2026 Volvo ES90 Packs up to 670 HP and Keeps the Sedan Form Alive
The 2026 Volvo ES90 is the brand's new sedan-like EV, featuring a handsome design that hides a rear hatch. Its available powertrains range from a single-motor rear-drive setup with 329 horsepower to a dual-motor AWD model with up to 670 hp.The ES90 doesn't yet have an EPA range estimate, but we expect versions with the bigger battery can go about 369 miles on a full charge. Sweden's most recognizable automaker has finally revealed its first electric sedan. Well, technically, the 2026 Volvo ES90 is a hatchback, but its sloping rear roofline and decklid-like tail preserve the dying sedan form. The ES90 represents Volvo's sixth EV, though it will be the fifth to go on sale in the United States. As with the new electric EX90 SUV, which is sold alongside the traditional XC90, the ES90 will cohabitate with Volvo's familiar gas-fed S90 sedan. A Smaller Footprint Volvo's prevailing "Thor's Hammer" headlight design sits proudly on either side of a large, flat front fascia. The car's backside is also typical Volvo, with the C-shaped taillights now accentuated with additional LEDs extending into the rear window. The lidar sensor that controls the car's advanced driver-assistance tech is mounted atop the ES90 and detracts from the otherwise sleek styling, but the glass roof helps it blend in with the rest of the bodywork.VolvoThe ES90's 122.1-inch wheelbase is slightly longer than the gas-powered S90's, which measures 120.5 inches. Despite the larger wheelbase and extra legroom it brings, the ES90 is shorter than the gas model (196.9 versus 200.4 inches). The EV also stands almost four inches higher than the ICE model at 60.9 inches tall. Volvo lists the ES90's curb weight at up to 5787 pounds, whereas it lists the plug-in-hybrid S90 at 4665 pounds.Inside, the ES90 sports a similar layout to other recent Volvo EVs. The main attraction is the dash-mounted 14.5-inch center touchscreen that controls the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. As we've seen elsewhere in the brand's lineup, the screen is vertically oriented and runs Google's built-in software. A smaller 9.0-inch display is mounted to the steering column, and a head-up display duplicates the most pertinent info.VolvoThe ES90 offers several interior lighting options, and Volvo says customers can pick from a variety of upholstery materials. Every version comes equipped with a panoramic roof that Volvo says provides UV protection up to 99.9 percent. There's also an optional electrochromic glass roof that allows customers to alter the transparency of the glass. Impressive PerformanceThe ES90 offers two powertrain configurations with three different power outputs. The single-motor rear-drive setup represents the entry-level model. Volvo says it's good for 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque and claims it can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. The mid-range Twin Motor variant uses a dual-motor setup that combines to make 442 ponies and 494 pound-feet. Volvo claims it can sprint to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. The Twin Motor Performance at the top of the lineup is where Volvo really turns up the wick. As with the mid-range model, the Performance comes with an electric motor mounted on each axle, but this combo generates 670 ponies and 635 pound-feet. The extra oomph helps it race from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 3.9 seconds.VolvoVolvo claims a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.25, which it says is the lowest of any car the company has built. That figure should play into a competitive driving range for the ES90. While the EPA hasn't yet certified the new Volvo, we expect the smaller pack to be good for roughly 343 miles and the larger pack to provide about 369 miles on a full charge. The ES90's charging speeds should be equally competitive thanks to its 800-volt architecture—the first for an electric Volvo. When connected to a DC fast-charger with a 350-kW connection, the dual-motor variants, which feature a 102.0-kWh battery, can charge from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 20 minutes or add 186 miles of range in 10 minutes. The single-motor model gets a slightly smaller 88.0-kWh battery pack, and its charging speeds peak at 300 kW.Volvo's new flagship sedan, er, hatchback can now be ordered in much of Europe, though we'll have to wait a while longer before it becomes available in the United States. Volvo says other markets will add the ES90 later this year and into 2026. More on the ES90Volvo ES90 Electric Sedan Teased Ahead of RevealVolvo Claims ES90 Can Add 186 Miles in 10 Minutes2026 Volvo ES90Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
Comments (0)