Volvo ES90 Review & Prices

The Volvo ES90 is a high-riding electric saloon car that’s ideal for anyone who does a lot of miles and wants to make the switch to zero-emission motoring, because it’s incredibly comfortable and pairs a long range with super-fast charge speeds. It’s not as practical as some alternatives, though, which dents its family car credentials a touch.

It’s a bit like enjoying a sauna after a long day at work. The cool Scandinavian vibes perfectly cocoon you from the chaotic outside world, meaning it’s best enjoyed in solitude – without any screaming kids.

Other posh electric cars you could consider include the Polestar 4, Audi A6 Sportback e-tron, BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE.

While most of those cars have a more traditional saloon-style shape to their bodywork, the ES90 has a hint of SUV about its high waist line. Regardless, it’s a handsome thing from the front – Volvo’s classy ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights still look great after all these years – if a little ungainly from the rear.

Inside it’s the usual high quality we’ve come to expect from Volvo, with a genuine wood panel running along the dashboard and incredibly comfortable seats in synthetic leather as standard. The design lower in the cabin just feels a bit more plain than Volvo’s older models, such as the exquisite XC90, so the vibe is a smidge less posh.

Volvo ES90: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 341-426 miles
Efficiency: 3.0-3.9 mi/kWh
Battery size: 92kWh / 106kWh
Max charge speed: 310kW / 350kW
Charge time AC: 15h, 0-100% @ 7kW / 17h, 0-100% @ 7kW
Charge time DC: 22mins, 10-80% @ 310kW / 22mins, 10-80% @ 350kW
Charge port location: Left rear
Power output: 333hp / 456hp / 680hp

It’s also a shame the neat rotary dial from that car has been ditched in favour of a scroll wheel that just feels cheaper by comparison – in fact, most buttons are gone now as everything runs through the touchscreen, which is just never as intuitive.

At least the touchscreen is sharp and the Google-integrated systems make life easy, just sign in to your apps and away you go. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included if you prefer, though.

There’s loads of interior storage in the front while space for passengers in the rear is limo-like, though annoyingly the seat cushions in the back are quite low to the ground so it’s not the most comfortable place to stretch your legs out. There’s buckets of space for a child seat, even if the ISOFIX mounting points are tricky to locate between the cushions.

The boot capacity is smaller than alternatives – the Polestar 4 wins this particular game of Top Trumps – though at 424 litres it should be adequate for most. The hatchback opening means it’s easier to load tall items than in most saloon alternatives, but it’s a bit annoying you have to reach inside to fold the rear seats.

Beneath that floor sits a choice of two batteries, the larger of which contributes to an official range figure of up to 426 miles. That’s only really outclassed by the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron’s 464-mile figure. Our test car had the smaller battery, and efficiency figures were pretty decent for a large EV, giving a real-world range of 320 miles versus the claimed 398-mile figure. Not bad.

Even more impressive is the comfortable drive you get from the Volvo ES90. It soaks up bumps beautifully, meaning it’s ideal for pothole-strewn trips to Tesco and multi-hour motorway schlepping alike.

Very fast charging speeds mean you don’t have to stop for long on big journeys either, making it even more appealing – 10-80% takes just 22 minutes at a suitably quick charger.

While it’s generally comfortable and easy to cruise around in, the main complaint about driving the ES90 is rear visibility. A tiny rear window and chunky pillars mean you really need to be aware of your surroundings when changing lanes or pulling out of junctions in town.

Verdict

It’s easy to love the Volvo ES90 for what it’s good at, namely being an incredibly comfortable and refined electric car with a decent range, which makes it the perfect companion for anyone who spends a lot of time behind the wheel. Alternatives, particularly the Audi A6 e-tron, would make a marginally better family car by dint of being a bit more practical, but if you only have one kid the Volvo should still be spacious enough for most.

If this sounds like your next car, check out the latest Volvo ES90 deals and ES90 lease deals. You can also browse other new Volvo deals and used Volvo stock from our network of trusted dealers. Carwow can help you sell your car when the time comes, too.

The Volvo ES90 starts at over £67,500 for the single-motor, smaller battery model in the base Plus trim, rising to over £77,000 for the Ultra trim. If you want the Twin Motor or Twin Motor Performance models, they’re only available with the higher-spec Ultra trim, with prices maxing out at about £88,000 before options.

That means the ES90 sits around the middle of key alternatives, being more expensive than the Polestar 4 but more affordable than a Mercedes EQE. The Twin Motor models are actually pretty good value compared with performance-focused versions of alternatives such as the BMW i5.

Go for the ES90’s entry-level Plus trim and you get some choice kit as standard, such as a Bose sound system, head-up display and Park Pilot Assist, which can park the car for you. Synthetic leather upholstery comes as standard, but if you step up to the Ultra trim you can choose real Nappa leather for a chunky fee, or go for a wool option free of charge.

Other features of the Ultra trim include the excellent Bowers & Wilkins sound system, ventilated front seats and an electrochromic glass roof, which can switch from clear to opaque at the push of a button.