so the figures are not directly comparable ::CHART:: type: bar title: Luxury electric SUV prices (₹ crore, ex-showroom) labels: Volvo EX90,Kia EV9,Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV values: 1.26,1.30,1.33 source: Company price lists ::TIMELINE:: 2024 | Kia EV9 launched in India as a CBU import 2026 | Mercedes adds the EQS SUV Celebration Edition 12 October 2026 | Volvo EX90 launched at ₹1.26 crore January 2027 | Volvo EX90 customer deliveries begin ::GLOSSARY:: WLTP | Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, a global range test cycle ARAI | Automotive Research Association of India, which certifies Indian range figures 800V architecture | a higher-voltage EV system that allows faster DC charging ::PULLQUOTE:: On paper, the Volvo EX90 wins on price and power at once. The real question is whether a shorter claimed range and an unproven Indian charging story are a fair trade for the ₹4 lakh to ₹22 lakh it saves you. ::PROS:: Cheapest of the three by ₹4 lakh or more Highest power output at 450 bhp Fast 350 kW DC charging capability Introductory offer bundles a home charger and buyback ::CONS:: Claimed range is quoted on WLTP, not the Indian ARAI cycle Six-seat-only configuration limits flexibility Volvo's service network is far smaller than Mercedes-Benz's Brand-new model with no Indian reliability record yet ::SOURCES:: Volvo Cars India EX90 launch, 12 October 2026 Autocar India, 12 October 2026 Kia India EV9 price list Mercedes-Benz India EQS SUV price list ARAI and WLTP certified figures as published by manufacturers Images: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0