To electrify or not to electrify — that is the question. And it's not merely one the public is grappling with, because while oil prices have rocketed following the ongoing conflict in Iran and many consumers remain hesitant about embracing electric motoring, manufacturers find themselves equally uncertain.
In recent months, the likes of Ford, Lotus and Porsche have all shown increasing reluctance to commit fully to electrification. With that in mind, launching an electric vehicle is simultaneously an obvious yet bold move — particularly when it carries a price tag of nearly £80,000 and the interior is almost entirely devoid of buttons.
More on that shortly, but before we get into what's been pushed and pressed, it's time to properly introduce the Volvo ES90 to British motorists, reports the Express.
The newcomer has already garnered considerable praise, having scooped the Gentleman's Journal Car Awards 2026. But does it live up to the hype?
Specifications
At its launch event near Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds, Volvo made a deliberate effort to connect the ES90 to its distinguished heritage, with a stunning maroon 1990s S90 saloon parked proudly outside the Hyll Hotel, where we stayed for an overnight visit.
So, what does the ES90 actually offer? In terms of raw figures, the model I co-drove was the single motor rear-wheel drive variant, producing 333hp, 480Nm of torque, a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds, and a 10 to 80 per cent charging time of around 22 minutes using a 310kW rapid charger.
The vehicle also boasts a 424-litre boot capacity with rear seats upright and 733 litres when folded down. Our test model was priced at £78,105 and finished in a cream-toned shade called Sand Dune.
Interior - Front
The initial observation upon entering is that, aside from a handful on the steering wheel, there are virtually no physical buttons throughout the cabin. Despite the motor industry's recent trend towards reintroducing them, Volvo informed us nearly everything was controlled via the portrait-oriented touchscreen positioned centrally.
While not the slowest or most frustrating system I've encountered, it's hardly the most user-friendly. You'd eventually adapt to it, though certain aspects feel somewhat excessive, such as requiring navigation through a submenu simply to access the glovebox.
On multiple occasions you question why there isn't a button-based shortcut available to, for instance, switch from CarPlay to radio or manual climate controls. A compact row of physical buttons would undoubtedly feature on the wishlist for any forthcoming refresh.
That said, it's not entirely negative as the ES90's cabin is genuinely delightful to occupy. The seats cradle and support you while the steering wheel bucks contemporary fashion and is pleasingly slender.
Adjacent to the seats are two wireless charging pads for mobile devices, plus a cooled central storage area alongside several USB-C charging points. The materials feel luxurious and well-crafted in all the crucial areas. It genuinely feels like a vehicle exceeding £70,000.
Interior - Rear
At the back, accommodation is reasonable, provided you're not excessively tall. There's adequate space for passengers over six foot, though their legs will be somewhat elevated if the person ahead shares similar stature.
For two occupants, there's a practical central cupholder array that folds down between you behind the middle seat. Also featuring compartments for your phones, this appears clever until you stow it away and discover the central seat headrest completely blocks rearward vision.
Driving
Behind the wheel, it's straightforward to overlook the touchscreen frustrations. Encouragingly, as noted, the Volvo doesn't claim to be a performance machine, so it doesn't behave like one. Even when you switch the suspension and steering to their sportiest modes, it never becomes excessively firm.
You don't simply throw an ES90 around, you glide along in it with subtle inputs producing gentle responses. Like most electric vehicles above a particular power output, there's a pleasant surge as you pull away, but nothing excessive.
That said, it does tip the scales at over two tonnes, which naturally plays a role, and it's this mass you notice across bumps and through certain bends. Technology hasn't yet evolved to the stage where a two-tonne electric vehicle doesn't feel like it's battling the laws of physics.
Similar to the BMW i4, you can sense the engineering expertise battling against the vehicle's mass. Like the BMW iX3, the ES90 manages to keep a two-tonne electric vehicle firmly planted on the road, albeit with a distinctive character.
Does this suggest the Volvo is uncomfortable? Absolutely not – the ES90 handled Britain's increasingly crater-riddled roads remarkably well. The ride quality brought to mind my brief experience with a Rolls-Royce several weeks earlier and, understanding how it preferred to be driven, it proved thoroughly enjoyable overall; though the limited rear visibility occasionally rendered the rear-view mirror somewhat pointless.
Furthermore, the intelligent regenerative braking system, which returns electricity to the battery through the brakes, performed adequately. Volvo explained the ES90 is a vehicle that adapts to its driver's habits and adjusts certain programming elements accordingly; although the brakes themselves weren't entirely satisfactory. They offered good feedback but lacked the initial bite I would have preferred when first applied.
Conclusion
The Volvo is launching into a challenging market at a paradoxical moment, because while consumers are increasingly inclined to purchase an electric vehicle, the cost-of-living pressures stemming from the conflict in Iran mean they're less able to afford one. This doesn't suggest the ES90 is the right vehicle at the wrong moment, it's simply a motor which has arrived at an intriguing time. All in all, the Volvo is an excellent car to drive, with only a few small niggles stopping it from achieving top marks.
Christopher's Verdict: 8/10