Volvo ES90 review | Plush new electric saloon majors on comfort and tech
The Volvo ES90 is the brand's new take on how to create a luxury saloon car. Here's our first drive review.
Volvo hasn’t made a saloon car since the S90 quietly disappeared a few years ago. But now, it’s bucking that trend – kind of. The ES90 is the closest you can get to a saloon in Volvo’s current line-up.
It’s still taller than a traditional saloon, while much of its design comes from the larger EX90 SUV. But it’s certainly a fresh take on what a large electric saloon should look like, but that’s no bad thing.
Here’s our first driving impressions of the brand’s newest model.
ES90: Styling and design
Volvo has never been about shouty design, and the ES90 sticks firmly to that philosophy. Its styling cues mirror the brand’s other models including the flagship EX90 with those familiar “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights.
But in the ES90 they’ve been reinterpreted into a slimmer, more modern signature. There’s no traditional grille either – just a smooth, closed-off nose that maximises aerodynamic efficiency.
Side on, it’s obvious that Volvo has borrowed some ideas from its sister-brand Polestar. The coupe-like roofline and swooping side lines have apparently been inspired by sailing boats.
It has a whopping 3.1-metre wheelbase – that’s about the same as a full size Range Rover.
At the back, Volvo’s familiar boomerang style tail lights are present, although they’re joined by an interesting design touch – the rear window is flanked by a further set of square LED light units that run all the way up to the roof.
Size-wise, this is a large luxury car – it’s around five metres long, and it has a whopping 3.1-metre wheelbase – that’s about the same as a full size Range Rover.
ES90: Interior, space and tech
Climb inside and the ES90 immediately feels like a proper step up. Volvo’s interiors have been good for a while now, but this is on another level.
The big central touchscreen dominates things, running Volvo’s latest Google-based system.
The design is clean and minimal, as you’d expect, but it doesn’t feel stripped back or overly clinical. A lot of that comes down to the materials. The Nappa leather is lovely, the real wood trims add a bit of warmth, and everything you touch feels solid and well put together. It’s a genuinely nice place to spend time.
The big central touchscreen dominates things, running Volvo’s latest Google-based system. The good news is it’s really easy to use – quick, responsive and logically laid out. The less good news is Volvo has gone quite heavy on putting everything in there. Adjusting the steering wheel or opening the glovebox through a screen feels a bit unnecessary, especially when you’re on the move.
Space, though, is where the ES90 really pulls away. That huge wheelbase translates into loads of room in the back – and we mean loads. It genuinely feels limo-like, especially if you go for higher-spec versions with reclining rear seats that are heated and cooled.
And then there’s the Bowers & Wilkins sound system. It’s optional, but if you can stretch to it, do it. The 25-speaker setup sounds incredible, and the Abbey Road mode is more than just a gimmick – you can actually tweak the sound in a way that feels quite unique for a car.
ES90: Batteries and range
Volvo’s keeping things fairly straightforward with three power options. The entry-level Single Motor uses a 92kWh battery, putting out 330hp. It’ll do 0–62mph in 6.6 seconds, which doesn’t sound especially quick on paper, but in reality it’s more than enough.
Volvo says it’ll manage up to 411 miles of range – we saw closer to 360 miles during our time with it, which feels about right in real-world conditions.
Charging is strong too. With 350kW capability, you’re looking at roughly a 10–80% top-up in about 20 minutes.
Step up to the Twin Motor and you get around 450hp, along with a noticeable bump in performance. The 0–62mph time drops to 5.4 seconds, and it feels that bit more effortless when you need it.
At the top end, the Twin Motor Performance version is seriously quick. With 670hp, it’ll hit 62mph in around four seconds – which is pretty wild for something this big and comfort-focused. Range drops slightly to around 376 miles, but that still puts it firmly in the mix.
Charging is strong too. With 350kW capability, you’re looking at roughly a 10–80% top-up in about 20 minutes on a suitable charger, which makes longer trips far less of a hassle.
Overall, the numbers stack up well against rivals. That said, EV tech is moving quickly – and cars like BMW’s new iX3 are starting to push range figures even further. Still, it’s worth remembering that’s a smaller car than this.
Public EV Charging: Made Simple with Be.EV
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Their growing network of rapid chargers combined with subscription plans can help reduce charging costs. And thanks to our offer, you’ll get a further 50% off your first two charges of your new electric lease vehicle.
ES90: Driving and safety
It wouldn’t be a Volvo without a big focus on safety, and the ES90 doesn’t disappoint here.
One of the more interesting features is its driver understanding tech, which basically learns how you drive and tailors the assistance systems around that. It sounds a bit overcomplicated, but in practice it just works – and crucially, it doesn’t constantly nag you like some systems do. The alerts are there when you need them, but they’re not intrusive.
You can get air suspension on higher-spec models, which adds another layer of polish, but even the standard setup feels more than good enough.
On the road, it’s exactly what you’d hope for from something like this. The standard suspension setup we tried was seriously impressive, dealing with rough roads and potholes without any fuss.
It’s incredibly quiet at motorway speeds too. There’s very little wind or tyre noise, which makes a big difference on longer journeys. Combine that with the comfortable seats and relaxed driving position, and it’s a really easy car to rack up miles in.
You can get air suspension on higher-spec models, which adds another layer of polish, but even the standard setup feels more than good enough.
It’s not sporty, and it’s not trying to be. The ES90 is all about smooth, calm progress – and it does that really well.
ES90: Should you consider leasing one?
Volvo has always been pretty strong when it comes to leasing, and while deals for the ES90 haven’t fully landed yet, this is definitely one to watch.
If you want a big, comfortable, well-built electric car that’s easy to live with day-to-day, the ES90 makes a lot of sense.
It’s likely to sit somewhere around cars like the BMW i5 in terms of pricing, but it offers a slightly different take on things.
If you’re after something engaging and sporty, there are better options out there. But if you want a big, comfortable, well-built electric car that’s easy to live with day-to-day, the ES90 makes a lot of sense.
In a market that’s getting increasingly crowded, that more relaxed, comfort-first approach actually helps it stand out. And once the lease deals start coming through, it could end up being a really compelling option.
