The Volvo ES90 Is What Happens If a Sedan, a Fastback, and an SUV Had a Love Child
Image Credit: Volvo.
So, here's the deal. Volvo, in their infinite wisdom and ever-lasting desire for safety, decided to mash together a sedan, a fastback, and a smidge of SUV. The result? The ES90. As much as I hate the phrase, the ES90 is the Swiss Army knife of cars, except instead of a toothpick and a screwdriver, you get luxury and electric power. Who wouldn't want that?
Let's talk size. This beast stretches a whopping 16.2 feet in length, with a wheelbase that could rival a limousine, clocking in at 10.2 feet. That's more legroom than you'd find in a first-class cabin on a transatlantic flight. The ride height is what separates it from other sedans. It is slightly elevated, giving you that "I'm better than you" view of the road. Perfect for navigating those pesky potholes or, you know, just feeling superior.
Under the floor lies the heart of this electric marvel. We're talking 800-volt technology, which, in layman's terms, means it charges faster than any other Volvo before it. The company claims you can add 186 miles of range in just 10 minutes at a 350 kW fast charging station - if you can find one, that is. That's barely enough time to grab a lukewarm cup of coffee and a stale donut. And the total range? A respectable 435 miles on the WLTP cycle.
What about the inside? The interior feels like stepping into a fancy Swedish sauna, but with leather and technology instead of steam and naked people. A panoramic roof, ambient lighting, and a sound system that could make a rockstar weep. The top-tier Bowers & Wilkins system boasts 25 speakers, including ones in the headrests and ceiling. They even have a mode that replicates the sound of Abbey Road Studios. I don't know about this one, but I guess if you're going to be stuck in traffic, you might as well enjoy the Beatles in surround sound.
The new ES90 has more computing power than a NASA mainframe from the '60s. We're talking dual NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin configurations, which, according to Volvo, makes it their most powerful car ever in terms of computing capacity. They've got a 14.5-inch center screen, a 9-inch driver display, and a head-up display that projects information onto the windshield. Driving this thing will feel like driving a spaceship, except for being stuck in rush hour. Still, what an awesome place to be stuck in.
Safety, of course, is a big deal for Volvo. And they haven't cut any corners here - they've crammed this thing with radars, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, LiDAR - you name it, the ES90 got it. From now on, driving a modern Volvo is like having a team of robots watching your back, front, and sides. And if by any chance you start to drift off, the car will gently nudge you back into reality. There's even a system that detects if you've left a baby in the back. Yes, that apparently happens way too often.
Alright, you want options? Volvo’s thrown the kitchen sink at this thing. We're talking optional Matrix LED headlights that'll turn night into day, and 20 to 22-inch wheels that'll make you feel like you're rolling on dinner plates. And if you fancy a bit of floaty-ness, they've got an optional air suspension that'll smooth out those pesky speed bumps like they're mere ripples in a pond. Laminated windows? Check. Roof LiDAR? You betcha. It's like they've taken every gadget from a Bond car and crammed it into this Swedish meatball. And with a ground clearance of 7 inches, you can even tackle the occasional curb without scraping the undercarriage. Though, I don’t think anyone will be ever taking this beauty off-road.
When it comes to power, you've got some decent choices. The base model, rear-wheel drive, gives you a respectable 333 horsepower, enough to get you to 60 mph in a leisurely 6.9 seconds. Then there's the all-wheel-drive version with 450 horsepower, shaving that time down to 5.5 seconds. But if you're feeling particularly frisky, you can opt for the top-of-the-line, 680-horsepower beast, which'll launch you to 60 mph in a blistering 4.0 seconds. All of them top out at 112 mph, because apparently, that's the Swedish speed limit for everything.
Charging? 800V DC, 300 to 350 kW, 20 minutes to get from 10 to 80 percent charge. And towing? You can haul up to 2 tons with the AWD models. Not bad for an electric car that looks like it belongs in a design museum. And with a realistic range of 300 miles, you won’t be stuck hunting for charging stations every five minutes.
Now, let's talk about the price. While Volvo hasn't given us the exact figures for the US market yet, we can expect it to be in the premium range. In Europe the ES90 will start at around $81,000 for the base AWD, and climb to a cool $102,000 for the top-spec model. No, luxury doesn't come cheap. Not a small amount by any means, but you can think of it as an investment in your sanity, your comfort, your safety, and your eco-friendly image. And when you look at it this way, it makes a lot of sense.
I almost forgot about cargo space! It is actually pretty decent, too. You get 15 cubic feet in the trunk, which expands to 25.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Plus, there's a frunk (front trunk) with 0.8 cubic feet of space, perfect for those charging cables.
Final bits - the ES90 also boasts a drag coefficient of 0.25, which is apparently the lowest of any car Volvo has ever built. That's quite an improvement for a company that used to make bricks on wheels. It doesn't mean it will slice through the air like a hot knife through butter, but it will improve efficiency and range. A bit.
So, the big question: is the Volvo ES90 worth it? If you're looking for a luxurious, tech-laden electric car that can do a bit of everything, then yeah, probably. It's a bit of a mashup, sure, but it's a well-executed mashup. And nothing beats a good mashup.
The ES90 is a car that doesn't just get you from A to B; it does it in style, comfort, and with enough tech to make your smartphone feel inadequate. It's the future, and it looks pretty darn good. Even if it sits a bit higher than a sedan should.
