Volvo ES90 electric saloon boasts up to 435 miles per charge and 0-62mph in four seconds
It's not technically a saloon
Volvo may have mastered the SUV but it isn’t about to lose its grip on the ailing saloon car market as electric vehicles take off, as evidenced by the sleek, long-range and luxurious ES90.
The Volvo ES90, effectively the replacement for the high-end S90 saloon, will come exclusively with pure-electric powertrains comprising two battery options and three different outputs.
It is built on the same underpinnings as the EX90 SUV (reviewed here) but moves the game forward through the use of an 800-volt electrical architecture, which enables ultra-rapid charging at up to 350kW, which for drivers will mean it’ll be possible to add 186 miles to the battery in just ten minutes – if you can find a DC rapid charger capable of delivering that kind of power.
From a design perspective, it mirrors the look of the EX90 with regard to the modern interpretation of the company’s signature Thor’s Hammer daytime running lights. The blunt front end includes scallops running down either side of the bonnet, and buyers will have the choice of 20in and 22in wheels.
Viewing the ES90 from side shows how it eschews the traditional three-box saloon shape in favour of a more aerodynamic “liftback” rear end.
The car is long, at five metres, and has a higher ground clearance than its predecessor, not unlike some crossovers. Flush-fitting door handles contribute to its slipperiness through the air (its drag coefficient of 0.25 isn’t as good as the Mercedes EQS’s market-leading 0.20, but is still impressive) further extending driving range and reducing energy consumption.
The raised floor adds to an improved driving position, and there will be a suite of technological systems to support driver assistance and semi-autonomous features in the future. These include a laser-based lidar (light detection and ranging) sensor mounted above the windscreen, seven cameras to provide a 360-degree view and 12 ultrasonic sensors to continually monitor its surroundings.
At the rear, re-imagined C-shaped taillights with vertical elements frame the liftback design. Despite the more convenient aperture, the overall boot capacity measures 424 litres. That’s 37 litres less than that of the S90 it replaces. If more space is needed, the three individual rear seats fold to increase storage to 773 litres. There’s also a 22-litre front luggage compartment under the bonnet, offering additional space for items like charging cables or the kids’ pungent football kit.
The cabin features the premium quality we are used to seeing from Volvo, with a 9in driver display supported by a colour head-up display. A 14.5in portrait-style touchscreen runs a Google-based operating system, with Google Maps and Google Assistant baked in. Users will also be able to avail of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Refinement will also be the order of the day in the ES90, with Volvo claiming it to have one of its ‘quietest ever cabins’. An optional 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system brings Dolby Atmos inside.
The ES90 offers three variants, starting with the ES90 Single Motor. Equipped with an 88kWh battery, delivering 328bhp and 354lb ft of torque, achieving 0 to 62mph in 6.9 seconds, and offering a 403-mile WLTP range.
The ES90 Twin Motor features a 102kWh battery with a combined 442bhp. It accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 5.5 seconds and provides a 435-mile WLTP range. Topping the range is the ES90 Twin Motor Performance. Boasting 670bhp and 641lb ft of torque, this variant sprints to 62mph in four seconds, maintaining a 435-mile range.
Order books for the Volvo ES90 will open in early March, and all three powertrains will be available. Pricing is expected to start from around £70,000, rising to £88,000 for the Twin Motor Performance. Volvo is planning production to begin in late summer, but the first cars aren’t expected to arrive in the UK until Q1 or early Q2 in 2026.
Related articles
- If you were interested in the new Volvo ES90, you may also like to check out our Volvo EX90 review
- The EX90 still has a petrol-based sibling, the Volvo XC90: here’s our review of the new T8 model
- And we also have a review of the Audi Q6 e-tron
Latest articles
- Volvo ES90 electric saloon boasts up to 435 miles per charge and 0-62mph in four seconds
- F1 2025 calendar and race reports: The new Formula One season as it happens
- BMW 1 Series 2024 review: Big updates for BMW’s compact hatchback
- Audi launches new combustion-powered A6 Avant to sit alongside electric e-tron models
- XPeng G6 2025 review: Another Chinese SUV aiming to beat Tesla … and might have the X-factor to do it
- Kia expands electric range with PV5 vans, EV4 hatch and saloon and hint at small EV2 crossover
- Super-rare BMW M4 CS limited edition pays homage to race ace Valentino Rossi
- 5 of the best seven-seat cars to buy in 2025
- Vauxhall Mokka 2025 review: The compact Mokka SUV hasn’t changed all that much, and we’d still have an Astra
