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Matt Prior

Autocar UK

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October 22, 2025

And so to the Volvo ES90, the new big electric saloon car from the famous maker of big sensible family saloons, estates and SUVs (driven, p26).

Matt Prior

By gum, it's a striking-looking thing, isn't it? There's lots of dynamism on show. In profile it looks not unlike a Polestar 2, or wait, is that a 4, or a 5? One of them that isn’t an SUV. Not that any of them is really an SUV, but I'm sure one - is it the 3? - is at least a tall estate. Not quite an estate, but close. Oh, look, I don’t know.

What I do know is that the big new Volvo is electric, and also looks a bit like a car from that car maker nobody had heard of four years ago, but which I'm sure is related, somehow. Something to do with the Chinese? Anyway, loads are 80 grand and, give or take, five metres long and all sprint faster than a dachshund who's spotted a squirrel. Though I read in the news that nobody’s really buying them except on grand-and-a-bit-per-month company car deals, and that there aren't enough of those to go around.

It’s a pickle, isn’t it? Some car makers are lobbying European regulators to say that we've got the forecasts wrong on moving to full electrification by 2035, that modest sales of big electric cars shows this, and that the only winner if we don’t think again will be the Chinese car industry.

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