Driven: Why the ultra-sleek Volvo ES90 is the perfect antidote to SUV fatigue

Willem van de Putte | Published 3 hours ago

In an age where mostly bland SUVs dominate global markets, it’s refreshing to see that Volvo hasn’t thrown in the towel completely and continues to make eye-catching sedans.

I say sedan, but the fully electric ES90 is more of a fastback than a full sedan, but at least it’s not an SUV.

Sure, the Swedish manufacturer is still heavily invested in SUVs and an electric future; they’re in the business of selling cars after all, but the ES90 certainly makes a bold four-door statement even in a niche market, especially in South Africa.

Exterior

At five metres, it’s a long car to be sure, which has given the designers a fantastic scope to make something attractive. Chiselled is perhaps one word to describe it, combined with an extended and sloping roofline and compact rear, providing the fastback nomenclature.

The range-topping Ultra we had on test rides on striking 21-inch alloys added to the overall premier look of the car.

The signature Thor Hammer front LED lights and LED trips lower down provide a striking, smooth front end.

The rear LEDs are C-shaped clusters framing the tailgate, and vertical lights running up the sides of the rear window add an additional aura to its aerodynamic profile.

The boot offers 446 litres of storage space, which expands to 1,427 litres when the rear backrests are folded flat. There’s also a small 27-litre frunk under the bonnet that provides additional cargo space.

Interior

Inside its typical Volvo minimalist design with equal parts Scandinavian attention to detail and striking finishes.

With much of it made from recycled materials, it’s astounding what they have managed to do. Not everyone will be keen on the mostly white interior, but it does add an air of sophistication; on the flip side, it’s unlikely that the ES90 is going to be used regularly to cart children or pets around.

As is the norm with modern cars, glass dominates with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment screen running Volvo's Google-built-in software interface, a nine-inch digital instrument cluster mounted on the steering column and a large head-up display so you can keep track of what’s going on without being distracted by the screen in the centre.

Thankfully, not everything is centred on the screen, so the rolling volume control for the Bowers & Wilkins system with 25 Speakers & Dolby Atmos and being able to adjust the airflow manually are welcome additions.

Still, I’m not sure that adjusting the side mirrors via the screen and arrows on the steering wheel is the best solution for that.

The focus is clearly on comfort and space to provide a tranquil atmosphere inside the cabin.

Thanks to its long wheelbase, rear seating is outstanding, and in the Ultra, the seats recline electronically and have heating and ventilation.

The electrochromatic dimming panoramic sunroof changes from clear to dark via the screen, but the jury’s still out on whether it’s sufficient for a hot summer day in Africa.

The Google software is easily accessed via voice control, and asking it to direct me to the nearest charging station or changing the temperature worked without any glitches.

Powertrain

The ES90 is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels, powered by a 92 kWh battery producing 245kW and 480Nm. Volvo claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds with top speed limited to 180km/h.

It features an 800V electrical system, allowing for fast charging.

Volvo claims a 755-kilometre range based on WLTP testing standards, but in real-world conditions, it is closer to 650-690 kilometres, which is still exceptional.

Driving

I’m not the world’s leading electric car enthusiast by any means, but the ES90 certainly has a way of changing perceptions.

I think that much of it is driven by the fact that it’s not a same-same SUV and turns heads everywhere it goes.

There’s no head jerking when the accelerator is floored, but instead it’s quick but incredibly smooth and linear with virtually no road or wind noise.

Fitted with adaptive air suspension (which can be raised from 178mm to 203mm), the drive is subtle, and despite the condition of our roads, it handled every imperfection with aplomb.

On smooth highways, it’s an extremely pleasant experience and so enjoyable that you completely forget that it is powered by a battery.

At 2.4 tons, it’s a heavy car, but because of its low centre of gravity, it’s quick and sticks like glue around tight corners with very good steering feedback.

It will take some doing to push it to the limit of handling, not something it was designed for, but a lot of fun nonetheless.

However, the ES90 was created for comfortable cruising and for that it gets full marks.

Volvo say they are looking at the possibility of bringing in a twin motor version of the ES90, but to be honest, I think it would be overkill and take away from the car’s ease of driving.

There’s really nothing to fault the car, and if I were nitpicking, then the limited rear view as a result of…