Mat Watson reviews the new Volvo ES90: find out why it’s really good, but also so annoying

This is the new Volvo ES90, and it’s a bit like a cloudberry, otherwise known as a Nordic berry. It’s not the obvious choice of fruit to snack on, but when you discover it, you might find it rather tasty.

I’ve spent a week with the new Volvo ES90, testing its practicality technology and real-world range, and I really liked it.

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From the jump, I think it’s better looking than its BMW, Audi and Mercedes alternatives. Its clean front end, distinctive Thor’s Hammer headlights and 20-inch wheels give it plenty of road presence. I’m less keen on the bulky mirror pods, which house driver-assistance cameras. It also comes with privacy glass windows in the rear only in the top-spec versions, which looks a little odd.

Inside, though, the ES90 is just as lovely as the exterior. It feels properly expensive, everything feels solid and the seats are glorious. They’re incredibly comfortable, which makes this car particularly good for long journeys.

The minimalist cabin does have its drawbacks, though. Almost everything is controlled through the touchscreen, and while it’s reasonably zippy, the menus aren’t as slick as some alternatives. I also found the system rather glitchy, which is frustrating in a car costing from almost £70,000. Even adjusting the mirrors requires you to dive into the touchscreen, which is a faff.

The steering wheel is too big for my liking, while some of the switches feel surprisingly cheap, such as the controls on the steering wheel. There are some nice touches, though, including decent-sized cubbies, huge door bins and a rather expensive-feeling glovebox.

Space is one of the ES90’s strengths. The rear seats are enormous, with loads of legroom, decent headroom and reclining backrests. The seats are mounted quite low, but there’s still plenty of room, and three adults can fit across the back without too much complaining. You get rear climate controls, easy-to-access Isofix points and massive rear doors.

The 400-litre boot is smaller than an Audi A6 e-tron’s, but it’s still a decent size and there’s no annoying load lip. There’s also a small front boot for extra storage.

On the road, the ES90 is incredibly relaxing. The suspension is soft and it deals with bumps rather well. The steering is light, the brakes are smooth and progressive, and on a motorway it’s incredibly quiet thanks to the acoustic glass.

Forward visibility is generally okay, although your field of view from behind is dreadful. Thankfully, there’s an auto-park system to help out in tight spaces.

It’s not a sports car, but it handles well enough and feels nicely composed through corners. My test car managed 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and stopped from 60mph in 35 metres. More importantly, I saw around 3.9 miles per kWh, suggesting a real-world range of roughly 351 miles.

There are a few annoyances, including the glitchy software. But despite those flaws, I think the Volvo ES90 deserves to be on your shortlist. It’s handsome, exceptionally comfortable, spacious, quiet and impressively efficient. Personally, though, I’d opt for Volvo’s EX60.

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