No electric Volvo has gone as far as the new ES90
The roads of the French Riviera are the first in Europe to debut the Volvo ES90, the Swedish brand's new 100% electric sedan, its most aerodynamic model, with a Cx coefficient of 0.25. This makes it more efficient and helps increase its range.
The ES90 is now available to order in Spain, with the first units expected to arrive in early 2026. There is a single-engine, rear-wheel-drive version with 333 hp and three trim levels. It costs €72,752 for the Core trim, €76,805 for the Plus trim, and the Ultra trim rises to €84,973. Volvo Spain plans to register between 200 and 300 units of this model next year.
Incidentally, this car will be the only model in Volvo's current European range manufactured in China, following the decision to begin production of the EX30 in Belgium. Production began just a few weeks ago at the Chengdu plant. It is also the sixth electric car, following the EX90, EM90, EX40, EC40, and EX30.
The body, with a steeply sloping rear profile, measures five meters long and has a wheelbase of no less than 3.1 meters, giving it enormous interior space. The rear seats consist of two large, reclining, ventilated seats and a narrower middle seat with a hidden armrest in the backrest with storage compartments for storing items or connecting electronic devices.
The trunk, on the other hand, is simply adequate: 424 liters including the false floor. Under the front hood, there's another 22-liter compartment that can be used to store charging cables.
The car opens and closes exclusively from the phone app with a digital key system that allows for car sharing. The seats are very comfortable and can be adjusted with a single control, as the massage function —like many other things, including adjusting the exterior mirrors—is controlled from the central multimedia screen.
This one has a 14.5-inch vertical display and is complemented by a nine-inch horizontal display for the instrument panel. As is typical with Volvo, there are very few other elements, except for the steering wheel and a glass panel for the luxurious sound system. So everything is very minimalist, as usual.
However, no electric Volvo has ever gone as far as this one—its 92 kWh battery allows it to achieve a certified range of 650 km— and it's also the first to feature 800-volt technology. This means it recharges faster than ever, supporting power outputs of up to 300 kW, which, at the appropriate charging station, means recovering 275 km in 10 minutes; or going from 10% to 80% of the battery in just 20 minutes. It also has bi-directional charging, allowing small external devices to be powered.
Starting is automatic by pressing the gear lever. Once on the move, the car boasts excellent sound insulation, thanks, among other things, to the doors that are heavier than expected.
Incidentally, the twisting mountain roads we tested the ES90 on didn't pose any problems, even though it's large and heavy: maximum stability, immediate response, plenty of power, and smooth braking. We can also use the one-pedal system, which eagerly reduces speed simply by lifting off the accelerator. We recorded an average consumption of 19 kWh/100 km. The Volvo-approved average is 16.1 kWh/100 km.
Among the original design elements is a beautiful backlit wood panel behind the front seats and on the dashboard, where the word Volvo is written in Morse code in die-cut lines. They've also borrowed the Italian nod to the flag, which is increasingly popular across all brands , and in this case, the Swedish flag is sewn into the stitching. The Swedish authorities haven't commented yet, although it is made in China.
In terms of safety, it features the most advanced systems, supported by a LIDAR radar on the roof, eight cameras, five radars, and 12 sensors. There are also sensors inside that detect if we've left our pet or a child inside the vehicle. In that case, it warns us before we leave and, in any case, unlocks the doors and activates the air conditioning.
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