3 days ago
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Volvo has revealed its first electric car that isn't an SUV or people mover, the sedan-esque ES90 with a hatchback tailgate, SUV ground clearance, and the brand's longest EV range yet.
Electric Cars
Volvo is set to augment its range of electric SUVs – and one people mover – with its traditional passenger car-like, battery-powered vehicle, the 2026 Volvo ES90.
Due in Volvo Australia dealers in late 2025, the ES90's name positions it as an electric counterpart to the S90 large sedan no longer sold locally, but its design blurs the line between body styles.
The Swedish car maker claims it "combines the refined elegance of a sedan, the adaptability of a fastback, and the spacious interior and higher ground clearance associated with SUVs," and therefore is "in a class of its own."
It is similar in concept to the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 high-riding liftbacks from Volvo's sister brand, but is unrelated to those vehicles.
Instead, it is underpinned by the same SPA2 electric-car platform as the EX90 seven-seat SUV, though with electricals upgraded to 800 volts for faster charging and up to 700km of claimed driving range.
Prices in its home market of Sweden start from 929,000 Krona ($AU142,000), and the dual-motor ES90 is about 10 per cent cheaper than an equivalent EX90, which in Australia starts from $124,990 plus on-road costs.
Three variants are available overseas – Single Motor Extended Range, Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance – with rear- or all-wheel drive.
The Single Motor Extended Range is rear-wheel drive with a 245kW motor and 88kWh usable battery capacity, good for 0-100km/h acceleration in a claimed 6.9 seconds, an 180km/h top speed, and 650km WLTP driving range rating.
The regular Twin Motor develops 330kW for a 5.5-second 0-100km/h claim, with its 102kWh battery pack boosting driving range to a 700km rating.
At the top of the range is the flagship Twin Motor Performance, which keeps the 102kWh battery and 700km range but upgrades to a 500kW output and a 4.0-second 0-100km/h time.
It is the longest-range electric car Volvo sells, beating the circa-600km maximum driving range figures of rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but down on the Audi A6 e-tron's 750km WLTP.
New 800-volt electricals allow the ES90 to charge at up to 350kW DC, for a 10 to 80 per cent recharge of the larger battery in 20 minutes, or the ability to add 300km of range in 10 minutes.
Volvo's latest Superset 'tech stack' is standard, a suite of software and hardware systems that will power all of its future electric models.
It has been newly upgraded for the ES90 with a more powerful dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin chipset, claimed to give it more computing power than any previous Volvo.
The computers power the driver-assistance systems, including five radars, seven cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a lidar from Luminar.
Measuring about five metres long, and 3.1 metres in wheelbase, the ES90 is similar in size to large sedans such as a Tesla Model S or BMW i5.
Styling cues are drawn from the EX90, with pixel-style 'Thor's Hammer' LED headlights, a closed-off upper front fascia, 20- and 22-inch alloy wheels, and C-shaped tail-lights with upper lamps in the rear window, inspired by the EX30.
Volvo says its new electric car is the most streamlined vehicle it has ever built, with a 0.25 drag coefficient.
Access to the main cargo area is through a liftback tailgate, with 424 litres of space that can expand to 733 litres with all three rear seats folded individually, plus a further 22 litres under the bonnet.
Inside, there's a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen – shared with the EX90 – with built-in Google apps such as Google Maps, Assistant and Maps, 5G connectivity, and a Snapdragon chip powering the system.
A 9.0-inch instrument display is placed ahead of the driver, as well as a head-up display projected on the windscreen. Parking is assisted by a 360-degree camera with a 3D view.
Available features include a panoramic glass roof with UV protection and an optional electrochromic function that can adjust the transparency of the glass, and four-zone climate control with an air purifier claimed to remove 99.9 per cent of grass, tree and pollen allergens.
Volvo claims the ES90 is its quietest interior yet, which buyers can offset by turning the flagship of three sound system options, a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo with Dolby Atmos functionality.
It includes speakers in the headrests, and "a special mode replicating the sounds of London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios," the Swedish brand says.
The 2026 Volvo ES90 has opened for orders in key European markets ahead of deliveries due to commence mid-year.
Volvo says "other markets will be added later this year and into 2026," with Australian arrivals due to commence in late 2025.
Electric Cars Guide
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
