Volvo's flagship sedan, the ES90 (Single Motor ER), is well-suited for professionals in their 30s and 40s. Its sporty exterior captures attention, while its smooth driving experience and high-performance driving assistance features enhance its appeal. The spacious interior leaves a strong impression, making the ES90, launched in July this year as a battery electric vehicle (BEV), stand out with its multifaceted charm.
On November 10, the ES90 was driven along the coast for approximately 58 kilometers from Gangneung to Sokcho, utilizing routes such as the Donghae Expressway and Donghae Road.
The ES90's exterior is striking, breaking away from traditional sedan designs to present a sporty vibe. It combines the advantages of a sedan, an SUV, and a fastback, characterized by a smoothly sloping roofline that extends to the rear.
The spaciousness is evident upon entering the rear seats, where passengers can comfortably cross their legs without worrying about their feet touching the front seats, creating an SUV-like feel. The trunk is also surprisingly roomy, offering up to 1,445 liters of space when the second row is folded down.
The driving experience emphasizes smoothness. The steering wheel operates effortlessly, and the ride quality is exceptional, allowing for acceleration that passengers may not even notice. The vehicle remains stable over bumps without significant body movement.
During high-speed driving, the 'Pilot Assist' feature was tested. This driving assistance function adjusts speed and braking based on the driver's set speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead.
As the vehicle entered a straight road, the right gear stalk was gently pulled down to activate the Pilot Assist. The feature performed reliably even at relatively high speeds. However, it seemed less effective on curved roads compared to straight ones.
When the speed exceeded a certain threshold, a message appeared on the dashboard indicating that the steering assistance feature could not be used due to high speed. This limitation appears to be a precaution against relying solely on driving assistance in sudden situations at high speeds.
The audio performance was also noteworthy. By setting the 'Voice Amplification' feature to 'high' on the central display, even normal conversation voices were enhanced. This feature helps facilitate communication with passengers in other seating rows.
However, as a software-defined vehicle (SDV), many functions being software-based proved somewhat inconvenient. Adjusting the side mirrors, for instance, required accessing the settings app on the central display.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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