Swedish Electric Car With Ground Clearance: 2025 Volvo ES90 Fastback Sedan Debut

Volvo just revealed its sixth electric vehicle, the ES90 fastback sedan. Donning a hatch instead of a trunk and riding on the high side, Volvo doesn’t mind if you think of the ES90 as an SUV. But in actuality, it’s a tallish sedan with a fastback rear end. Think of it like an enlarged Polestar 2. 

Built using similar technology architecture as the recently launched Volvo EX90 SUV, the ES90 debuts a new 800V electrical system for Volvo, as well as a new version of the aforementioned technology architecture. It’s called “superset tech stack” and it enables plenty of driving aids to come along for the ride.

But let’s take a moment to celebrate the launch of a new car. Measuring 196.9 inches long, 76.5 inches wide, 60.8-61.1 inches tall (depending on trims and options selected), and rolling with a long 122.1-inch wheelbase, the ES90 lands in the BMW 5-Series/Mercedes E-Class lane of premium sedans. However, it’s a touch taller and has a highish 7.2-inch ground clearance — again, trim and option dependent.

New 800V Powertrain

The Volvo offers three propulsion options for its new ES90 fastback and a new 800V system to energize them. That allows for up to 350 kW of fast charging power, which Volvo says will add 186 miles of driving range to the battery in 10 minutes time — though that number is based on the European cycle. And a 10-80% charge in as little as 20 minutes is a big step from the 400V systems in other Volvo EVs.

The base, single-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup delivers 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It draws power from a 92kWh battery pack, which, according to the European cycle (WLTP), offers a total driving range of over 400 miles — the EPA number will drop significantly from that. Volvo says it offers enough power to hustle the over-5,200-pound sedan to 62 mph from rest in 6.9 seconds.

From there, the ES90 offers two all-wheel-drive options: dual motor and dual motor performance. The former combines power from electric motors on each axle to deliver a total 443 horsepower and 494 pound-feet of torque. And the latter goes full bonkers mode, delivering 671 horsepower and 642 pound-feet of torque in total. Whoa!

The base dual motor setup will take 5.5 seconds to reach 62 mph from rest. The performance version needs but 4.0 seconds to achieve the same. And that’s despite tipping the scales at more than 5,600 pounds. Both of these options make use of a larger 106kWh battery pack, which offers a range of 435 miles on the WLTP cycle — again, the EPA will show much less range.

By the way, all three versions will easily reach the governed 112mph top speed.

Tech-Laden Chassis

Volvo built the ES90 on the SPA2 platform. And, just like EX90, it makes use of something called “superset tech stack,” which is fancy parlance for a single set of computer modules to power all of the car’s components. But the similarities stop there.

Critically, the ES90 uses a new generation of computing power from NVIDIA, called Drive AFX Orin. Volvo claims this system possesses eight times the improvement in performance.

That’s plenty of processing power to handle five radars, seven cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a lidar. Volvo didn’t specify exactly what, but I presume that means a healthy set of driving aids — perhaps something to go against GM’s Super Cruise. But that is purely my speculation.

ES90: Space & Luxuries Inside

More traditional technologies lie inside the 2025 Volvo ES90 as well. It starts with a 14.5-inch center display that includes the usual amenities and Google Built-in. That means you have access to Google Maps, Play, and Assistant for all of your “Hey Google” needs. 

From there, all pertinent driving info comes courtesy of a 9-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a head-up display (HUD). Of course, with all of those cameras mounted, the ES90 offers a 360-degree view of the ES90’s immediate surroundings, too.

Volvo’s latest sedan also includes a four-zone climate control system. And every passenger that occupies a zone will benefit from gobs of natural light let in via a panoramic glass roof. Volvo will offer electrochromic tint for said roof to give occupants the ability to adjust transparency as needed. This feature will be optional, not standard.

Speaking of options, Volvo will install a 25-speaker Bower & Wilkins sound system for the audiophiles among us. Good thing that Volvo claims the ES90 is the quietest cabin it has ever produced.

2025 Volvo ES90 Reveal: Conclusions

Plenty of distinctively Volvo design made it into the ES90. You see it with the “Thor’s Hammer” headlight shape, the C-shaped taillights, and the generally clean and simple lines. With essentially no grille, those clean lines produce a nice and low 0.25 coefficient of drag.

You’ll also roll down the road on at least 20-inch wheels in the ES90. But, Volvo will bolt up to 22-inch wheels, again depending on trim and options.

And feel free to carry plenty of stuff. To start, you get a bit of storage up front under the hood, 0.8 cubic feet worth. And, courtesy of the liftback rear, you get 17 cubic feet of storage behind the second row. Drop that row to expand it to 44 cubic feet if it’s only you and a passenger that needs to travel.

If the ES90 looks and sounds enticing to you, it will require a bit of patience. Volvo did not yet specify a date, but it may take several months before entering the U.S. market. But if you love the Polestar 2 but wished it was about 10 inches longer, I bet the ES90 will be worth the wait.

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