Volvo ES90: Electric sedan launches as rival to BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE
The large electric sedan ES90 has officially entered production at the Chinese plant in Chengdu, as Volvo is launching its new EV for the upper mid-size segment. With the fully electric flagship ES90, the Swedish brand is offering an electric car that should be a direct competitor to the established German premium brands. Instead of relying solely on popular SUVs, Volvo is taking on top dogs like the BMW i5, Mercedes EQE and the upcoming Audi A6 e-tron with its latest electric sedan.
Size and plattform
When it comes to dimensions, Volvo’s new EV doesn't have to hide from its competitors. The large ES90 measures 197 inches in length, is 76 inches wide, and has a 122-inch wheelbase. This makes it slightly shorter than the 199-inch BMW i5, but slightly larger than the 195-inch Mercedes EQE.
Three powertrains with different range numbers
For the drivetrain, Volvo offers three options for the ES90 that’s based on the SPA2 platform. The base model has a single electric motor on the rear axle, which produces 245kW (333 hp) and has a usable battery capacity of 88kWh. This allows the ES90 to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 112 mph and the official WLTP range comes in at 404 miles.
For more power, the all-wheel-drive Twin Motor and Twin Motor Performance models are available in the Volvo ES90. Both sport a larger battery with a capacity of 102kWh and a WLTP range of 435 miles. The ES90 Twin Motor produces 330kW (449 hp) and hits 62 mph in 5.5 seconds. The flagship, the ES90 Twin Motor Performance, offers an impressive 500kW (680 hp) and accelerates to 62 mph in just 4 seconds.
Fast charging thanks to 800 volts
A notable advantage of the Volvo ES90 is its 800-volt architecture, which allows for high charging speeds. The all-wheel drive models can be charged with up to 350kW at DC fast charging stations. Under ideal conditions, charging from 10 to 80% takes around 20 minutes, which is a very good number for DC charging. However, when it comes to AC charging stations, the Swedish sedan arguably comes with a huge caveat. Only 11kW instead of 22kW unnecessarily extends the charging time at public AC chargers for all ES90 variants, to be more precise.
More specs
As for the other technical specifications, Volvo provides more convincing numbers. The turning circle is 38.7 ft, which is decent in this vehicle class. The drag coefficient is 0.25, while the trunk volume comes in at 15 cu ft, which is slightly less than some competitors. With a curb weight of 5,225 to 5,798 lbs, the new Volvo EV is certainly not lightweight. That said, the AWD version can tow up to 4,409 lbs.
Price
The Volvo ES90 can be ordered in Europe for prices starting around $84,000 including 19% VAT. This puts the price of the electric sedan slightly above the base model of the Mercedes EQE. The BMW i5 is also a bit more affordable, while the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron is the cheapest of all mentioned rivals. With its mix of performance, range, and space, the Volvo ES90 might have the potential to bring a breath of fresh air to the all-electric mid-size sedan segment. The first European models will be delivered later this year.
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