Positioned as a premium alternative to models like the Mercedes-Benz EQE and the BMW i5, and with a starting price tag of 72.94 million won (~€43,500), the ES90 is undoubtedly a highly competitive entry to South Korea’s eSUV segment. In fact, the company has said the Korean price is over 50 million won lower than in major European markets – a difference of around €29,8500; reflecting the significance of the ES90 in Volvo’s premium EV strategy in South Korea.
At a launch event in Seoul, Volvo Car Korea CEO Lee Yoon-mo told reporters: “The sales target is more than 3000 vehicles per year, and the strategic pricing will come as a major appeal of the premium vehicle”, adding: “The ES90 represents the culmination of Volvo’s vision for electrification and our next-generation flagship technologies.” The Korea Times quotes Volvo as stating the vehicle “combines the elegance of a sedan, the practicality of a fastback, and the spaciousness of an SUV”.
The ES90 is the first Volvo model to use an 800-volt architecture and its second built on the SPA2 platform. Mirroring other markets, the ES90 will be sold in Korea with three powertrain options – Single Motor Extended Range, Twin Motor (AWD), and Twin Motor Performance. Our driving review of the ES90 highlighted some of the technical specifications of these powertrains: “For [our] first test, Volvo provided the entry-level ‘Single Motor’ version. The electric motor, which delivers 245kW and 480Nm of torque, sits on the rear axle. The sprint from zero to 100km/h is claimed to take 6.6 seconds.
