New Volvo ES90 revealed: this electric car isn’t sure what it wants to be
March 05, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
Is it a saloon? Is it an SUV? No, it’s the Volvo ES90, and it’s a somewhat of a mashup between the two with a bit of hatchback thrown in for good measure.
- New Volvo ES90 revealed
- Electric saloon/hatchback/SUV
- Super stylish exterior
- Modern, high-quality cabin
- Up to 435 miles of range
- Prices kick off from just under £70,000
This is the new Volvo ES90, and it’s the brand’s answer to cars such as the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE. In pure Scandinavian fashion, this car doesn’t simply copy the traditional saloon design.
It’s a bit of a mash-up between a saloon, an SUV and a hatchback. Whatever you class it as, it’s a handsome-looking thing with up to 435 miles of range. Prices for this border-crossing EV start from £69,650.
New Volvo ES90 design
It may have a name inspired by the old S90, but the new Volvo ES90 isn’t a traditional saloon car like its predecessor. It’s more of a slightly jacked-up hatchback with a coupe-esque sloping roofline, a bit like the new Ford Capri.
Regardless of which category it fits into, this is a really handsome-looking car. Volvo has designed it using a philosophy called “machined from solid”, meaning it’s been made to look like it’s hewn from one block of metal.
Up front it has similar headlights to the EX90 SUV, and there are no fake grilles on the bumper like you have on a BMW i5. You’ll also notice the LiDar sensor on the roof for the driver assistance systems. Volvo’s head of design Jeremy Offer told Carwow that while they could’ve hidden the sensor in the grille or lower bumper, it wouldn’t have been as effective and therefore would compromise on safety.
The side profile is interesting as well. It looks like a saloon car which has been jacked up slightly. Offer explained that this is partly to do with the electric gubbins under the floor, which raises the driving position and makes it a bit tricky to design a low-slung saloon car. Volvo has therefore used this as a chance to make something unique, and there’s not really anything else quite like it out there.
Finally moving to the rear you have C-shaped LED taillights, a bit like the ones you’ll find on the smaller EX30. Like that car you also have additional LED strips running up the rear window, something we’ve not seen before on a saloon car.
New Volvo ES90 interior and infotainment
When you step inside you’ll immediately realise that this isn’t just a squashed EX90, because the interior is totally different to that car’s.
You feel more cocooned in this cabin than you do in the EX90, like the car wraps around you. It’s a pretty minimalist design as well, with a 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen dominating the dashboard. There are barely any physical buttons in sight, as almost everything is controlled through this screen.
You can choose between light and dark colour themes, and the materials have all been carefully chosen to make this car look and feel premium, but they’re also eco-friendly. Some of the fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles, for example.
New Volvo ES90 batteries and range
There are three motor and battery combos to choose from in the new Volvo ES90, two of which are all-wheel drive and one rear-wheel drive. If you go for the latter then you get a 92kWh battery, whereas the dual-motor cars get a 106kWh pack.
For the longest range you’ll want the standard Twin Motor car, because it can do up to 435 miles on a charge. That’s 60 miles more than a BMW i5 can manage, and it even narrowly beats the Mercedes EQE.
Then there’s the Twin Motor Performance. It has 680hp, 230hp more than the standard Twin Motor, and it’ll do 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds. That’s only 0.2 of a second off the fastest BMW i5. Interestingly, this version has exactly the same 435 miles of range as the Twin Motor.
The entry-level Single Motor car has 333hp going to the rear wheels, and the smaller battery means it has slightly less range. It can still do 404 miles on a charge though, which is better than an entry-level Polestar 4.
New Volvo ES90: when can I buy one?
The Volvo ES90 will be available to order in March this year, however the first cars won’t hit the streets in the UK until early 2026. Pricing starts from £69,950 for a Plus model – this gets a premium Bose sound system, four-zone climate control and a 360-degree camera, among plenty of other kit.
Ultra trim adds more than £10,000 to the price but does get an even posher stereo, full-length panoramic sunroof, and active air suspension. It’s also the only way to get access to the Twin Motor powertrains – the Plus is limited to just the Single Motor variants.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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