Bucket Seat: Volvo ES90

There are some cars that leave an impression the moment you lay eyes on them, and then there are those that continue to impress long after you've handed back the keys. The new Volvo ES90 certainly falls into the latter category. I recently spent a few days with Volvo's latest all-electric luxury sedan in Cape Town, where it became my companion for a mixture of business appointments and leisurely drives through the city and surrounding roads. Those few days gave me the perfect opportunity to experience exactly what the ES90 is designed to do deliver effortless luxury, exceptional refinement and the kind of relaxed driving experience that only a premium electric vehicle can offer. While the ES90 represents Volvo's latest technological leap, it hasn't forgotten the Swedish values that have made the brand one of the most respected luxury manufacturers in the world.

DESIGN

Colvo has always mastered the art of understated elegance, and the ES90 is perhaps one of the finest examples of that philosophy. There's an unmistakable Swedish influence throughout the entire vehicle, where simplicity isn't a lack of design but rather a celebration of it. Every line has purpose, every surface feels deliberate and there isn't a single unnecessary styling element to distract from its overall presence. What immediately caught my attention was the Sportback-inspired rear design. For a sedan of this size, it is a masterstroke. Instead of the traditional three-box silhouette, the sweeping roofline flows effortlessly into the rear, creating a seamless profile that looks both sophisticated and surprisingly athletic. It gives the ES90 a dynamic character that many large executive sedans struggle to achieve while also improving practicality with a much larger rear loading area. The front remains unmistakably Volvo, with its familiar Thor's Hammer LED lighting signature and clean, minimalist fascia, while the rear lighting design complements the modern aesthetic beautifully. It's a vehicle that turns heads not because it shouts for attention, but because its confidence comes from restraint. The same philosophy continues inside. The cabin is wonderfully uncluttered, with premium materials, clean surfaces and an interface that never overwhelms the driver. It feels calm, luxurious and incredibly inviting. Volvo has created an interior where everything simply feels like it's in the right place, making every journey a genuinely relaxing experience.

PERFORMANCE

The ES90 Single Motor may be the entry point into the range, but there is nothing entry-level about the way it performs. Electric vehicles have become synonymous with instant acceleration, and the Volvo delivers exactly that with smooth, effortless power whenever you ask for it. Whether pulling away from traffic lights, overtaking on the open road or merging onto the highway, the responsiveness of the single motor drivetrain is immediate and confidence inspiring. What impressed me most was how naturally the different driving modes adapted to varying driving styles. Whether I was navigating Cape Town's busy urban traffic during work commitments or enjoying a more spirited drive along the coast, the ES90 adjusted its character accordingly. The steering weight, throttle response and overall driving feel changed subtly enough to enhance the experience without ever feeling artificial. Battery range is often one of the first questions prospective EV buyers ask, and the ES90 answers that concern convincingly. The generous battery capacity provides more than enough range for everyday commuting while comfortably accommodating semi-long-distance trips between major cities or weekend getaways. More importantly, it gives the driver genuine peace of mind. Rather than constantly monitoring the remaining battery percentage, you simply drive the car as you would any premium luxury sedan, which is perhaps the biggest compliment one can pay a modern electric vehicle. Volvo has done an excellent job of reducing the range anxiety that still prevents many motorists from making the transition to electric mobility.

COMFORT

If there is one area where the ES90 truly excels, it is comfort. From the moment you settle into the beautifully sculpted seats, it becomes immediately apparent that Volvo's reputation for producing some of the most comfortable seats in the automotive industry remains well deserved. Long hours behind the wheel never became tiring, with excellent support and an ergonomically designed driving position making every journey feel effortless. Luxury extends to every passenger as well. The inclusion of four-zone climate control means each occupant can personalise their own temperature settings, while both the front and rear seats benefit from heating and ventilation. It's a level of attention to passenger comfort that transforms every journey into a first-class travel experience, regardless of where you're seated. One of the standout features is undoubtedly the exceptional Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system. Whether listening to classical music, jazz, rock, electronic dance music or podcasts, the system adapts beautifully to every genre. The clarity, depth and balance are simply outstanding, creating a concert-like atmosphere inside the cabin without ever becoming overpowering. Adding to the feeling of spaciousness is the impressive photoelectric panoramic sunroof. With the touch of a button, occupants can choose exactly how much daylight they want to let into the cabin, creating either a bright, airy environment or a more private atmosphere depending on the conditions outside. It's a clever piece of technology that perfectly complements the minimalist interior. Ride quality is equally impressive. Volvo has clearly prioritised refinement, and the result is a suspension setup that glides over imperfections with remarkable composure. Whether driving on smooth highways or less-than-perfect city streets, the ES90 isolates occupants from the outside world exceptionally well. The suspension remains wonderfully soft without feeling floaty, maintaining excellent body control while delivering the kind of comfort expected from a luxury flagship.

VERDICT

The Volvo ES90 represents everything a modern premium electric sedan should be. It combines elegant Scandinavian design, impressive technology, outstanding comfort and effortless electric performance into a package that feels genuinely sophisticated rather than unnecessarily complicated. It doesn't rely on gimmicks or flashy styling to stand out. Instead, it focuses on delivering a refined ownership experience that will appeal to buyers who appreciate quality, craftsmanship and understated luxury. With South African pricing expected to start at around R1.65 million for the Single Motor variant, the ES90 firmly positions itself in the premium luxury EV segment. While it undoubtedly commands a significant investment, buyers are rewarded with a vehicle that offers cutting-edge safety technology, exceptional comfort, generous equipment levels and a driving experience that feels uniquely relaxing. For executives, business professionals and premium customers looking to embrace electric mobility without sacrificing luxury, the Volvo ES90 makes a compelling case for itself. It's not simply another electric sedan it is a beautifully executed Scandinavian luxury car that just happens to be powered by electricity.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	Single Electric motor 800V
Gear Box	Single gear system with driving modes
Power	245kW
Torque	480Nm
Range	755km
Price	R1,590,000*

*base model

 

 

Bucket Seat: Volvo XC40 - R Design

When it comes to cars, the Swedes always tended to do things differently in their own unique way and while most of the world never really got to grasp with their cars, those who did own them, knew what they were on about. Volvo in particular we leads in passenger safety and then the stepped up a notch and also made their cars safe for pedestrians, how so you may ask? Well on certain models they design the crumple zones to minimize injury to a person if he was being hit by one of their vehicles, weird but you got to hand it to them for thinking about everybody. Going back to safety for their own passengers, the XC90 won the title as the worlds safest car and apart from that award, the XC90 was  a major car for the brand, as it ushered in a new dawn for cars that were to follow. Volvo sort of lost track with the styling and consumer appeal with their cars for a bit, and a drastic change was needed to get the brand recognised again. 

Apart from just building an attractive car, it had to be up their competing with the best in the world in terms of engine performance while still being eco-friendly and have all the technology that others offer. The XC90 not only ticked all those boxes but did it style, finesse all while keeping to that legendary Swedish heritage. Not long ago I got to sample a spin off model from the XC90, a baby version of it if I may call it that, the XC40. Although my time with the car was short, it was my first experience with the new generation Volvo's and it left me flabbergasted as to what it had to offer. 

DESIGN

Looking at it from the outside, one could sit stare at it for hours on end. It's contemporary design is fresh and modern which not only gets heads turning while you drive past them but it can also fit in with modern day architecture so well. It's almost like a showpiece where you can have it parked off in your lounge and it would look like part of the decor. The combination of straight lines, contours and beveled edges really add character to the XC40 while key design elements iconic to Volvo still stand out like the L shaped rear lights and the grille with some new features which will form part of future designs from the brand. I had the R-Design kit on this particular model which is Volvo's sport package for their cars, easy ways to identify this is the large 20" 5 spoke split rims, and the two tone paint work with the roof being finished in black with the rest of the car in white with black accents. The contemporary styling also flows into the cabin with everything looking fresh and modern. One striking thing about the interior is that it was orange in colour, well not all of it, just the lower half which I found quite quirky but it worked! This car is the baby of the crossover line up and it looks to be playful so I'm glad that also transcends into the colours available for it. 

PERFORMANCE

I had the D4 AWD model XC40 which is the only diesel variant available, with the cost of fuel, it would be the preferred engine for the consumer. The power output on the 2 litre motor is quite decent with it delivering 140kW with 190 Bhp and 400Nm of torque waiting to get you off the mark. So as you can imagine the XC40 isn't a slouch and while it might be a bit bulky, navigating it is pretty easy, too easy if you ask me. The first thing you notice on the car is how light the steering is, it's like you get power steering then you get Volvo's super power steering! I could legit use 1 finger to turn it. Handling on the XC40 is exceptional, whether you're going around town or on the open road, the XC40 makes the most of the road in front of it. I even did some light off roading with it, which didn't break a sweat for it, eating up the gravel and leaving a big trail of dust behind. 

COMFORT

Sticking with the awards, Volvo's V90 won the most comfortable seat award recently and I can tell you the XC40 seats and pretty darn comfy as well. While the car is the smallest crossover offered by Vovlo, they do not compromise on comfort. The cabin is spacious for every individual that is in it. The ride quality is pretty great as well, even with the car riding on 20" rims this doesn't influence any cabin noise or compromise the ride comfort. The cabin is completely air-conditioned with dual climate control for the front passengers and the rear having their own vents. the car came with a 600W 14 speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Sound System which made any song sound exceptional in the car. I keep coming back to the design of the car because its a design that works and works well, everything is thought of and functional, that's ultimately what you want in a car interior and full marks to Volvo for getting this right. 

TECHNOLOGY

Where do I start? Lets go with the obvious, the massive screen that sits in the dash, this is the brain of the car. Fully touch screen interactive menu lets you control just about everything in the car. With most of it controlled by this, it uncluttered the rest of the dash. It does seem daunting at first but it can be made more easier with you customizing the screen for your convenience. The big screen comes handy when parking, while it did come with the auto park feature, the XC40 also has 4 cameras around the car to give you a birds eye view of your surroundings when getting in out of tricky spaces. One of the main talking points about the new Volvo's is the Pilot Assist, which is as close to autonomy as you can get. Coupled with the adaptive cruise control, you can set the speed you want to go at and the car will do the driving for you. It monitors the cars around you and is alert to dangers that may spring out. Seeing it in action is quite an experience, having the car take full control and slowing down while maintaining a safe following distance to the car in front is spell binding to say the least. Other key safety teach features include lane keeping aid, run-off mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, city safety and many others which are too long to list. 

VERDICT

Overall the XC40 exceeds it's reputation in the market and really is one of the better compact SUV's you can buy. The features the car comes with coupled by the brilliant design and technology offered is hard to find another that can come close to match it in terms of pricing. While the model I had does raise a few eyebrows when mentioned the actual cost, you have to understand that all the options were ticked in this spec and if you had to spec a competitor model with the same extras you would be paying a lot more. While Volvo are trying to take some market share from their German competitors, models like the XC40 are not going to do them any harm, with the SA market taking a liking to the XC90 and the S90, future models like the S60 and the new XC60 will only strengthen their cause. This is one brand to be on the look out for going forward, I hope we get some of their Polestar models at some stage too. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2L Four-cylinder turbo charged disel
Gear Box	8 Speed Geartronic Automatic AWD
Power	140kW
Torque	400Nm
0-100km	7.9 seconds
Economy	5.7 L/100km
Price	R 494,400*

*Excluding extras

Pictures by @MVRC1988