The 2026 Volvo ES90 electric sedan was revealed to the world early March, and while we’ve provided the details below, don’t get excited: Volvo’s newest EV will not be coming to Canada. “The ES90 is produced exclusively in China and will not be offered in the Canadian market at this time,” Jennifer Okoeguale, public relations and communications lead for Volvo Car Canada, told Driving.ca.
The Canadian government implemented a 100% surtax on Chinese-made electric vehicles on October 1, 2024. Since the ES90 is built only in China, Volvo can’t import it and sell it in Canada at a price that’s commercially viable.
In the markets where the ES90 will be available, it’s an interesting offering. With a 5,000-millimetre (196.8-inch) length, 3,102-millimetre (122.1-inch) wheelbase, and ground clearance that’s pegged to rival some SUVs, the ES90 follows the trend of offering car buyers an attractive utility-vehicle alternative.
Globally, the Volvo ES90 will be available in three powertrain configurations: single-motor extended range (rear-wheel-drive [RWD]), and twin-motor and twin-motor performance (all-wheel-drive [AWD]). The single-motor version has a WLTP estimated range of up to 650 kilometres (404 miles) and a charging speed of up to 300 kilowatts for its 92-kWh battery. The two twin-motor powertrains offer up to 700 km of range and charging speeds up to 350 kW for a 106-kWh battery. With these charging speeds and its 800-volt architecture, the ES90 can charge from 10% to 80% in roughly 20 minutes.
Power-wise, the single-motor delivers 333 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque and goes from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds. The base twin-motor version produces 449 hp and 494 lb-ft of torque, and hits 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds; while the twin-motor performance iterant generates 680 hp and 641 lb-ft of torque while reaching 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.
The standard suspension uses frequency-selective damping to automatically smooth over rough patches in the road. An adaptive suspension is available as an upgrade and scans the car, road, and driver 500 times per second to provide more precise cornering and reduce pitch and roll. This suspension allows the car to be lifted and lowered over a range spanning 48 millimetres (1.9 inches). Don’t expect the ES90 to be especially nimble, though: its curb weight measures up to 2,553 kilograms (5,628 pounds).
The Volvo ES90 has a liftback that opens to a 446-litre trunk, plus an additional 16 litres available in a compartment below the trunk floor. Lower the rear seatbacks to access up to 1,256 litres of cargo space. A 22-litre frunk allows for extra storage under the hood.
Unsurprisingly, the front end of the ES90 looks nearly identical to Volvo’s other recent EV releases, most notably the Volvo EX30 and Volvo EX90 electric SUVs. Unlike the EX30, though, the ES90 has a digital instrument cluster mounted behind the steering wheel that puts speed and other critical info directly in front of the driver. A 14.5-inch vertically oriented infotainment screen with Google Built-in with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto hovers above the dashboard in tablet format.
Other notable features include a 13.2-inch head-up display, machine-learning-driven personalized steering interventions and alerts, Google Maps-driven range optimization and route-planning including charging stops, and access to over-the-air updates.
In profile view, the ES90’s lifted floor and fastback roof line are similar to the Toyota Crown, though the Volvo is larger in overall proportions. However, the ES90’s 889-millimetre rear-seat legroom and lack of standout rear features suggests its intent is more family sedan than executive saloon.
The Volvo ES90 is available to order now in select international markets.
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