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The Drive’s Andrew P. Collins said the 2026 Volvo EX90’s simplified seat-adjustment switch felt natural and was among the best he had used. He contrasted it with the SUV’s two-switch window controls, which require toggling between front and rear windows and were less convenient in frequent use.
After a week testing the 2026 Volvo EX90, The Drive’s Andrew P. Collins praised its simplified seat controls, saying the single physical switch felt natural to use. His report contrasts that experience with the SUV’s two-switch system for four power windows, which requires the driver to change which pair of windows the switches operate.
The EX90 uses one square physical switch for several seat adjustments. Moving it up or down and forward or back adjusts the seat’s position; pressing a button in the middle changes the switch’s function to control tilt and lumbar support. Collins reported that massage options, on vehicles equipped with that feature, appear in the main screen’s menu.
Collins wrote that the arrangement worked well for him and ranked it highly among the seat controls he had tried. He acknowledged that using fewer switches could be intended to reduce manufacturing costs, but described his favorable reaction as a judgment about the user experience, not a confirmed explanation of Volvo’s design rationale.
The reviewer had the opposite response to the EX90’s window controls. The car has two window switches for four windows, with a toggle needed to switch operation between the front and rear. Collins said that extra step was frustrating because he adjusts the windows more frequently than the seat. His account is a reviewer’s assessment based on his driving habits, not a survey of EX90 owners or a formal usability study.
One Control Works Better for Seats
The review points to a practical distinction in how drivers use controls: seat position is commonly adjusted occasionally, while windows may be operated repeatedly during a drive. A shared switch can reduce the number of physical controls, but the resulting interaction may suit one task better than another. Collins’s experience suggests the frequency of use matters as much as the number of buttons when evaluating an interface.
That makes the comparison relevant to readers considering vehicles with increasingly simplified cabins. A tidier console does not necessarily mean every control is easier to use. In this case, the seat switch earned praise because its functions felt intuitive to the reviewer, while the window toggle drew criticism because it added a step to a task he performed often. The report offers a specific driver’s perspective, not proof that all EX90 users will respond the same way.
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How the EX90 Groups Its Controls
Collins’s report describes two separate examples of the EX90 using fewer physical switches to serve multiple functions. For the seat, one switch handles basic movement and a central button changes it to tilt and lumbar adjustments. The main screen provides access to massage options when available. For the windows, the switches are shared between front and rear pairs, so the driver must select which pair to operate.
The Drive report also noted that Collins had mixed feelings about the EX90 after a week of testing, while identifying the seat adjustment as a particular strength. It mentioned Volvo’s original-equipment dog seatbelts as another item tested, but gave no details about those belts in the supplied report. The article’s focus here is the contrast between two control designs, rather than a comprehensive assessment of the SUV.
““It feels very natural.””
— Andrew P. Collins, The Drive reviewer
What the Review Does Not Establish
The report does not establish whether Volvo designed the simplified controls to cut costs; Collins presented that as a possibility, not a confirmed explanation from the company. It also does not provide owner feedback, comparative testing data, or measurements showing how quickly drivers can operate either system. The assessment is based on one reviewer’s week with the vehicle and his own habits, including frequent use of the rear windows.
The supplied material does not specify whether the controls vary across EX90 trims or markets, or whether software updates could change their operation. It also does not provide details about the broader mixed reaction Collins mentioned or the dog seatbelts referenced in the report. Those points should not be inferred from his comments about the seat and window switches.
More Testing Could Broaden the Picture
The report provides no announced follow-up date or response from Volvo about the control design. Further owner experiences, testing across different EX90 configurations, or a company explanation of the interface could clarify whether Collins’s reactions are widely shared and whether cost played a part in the choices.
For now, the confirmed takeaway is limited to the review: Collins found the seat switch intuitive and the window controls inconvenient. Readers comparing the EX90 with other vehicles can test both systems themselves, especially if they often adjust windows while driving. The supplied report does not say whether Volvo plans to revise either control.
Key Questions
How does the 2026 Volvo EX90 seat-adjustment switch work?
The EX90 uses one square physical switch for seat movement. A button in its center changes the switch from basic position adjustments to tilt and lumbar controls; massage options appear on the main screen when the vehicle is equipped with them.
Why did the reviewer like the seat control?
The Drive’s Andrew P. Collins said the switch felt natural and ranked it highly among seat controls he had used. That is his assessment after a week with the EX90, rather than a measured comparison across drivers.
What did Collins dislike about the window controls?
The EX90 has two switches for four power windows, and the driver must toggle between front and rear pairs. Collins disliked the extra step, particularly because he said he adjusts the rear windows frequently.
Did Volvo confirm that the controls were designed to save money?
No such explanation appears in the supplied report. Collins suggested fewer switches may have been intended to lower construction costs, but the article does not attribute that rationale to Volvo.
Does the review show that all EX90 drivers will prefer the seat switch?
No. The report records one reviewer’s experience. It does not include owner surveys, broader usability testing, or data comparing driver preferences.
Source: thedrive.com
