The stylish 2026 Volvo ES90 EV has been launched, the newcomer blurring the boundaries between an SUV, sedan and fastback. The model will bring a hefty 500kW of power and a long range of up to 700km when it arrives Down Under, possibly as soon as this year.
Billed as the Geely-owned brand’s technological flagship, the Volvo ES90 is a five-metre-long rival to the Audi A6 e-tron. It comes with an 800V electrical architecture that unlocks both a longer range and faster charging than any other Volvo EV.
The same tech will be rolled out on the Volvo EX90.
The big five-door Volvo gets an advanced new computer and a powerful processor that will help the brand roll out additional features during the model’s lifetime.
From launch three powertrains will be offered with a choice of two batteries – a Single Motor version with 245kW that can accelerate to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds; a Twin Motor that produces up to 330kW for a 5.5-second 0-100km/h dash, and an even quicker Twin Motor Performance that musters 500kW for a rapid four-second 0-100km/h sprint.
Range for the Single Motor Extended Range with a 92kWh battery is 650km (WLTP verified), while the Twin Motor all-wheel drive is capable of the headline 700km figure. Those figures beat the best BMW i5 (627km) and longest-range Mercedes-Benz EQE (626km).
Featuring an SUV-like high-ride with a sedan profile and fastback rear styling, the ES90 has an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.25, making it the most aerodynamic Volvo ever.
Familiar design elements include Thor Hammer headlights, C-shaped LED headlights and new LED lights in the rear screen.
Seven exterior colours and several wheel options are available, the latter varying from 20 to 22 inches.
Rear boot space is only 424 litres, but dropping the rear seats improves that figure to 733L and there’s a further 22L frunk to store charging cables.
Within, a 3100mm wheelbase means there should be plenty of space for five adults.
Six ambient lighting themes are available that are said to boost wellbeing, while the cabin is bathed in light, thanks to a large panoramic roof that is said to filter out 99.9 per cent of harmful UV rays.
An on-board air purifier, meanwhile, scrubs out 95 per cent of PM 2.5 particulates and 99.9 per cent of grass, tree and pollen allergens.
Said to include one of the quietest cabins ever, Volvo has developed a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
Within, the ES90 gets a new 14.5-inch infotainment system that runs a Google-powered operating system and is powered by a Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies hardware.
Ahead of the driver is a 9.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. A 360-degree camera is standard.
Like the EX90, the ES90 gets a Superset tech stack that includes an Nvidia Drive AGX Orin tech platform that brings powerful next-level computing power that introduces advanced artificial-intelligence-powered software to boost safety and overall performance.
The second model to ride on the SPA2 electric architecture that’s shared with the EX90, the newer ES90 incorporates a high-mounted LiDAR, five radars, seven cameras and no fewer than 12 ultrasonic sensors for more sophisticated driver-assist aids. The biggest gain, however, is the new 800V architecture, which addresses concerns surrounding the EX90’s slow rate of charging.
Now capable of a 350kW top-up, Volvo says a 10-minute recharge of the 106kWh battery can add as much as 300km of range.
A rear occupant detection system, meanwhile, can even detect the soft breathing of a sleeping baby, preventing any tired parents from leaving their loved one in a parked car.
Already locked in for a launch Down Under, the new Volvo ES90 will be sourced for our market from the same Chinese plant that builds the EX90 and related Polestar 3.