Volvo’s first-ever fully electric executive saloon, the ES90, has arrived on our own test fleet, delivering a software-defined supercomputer on wheels, complete with a commanding 411-mile range and sleek aerodynamic fastback styling. We test out Gothenburg’s premium challenger to the German establishment.

Volvo ES90 Single Motor Extended Range RWD Plus

List price as tested: £69,140 | BiK: 4% | Official range: 411 miles | On fleet range: N/A | Efficiency as tested: N/A

First Report:

Fresh off our tests of the EX30 and EX30 Cross Country, our new ES90 long-termer is here to showcase Volvo’s plans to reinvent its flagship executive presence.

Arriving on our fleet just weeks after starting first UK deliveries, this long-awaited new model from the Gothenburg brand is notable for being its first-ever fully electric executive saloon, heralding a spiritual successor to the S90.

It’s positioned as a highly competitive rival to German executive EVs such as the BMW i5, Mercedes-Benz EQE and Audi A6 e-tron, competing as a tech-forward car built with high-end Scandinavian design, cutting-edge software and long-range electric performance.

The ES90 shares its underlying architecture – the SPA2 platform – with the EX90 SUV, but adopts more traditional three-box saloon styling, combined with a slightly elevated, SUV-like driving position and a practical, hatchback-style boot opening.

This fastback design offers exceptional aerodynamic efficiency while significantly boosting cabin space and cargo utility. More in our next report.

It’s also Volvo’s most technologically advanced and computationally powerful vehicle to date. Driven by the brand’s next-generation Superset technology stack, its core computing capacity allows the car to constantly evolve through software updates.

Priced from £67,560, it’s available with a choice of two trims and three powertrains – Single Motor Extended Range, Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance variants – delivering up to 435 miles of range.

Ours is the entry-level, rear-wheel-drive Single Motor Extended Range, which is fitted with a 92kWh (nominal) battery and delivers 333hp along with up to 411 miles of WLTP combined range and 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds.

As a foundational pillar of Volvo’s tech-forward approach, the ES90 also features 800V architecture – unlike some of its rivals – which is combined with a completely new battery management software and hardware for a longer range and faster charging than any electric Volvo before. It’s also set up with bi-directional capabilities – vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home, for houses with an advanced wallbox and home energy management system.

Two grades – Plus and Ultra – are available in the UK. Ours is the Plus, which comes with features such as a 14.5-inch infotainment screen with Google built-in, with Google Maps, Google Assistant and more apps on Google Play, a 9.0-inch driver display, 360-degree camera with 3D view, Bose Premium Audio System, wireless phone charging and head-up display. There’s a veritable arsenal of safety equipment and a fixed panoramic roof too.

Ours comes with just two extras – the Mulberry Red exterior colour (£950), which is a stunning and elegant change from the usual grayscale colours for this segment, plus ventilated Nordico upholstery (£800).

All this background information is essential to understanding the driving experience and everyday life with the big Volvo.

We’ll report back in the coming months but first impressions are overwhelmingly positive. Standout features include a cavernous interior thanks to its generous 5m length, the impressive 411 miles of range and whisper-quiet cruising on the road that could shake up rivals.