First Volvo ES90 reviews detail Tesla Model S beating fastback with longer range and higher clearance

Volvo has launched its first electric car built on the 800V architecture that can compete with both the Tesla Model Y and the Model S in one fell swoop.

"Some might say it is a sedan. Others will see a fastback, or even hints of an SUV," says Volvo, and it is right that the new ES90 has a little bit of all three, with a hatch added in for some extra categorization confusion.

No matter what it is called, the Volvo ES90 design is both pretty and practical. It offers ample room for passengers and cargo, while sitting higher than the typical sedan in terms of ground clearance, like an SUV.

The ES90 specs match its clever design, too, as Volvo equipped it with 92 kWh-106 kWh batteries good for 700 km (WLTP) range, more than the Tesla Model S that is rated for 640 km of range on the same cycle. It also offers much faster charging, with more than 180 miles added in 10 minutes on a 350 kW charger.

The dual-motor Performance version can accelerate 0-60 mph in under four seconds with its 680hp of combined motor output. 

Moving on to the interior, Volvo says that this is one of the quietest cabins it has ever created so that the passengers can enjoy the ES90's premium sound systems up to the 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins creation, depending on the trim ordered.

Tall passengers can ride in comfort on the elevated rear bench that offers plenty of space thanks to a long 3.1m wheelbase, while the four-zone climate control in the cabin is augmented by an asthma friendly filter. The panoramic roof comes with an electrochromatic version, too, so that they can tint it to the desired level on a hot sunny day.

When it comes to cargo, the Volvo ES90 impresses as well with its up to 733 liters of loading space when the three rear seats are folded individually. The car passes Volvo's legendary 55-point safety test, as it also added extra driver-assist enhancements like a LiDAR on the roof and a 360-degree camera for increased parking spots, with all input going to an Nvidia DRIVE AGX Orin processing architecture.

The Volvo ES90 price will start from about $70,000 in the US, up to about $82,000 for the top trim with the longest range and premium audio, and it can be ordered in seven color options with four wheel sets up to 22 inches in size.

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