Who is talking about the cost-of-living crisis? For the second time this year I have driven a car that costs over €100,000. Back in March, the Volvo EX90 that I drove cost €124k, and last week the Volvo ES90 also cost over €100k. But journalists who review new cars tend to get the top of the range versions to test and the price of the Core entry version is €79,995.
That news might make you feel better if one day you aspire to own a luxurious Volvo. My test car came in a very attractive Denim Blue colour. You could describe the ES90 as a slightly raised saloon, but not an estate or SUV. I’m told the reason for the slightly raised body is that the battery, which is located under the passenger compartment, is less vulnerable to bumps on the road.
The door handles pop out when you approach the car with the key fob in your pocket. But sometimes it might take a few swipes to lock the car. The safety of the pop out handles has come under scrutiny following some high-profile fatal accidents, including incidents where children were reportedly trapped inside a car. China is going to ban pop out handles from next year.
Yes, the key fob can be a bit tricky; you get a little gadget along with two credit card-type cards to lock and unlock the car. That little gadget, measuring two inches long and one-inch wide, needs to be placed in the area on the dash where you would normally charge your phone. But like most things in life, it’s fine once you get used to it.
At the front you get a very clean look which is set off by Volvo’s neat pixel LED lights. As it’s an electric car there is no grille, but the front could not be described as bland. At five metres, it’s a fairly long motor.
The ES90 is built on the same platform as the EX90 which is a seven-seater, while the ES only has five seats. So naturally there are ‘acres’ of leg room for the three back seat passengers. It’s really luxurious and spacious back there and of course an arm rest is also included.
The dash is dominated by a huge vertical 14.5-inch infotainment screen. Everything you need to do with the car can be done from that screen including opening the glove compartment and the boot; the only item that’s opened manually is the Frunk. The boot looks huge, but officially it’s 424 litres, while you also get 65 litres of space in the Frunk at the front where you can store the charging cables.
Inside, the décor is very bright thanks to bright seats and a sunroof. Underneath that huge infotainment screen is a silver button for the volume and you can also easily scroll through all the various radio stations without taking your eyes off the road. I listened to a lot of different radio stations last week.
There is a Lidar scanner on the roof, but going forward it looks like Volvo will not be using Lidar, as the company who made the Lidar product filed for bankruptcy last year.
Prices start at €79,995 and the car as tested with a plethora of goodies and extras will cost you €102,595. Those extras include €1,250 for the Denim Blue. It’s a full EV, so road tax only €120.
Vapour Grey is the only free option for the ES90; all the other colours cost €1,250. They are Onyx Black, Crystal White, Platinum Grey, Aurora Silver, Sand Dune and Mulberry Red. Three trims: Core, Plus and Ultra.
It really is a luxurious car, and it just seems to glide quietly along the road. Yes, it’s expensive, but the ES90 is luxury with a capital L. Start saving now or join your local Credit Union. The range with a full charge is approximately 620km.
