While other manufacturers may be rethinking their EV strategy, Volvo is charging ahead, on Wednesday revealing the latest entry to its all-electric line-up, the new ES90. The design doesn’t readily fall into any one category, whether sedan, hatchback or even crossover. But Volvo is betting its roomy and well-appointed interior, as well as lightning-fast charging and extended range of more than 430 miles will help win over new buyers.
The Volvo ES90 will serve as the brand’s now all-electric flagship.
Volvo’s flagship 90-series is going electric, the Swedish automaker Wednesday pulling the covers off the all-electric ES90.
It’s more than a sedan version of the EX90 crossover launched last year. The Volvo ES90 boasts a number of significant updates, starting with its 800-volt electrical architecture and next-generation computing system. The updates mean faster onboard functions, like the infotainment system. But what may really charge up buyers is the promised range of more than 430 miles – and the ability to add another 190 miles in as little as 10 minutes using a public quick charger.
“The Volvo ES90 combines our most advanced technologies with Scandinavian design and superior comfort, creating a true premium Volvo car designed to elevate your quality of life,” Volvo CEO Jim Rowan said. “It joins the EX90 SUV as one of our flagship models and cements our position as an industry leader in software-defined cars that harness the power of core computing.”
What’s new?
A look through the yawning ES90 hatch.
The Volvo ES90 features a distinctive design that blends sedan and hatchback with a bit of the original EX90 crossover. Both models share the automaker’s SPA2 architecture which is designed exclusively for use with battery-electric drivetrain technology. (A gas-powered flagship, the next-generation S90 sedan, is still in the final stages of development.)
Where the ES90 appears to stand out is with its updated drivetrain and computing technology, the latter based on dual versions of the new Nvidia Drive AGX Orin processing system. For the geeks reading this, Volvo explains this “provides an eightfold improvement in AI compute performance compared with DRIVE AGX Xavier, enabling us to gradually increase the size of our deep learning model and neural network from 40 million to 200 million parameters.”
For those less tech savvy, however, Volvo claims ES90’s Superset tech stack is capable of learning on the job and, with the added ability to send software updates remotely, it will be able to upgrade the capable of its safety system on the fly.
Extended range, fast charging
Here’s where Volvo is hoping to do a better job taking on competitors like Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Genesis.
ES90 has an estimated driving range of 700 kilometers per charge, or roughly 435 miles. But American motorists take note. This is based on the global WLTP test standard. Typically, we can expect to see a roughly 20% drop using the tougher EPA test cycle. Still, at 350 miles it would still rank up there with some of the best competitors from a range perspective.
As for charging, Volvo claims the new electric sedan will be able to add 300 km, or roughly 190 miles, in 10 minutes. That’s with a 350-kilowatt public charging, however, which are not yet quite commonplace. Still, this suggests it should be one of the quicker-charging EV even when plugged into a slower public box.
More Volvo News
- First Drive: Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance
- First Drive: Volvo EX30
- Volvo Takes Electric Off-Road with EX30 Cross Country
Design
The Volvo ES90 offers a nearly all-glass roof.
The ES90 stands a bit taller than the old S90 sedan, with a presence that might remind some of what Toyota has done with its Crown line. Volvo gives the EV a more upright nose and a sealed grille reflecting the fact that no air is needed under the hood to cool an internal combustion engine. There is a smaller intake under the bumper to deliver cooling air to the battery pack and motors. The face retains the familiar Thor’s Hammer headlights.
From the side, ES90 adopts a more coupe-like roofline which features a massive glass roof. It flows into a yawning hatch that makes it easier to stow cargo. And the Volvo team made good use of the SPA2 architecture – which places the battery pack and key drivetrain components below the flat load floor. With a wheelbase of 122 inches, and wheels pushed to the corners, there’s extensive legroom for passengers in both rows.
Cargo space comes in at 14.97 cubic feet behind the second row, or 25.9 cf if those seats are folded down. Add another 0.78 cf in the frunk, or front trunk.
The interior retains the sleek Scandinavian look Volvo has become known for, though with the sort of upscale appointments one would expect of a flagship sedan. Among other things, it features a 14.5-inch touchscreen atop the center console.
Powertrain
Volvo hasn’t said whether the ES90 will get the same drivetrain options as the EX90 shown here.
Surprisingly, all the preliminary information from Volvo notably leaves out any mention of the powertrain – beyond range and quick-charge times. We’re left wondering if it will be any different than what we now have in the EX90.
That models is offered with two different battery pack options in various markets. For U.S. buyers, however, the SUV model debuted withelectric drive units on both axles:
- The EX90 Twin Motor turns out 408 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque;
- The EX90 Twin Motor Performance trim bumps that to 517 hp and 617 ln-ft.
Both packages can adjust power distribution fore and aft and EX90 uses torque vectoring to send more power to the outer wheels to improve cornering in tight turns. Both of the initial packages are rated to tow a maximum 4,850 pounds.
More on ES90 technology
A classic Volvo interior with more high-tech touches and sustainable materials.
The new EV introduce what Volvo calls its “Safe Space Technology” which blends more than two dozen different sensors:
- A forward-facing LiDar scanner using 3D laser technology;
- Five radar sensors;
- Eight cameras;
- Twelve ultrasonic sensors.
It also has an “advanced driver understanding system” that integrates the safety technology with what it senses the driver wants to do. But, where necessary, it will take the lead to help avoid potential crashes.
There are three different trims coming for ES90 and each will offer different audio systems, the top-line trim equipped with a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins package that boasts the spatial audio capabilities of Dolby Atmos.
ES90 uses a 5G cellphone connection and features the Google built-in infotainment operating system.
A massive interior.
Pricing and availability
For the moment, Volvo is leaving a number of questions unanswered, starting with price. For comparison, the EX90 currently starts at $79,995 in the U.S., with a near fully loaded top trim package jumping to $89,845.
As for availability, Volvo is now taking orders in a number of European markets, including Germany, France, the Netherlands and Greece.
It said it will begin adding more markets late this year and into 2026.
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