2027 Volvo ES90 review

What is the Volvo ES90 like on the inside?

At least in top Ultra specification, the ES90 is even more luxurious than its price suggests, albeit not for the tech-averse.

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In true Volvo fashion, the seats steal the show. Both the driver and front passenger are enveloped in soft lounge-style leather-clad pews that leave you feeling fresh and relaxed after long journeys. Standard heating and cooling functions ensure this remains the case year-round, while a multi-program massage feature serves as icing on the cake.

There’s no shortage of adjustment available, either. Toggles built into the seat base handle all the basics, while the thigh cushion can be extended for additional support.

The steering column is likewise power-adjustable and therefore able to tilt and telescope with precision, so it’s near impossible to feel uncomfortable behind the wheel, particularly given the the sense of space overhead.

Speaking of, the steering wheel is a highlight in itself – sculpted, perfectly sized and finished in textured two-tone leatherette, with heating for colder mornings. It sits beautifully in the hands.

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In fact, just about every surface inside the ES90 feels soft and/or upscale.

The dash and door cards are generously padded from top to bottom – something not every German rival can claim – while open-pore wood trim across both areas elevates their appearance.

And while physical buttons and dials have mostly been discarded, the few that remain scream ‘premium’, particularly the crystal audio volume roller at the base of the infotainment screen. Admittedly, it’s not quite as eye-catching or as satisfying to use as the Orrefors gear selector found in other high-end Volvo models.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the ‘Dawn’ interior colourway, though. Our test car was already showing signs of discolouration and wear, with grubby marks on the sill trims and visible staining on the seat bolsters. So although the light colour palette has plenty of wow-factor when fresh, I’d be wary of how it might present after several years without fastidious maintenance.

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I'm also inclined to question the reliability and long-term performance of the ES90's in-car tech, which proved patchy during our weeklong loan. At one point the skip track button on the steering wheel simply stopped working, while Apple CarPlay displayed as a black screen during a separate journey.

As always, I opted for a wireless CarPlay connection, although there's also the option to pair (or charge) your phone using a USB-C cable.

When working as it should, the Google-based infotainment system is bright, vibrant, responsive and packed with functionality, for both better and worse.

Built-in Google Maps, access to the Google Play store and an app dedicated to configuration of the crisp and powerful Bowers and Wilkins sound system land on the positive side of that ledger. Unnecessary digitisation of the side mirror and climate controls, on the other hand, do not.

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Volvo has at least put some effort into bringing commonly used functions to the fore, chiefly through dynamic shortcut icons that change depending on the driving scenario. A shortcut to open the glovebox – disappointingly, there's no manual mechanism – appears when you're sat stationary, for example.

And even when you are forced to go searching for something, the menus make sense and all the icons are clearly labelled.

No poking or prodding is required to get a read on key driving information including speed, safety alerts and driving range, all of which is housed across both a steering column-mounted instrument display and a windscreen head-up display. The latter is relatively unremarkable, but the former is noteworthy for its close proximity to the driver, making it easier to read.

So while Skoda espouses itself as the 'Simply Clever' brand, the Swedes are clearly pretty switched on too.

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That said, the ES90 loses points for its glossy black steering wheel buttons. They're unseparated, meaning you're more likely to hit the wrong one without taking your eyes off the road.

And the storage space available up front is merely adequate for a large passenger vehicle. You get wide, rubber-lined door bins, a felt-lined armrest compartment, two cupholders, a wireless phone charger, and that pesky electric glovebox.

The comfort and quality up front is mirrored in the second row, where the ES90 really puts its rivals to shame.

In the back, most luxury executive cars at this price point offer decent space, ambience and... not much else, whereas the top-spec ES90 goes far further than that.

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Beyond being supremely comfortable, the outboard rear seats are equipped with most of the same toys as those up front. I'm talking multiple levels of heating and ventilation, plus powered recline adjustment via buttons near the window switches. Pretty bougie, huh?

All versions of the ES90 are similarly generous in the legroom department, allowing six-footers to stretch out without worrying about grazed knees.

Foot space under the front pews is more limited, though, and the stadium-style elevated seating arrangement has a negative impact on headroom, limiting passenger height to around six-four. Still, most adults won't complain.

Fancy seat features aside, amenities include dual-zone climate control, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders and hidden storage, wide door pockets, and a pair of rear-facing USB-C outlets. Again, little to complain about.

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Further back, the ES90 offers 446 litres of boot space accessible via a powered liftback tailgate.

The capacity figure itself isn't all that impressive, beaten by that of the i5, IM5, E-Class and Lexus ES.

However, the ES90's aforementioned liftback tailgate affords far better boot access than a sedan bootlid, and the loading area is wide, flat, deep and height-adjustable. As a result, it's easy to fill the boot with just about anything, from shopping bags to large suitcases.

Planning an IKEA run? The rear seats fold close to flat, creating a cavernous storage space perfect for flatpack furniture.

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There's also a handy underfloor compartment for charging cables, along with cargo tie-down points, side storage nets, and a 12V power outlet.

A small front storage compartment provides additional space for charging cables or overflow groceries, though there's no conventional spare wheel.

To see how the Volvo ES90 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

In Australia, the ES90 is powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor teamed with a 92kWh battery, although it can be had with dual-motor all-wheel drive and a larger battery overseas.

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All versions use an 800V electrical architecture and ride on the same SPA2 platform that underpins the EX90 electric SUV.

Volvo claims the ES90 can add 300km of range in just 10 minutes when hooked up to a 350kW DC fast-charger, although such chargers remain relatively scarce in Australia.

To see how the Volvo ES90 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Volvo ES90 drive?

Despite their intended purpose, large executive sedans just keep getting faster, firmer and generally more sporty, but Volvo has gone against the grain with its new entry.

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Unlike its German rivals, the ES90 is unashamedly soft, prioritising comfort over all else.

That’s especially true of the Ultra, which rides on active air suspension that soaks up just about any rut or pothole Australian roads can throw at it in its Soft setting. The downside is a decidedly floaty feel, with some excess vertical movement over speed bumps and longer undulations.

Switching to Firm mode reins that in, but only by making the ride noticeably busier, without transforming the ES90 into anything approaching a sharp driving tool.

Because no matter how you set it up, this is a big, boaty luxury liftback that changes direction with the urgency of a tradie on the job at three o'clock on a Friday.

Its 2.4-tonne kerb weight certainly plays a role, although most of that heft is concentrated low in the chassis – exactly where you want it. Even so, the high-riding ES90 never hugs the road as tightly as a conventional sedan.

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Don’t expect much encouragement from the steering either, as it’s light, slow and uncommunicative in both its settings, geared more towards easing the burden of city commuting than rewarding you on a winding road.

That's perfectly fine, as vehicles like the ES90 should endeavour to make life easier, not necessarily more exciting.

And BMW – in this case with the i5 – will always be there for those after a luxury vehicle that steers like a sports car.

The ES90’s relaxed personality extends to its powertrain, where a modest single-motor setup delivers smooth, progressive acceleration rather than the stomach-rearranging thrust we’ve come to expect from high-end EVs. It’s unintimidating as a result – unlikely to ever spin up the rear tyres, yet still responsive around town and punchy enough to reach highway speeds without fuss.

Sure, all-wheel drive would add another layer of security in the wet, but it wasn't missed during our test.

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Again, look to the likes of the IM5, Model 3, i5 and G80 if your performance expectations extend any further.

But if refinement and cruising capability are of greater interest, it's best you keep reading, as the ES90 has both these bases covered.

Its cabin is impressively isolated from the outside world, with thick glass, substantial doors and layers of sound deadening keeping wind and road noise to a minimum.

Combine that with the cushy suspension and smooth power delivery, and the ES90 eats up highway kilometres with ease. Its stalk-activated cruise control system also works well, offering confident lane-centring and straightforward speed adjustment via the steering wheel controls.

This should hardly come as a surprise given Volvo's reputation for safety, nor should the competence of the remaining advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), save for a strict driver distraction monitor.

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Poor rearward visibility through the letterbox-style back window, however, feels weirdly at odds with Volvo’s safety-first philosophy.

Thankfully, parking is made easier by a comprehensive suite of high-resolution cameras. And while the ES90 is a long car – five metres from nose to tail, to be exact – it doesn't feel especially wide, so narrow laneways shouldn't raise alarm bells.

Similarly, steep driveways such as my own require little negotiation thanks to the ES90’s raised stance, which protects it from the clearance headaches that plague lower-slung sedans such as the E-Class and 5 Series.

The Ultra also sports an Off-road mode, which holds the suspension at its maximum ride height at speeds of up to 35km/h – handy not only for those regular occasions you venture off the beaten track in your rear-wheel drive Volvo sedan... but also for tackling awkward urban obstacles.

Somewhat surprisingly, there are no further preset drive modes, which leads into one of my central complaints about the driving experience – limited configurability.

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That mightn't sound right given everything you’ve read so far, but hear me out. Starting with the suspension, it’s essentially a choice between sitting atop a jumping pillow or a FatBlaster machine, and there's no middle ground. The steering suffers from a similar lack of choice, offering two levels of weighting that are both very, very light.

My biggest gripe, however, is with the regenerative braking system. Because while many mainstream EVs offer multi-level regen with steering wheel paddle adjustment, the ES90 limits you to Off, Auto and One-Pedal settings.

The latter, as you might expect, slows the car aggressively when you come off the throttle. Too aggressively, if you ask me. Auto, on the other hand, varies deceleration depending on traffic conditions, leaving no option for a consistent, moderate level of regen.

The brake pedal, thankfully, is smooth and progressive in its operation. As such, I found myself leaving regen off and driving the ES90 much like an ICE car – something that really shouldn’t be necessary in a luxury EV.

Adding insult to injury, the few adjustments available are buried in the touchscreen, and its dynamic shortcut bar doesn’t always provide immediate access to the relevant vehicle settings.

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So for all the criticism modern luxury cars attract for being overcomplicated, the ES90 arguably goes too far the other way.

Well, aside from the startup procedure, which becomes annoyingly convoluted if you’re relying on the physical key card, as I did.

First, it needs to be removed from its pouch and tapped against the driver’s door handle to unlock the car – there’s no equivalent reader on the passenger side. Then, once inside, the card has to be placed on the wireless charging pad before you can select a gear.

In other words, there’s no conventional keyless entry, no keyless start and no way to lock or unlock the car from a distance using the NFC card.

Granted, this will likely push owners to use the smartphone-based digital key, which does provide conventional proximity-style access.

To see how the Volvo ES90 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

The Ultra sits at the top of a two-trim local lineup.

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2027 Volvo ES90 Plus equipment highlights:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive suspension
• Automatic LED headlights
• • Automatic high-beam
  • Headlight washers
• Digital Key Plus
• NFC smart card key
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Heated wiper blades
• Power tailgate
• Fixed panoramic glass roof
• 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Google built-in (includes embedded Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play Store)
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• DAB+ digital radio
• Head-up display
• Power-adjustable steering column
• Heated, leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• Birch inlays
• Nordico leatherette seat upholstery
• 8-way power driver’s seat with memory
• • Heating
  • Memory
  • Manually adjustable thigh extender
  • 4-way lumbar
• 8-way power passenger seat
• • Manually adjustable thigh extender
  • 4-way lumbar
• 14-speaker Bose sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• Four-zone climate control
• Heat pump
• Rear centre armrest

The Ultra adds:

• 22-inch alloy wheels
• Active air suspension
• Pixel LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
• Electrochromic panoramic fixed glass roof
• Illuminated door handles
• 25-speaker 1610W Bowers & Wilkins sound system
• Light Ash inlays
• Ventilated Nordico or Nappa leather upholstery
• Massaging front seats
• Ventilated front seats
• Ventilated rear seats
• Power reclining rear seats
• Rear ‘lounge’ centre armrest

To see how the Volvo ES90 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Volvo ES90 safe?

The ES90 is yet to be assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, although being a Volvo it's sufficiently loaded with safety features, both passive and active.

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Standard safety features include:

• 7 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
• • Pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • Intersection assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver attention monitoring
• Front cross-traffic assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Pedestrian and cyclist steering avoidance
• Pilot Assist (adaptive cruise control + lane-centring)
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Rear occupant detection (radar-based)
• Safe exit warning
• Surround-view camera with 3D view
• Traffic sign recognition

To see how the Volvo ES90 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool