Volvo’s new ES90 sits in a space of its own.
It’s a European-branded large electric sedan, and if you’re shopping for one of those from BMW, Audi or Mercedes, you’re going to need to budget an extra $55,000 or so. Even a Genesis large EV sedan is $155,000.
This? It starts from $88,880 (or about $96,000 drive-away) for the base model Plus, which has the same powertrain and battery as the more expensive Ultra, which is $107,990 (or about $120,000 drive-away).
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And it comes across as a pretty convincing argument for that kind of money. Both ES90 models have a 92kWh NMC battery good for 554km of range, and both have a lot of common standard gear, including LED lighting, smart keycard and digital key entry, app connectivity with online services, Google services integrated into the huge 14.5-inch media screen.
More on the interior in a sec, but the high-grade adds 22-inch wheels, air suspension, pixel LED headlights, an electrochromatic glass roof, ventilated front seats with massage function, and a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system among other things. Well worth the extra money, if you value posh features.
The interior in the high-grade version I tested is a terrifically comfortable and roomy space, but uninitiated drivers might find the minimalism of the design somewhat difficult to get used to.
The big screen is your control centre for basically everything in the car, and there is a volume scroller and some other controls on the steering wheel, but it’s pretty bare in there … I mean, at least if you value buttons as a form of bling.
The seats are exceptional, the storage well considered, and the design is special.
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The rear seat offers good space, but there’s a real ‘knees-up’ position for adults to contend with. There’s lots of leg, foot, shoulder and headroom, and kids will appreciate that it’s also like stadium-seating. There’s outboard seat heating and ventilation in this grade, too, as well as quad-zone climate control, plus the requisite ISOFIX and top-tether points. No sunshades, though.
Boot space is 424 litres, but considering this is a five-metre-long car, that’s small. And the shape of the space is a bit odd, because it has a hatch opening but it’s long and deep in terms of the shape. There’s no spare wheel, either, but you do get a front storage trunk (frunk) to hold your cables and tyre repair kit.
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The drive experience is divine.
It’s not as sporty as others in the segment, but it’s serene, compliant, and very smooth – especially if you have the suspension and steering set to the more comfort-focused settings.
Just be aware that the turning circle is quite large, due to its size.
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In the firmer modes, things are a bit more involving, but it’s not a sporty feeling car, and at 2420kg, it wouldn’t want to be. It does go like the proverbial off a shovel, of course, but believe it or not, a six-second-or-so 0-100km/h time is actually slow by modern standards.
A dual-motor model would, no doubt, be in the fours.
That doesn’t exist for our market just yet though. And as it is, I think this ES90 nails the objective that’s been set for it.
A nice bonus for Volvo buyers is the five-year ownership promise of unlimited-kilometre warranty, free servicing and free roadside assistance as well as data cover for over-the-air updates and live Google use.
There’s an eight-year battery warranty, too.
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The charging specs are strong, with 11kW AC (about 10 hours 0-100 per cent on three-phase) and 300kW DC (10-80 per cent in 20 mins). That is just one of this car’s strengths. It’s a lovely, luxurious, and liveable vehicle.
VOLVO ES90
PRICE: From about $95,000 drive-away
POWER: Rear electric motor, 245kW and 480Nm
WARRANTY: 5-year, unlimited km
RANGE: 554km
BOOT SPACE: 424 litres
SPARE: None
