#NYIAS: The $100k Volvo Has Arrived, The XC90 Excellence Is The ULTIMATE Volvo — Are The Swedes Barking Up The WRONG Tree?

Thinking back into my memory, I don't recall the niche, Swedish automaker Volvo ever producing a vehicle north of six figures. In fact, I am pretty sure that the all-new XC90 was already exploring the upper limits of what the company could produce and get away with it.

That's because a loaded up XC90 can retail for about $75,000 these days. That's a lot of coin for a Volvo product.

2016 New York Auto Show

Well, now our moose-loving friends that are known for being completely wild rally drivers are going to out do themselves. That's because the all-new Volvo XC90 Excellence, which debuted at the 2016 New York Auto Show (NYIAS) will carry a base price of $104,900*.

*This price does NOT include title, taxes and fees.

Volvo has taken the standard XC90 and instead of having a utilitarian, three-row sport-utility vehicle, the company four-place seating. That means every passenger gets the super comfortable front seat and rear passengers get a bit more leg room.

In addition, the interior is swathed in hide and the headliner is decked out in Alcantara.

While it looked pretty nice in the flesh, it didn't seem to be ready to enter this high dollar game. Why would you want an XC90 when at that price you can snap up a big daddy Land Rover Range Rover or a BMW 7-Series or a Mercedes-Benz S550?

We have to ask, is Volvo barking up the wrong tree with the all-new XC90 Excellence?


The 2016 New York Auto Show photo galleries are sponsored by Lexus.

2016 New York Auto Show

cidflekken - 3/27/2016 1:47:23 PM

+4 Boost

Well, I think it's important to fully understand what you're getting here. Taken from The Road Show:

"To turn the XC90 into a properly plush vault par excellence, Volvo removed the third row to give rear-seat occupants much more space. The rear seats are now more fit for an executive, with recline and massage functionality. There are only two rear seats, with a large center console running between them. That center console includes both a refrigerator and a retractable touchscreen controller for activating the seats' various functions.

The luxury keeps on comin' with loads of Nappa leather, open-pore wood and even a set of handmade crystal glasses. Tunes come by way of a 20-speaker, 1,400-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system. There's also a partition between the rear seats and the cargo area, because you just can't have the talent co-mingling with whatever's in the back (actually, it's to isolate noise for better sound-system enjoyment).

There's only one powertrain on offer here -- Volvo's T8 setup, which is a 400-horsepower, plug-in hybrid system that's also available on "lesser" XC90s. You won't be missing the supercharged-and-turbocharged T6 engine, nor should you, because when you're spending six figures on a Volvo, you'll want the best of what's on offer."

cidflekken - 3/27/2016 1:56:41 PM

+2 Boost

I think the price increase over the plebian XC90's is reasonable considering what comes with the Excellence package. However, in the bigger picture, six-figures for a Volvo might be a difficult thing for anyone to fathom. And that iPad/tablet assembly pictured here looks like it came out of the WalMart clearance bin. Is it not part of the integrated system that they have to connect it with the USB cable?

dumpsty - 3/31/2016 11:21:26 AM

+1 Boost

The headrest tablet mount/USB ports is a cool feature.

A stronger engine would be nice though.

iamdabest1 - 3/27/2016 4:43:35 PM

+2 Boost

i love the xc90 but this excellence doesnt get the car to 100k.
the wheels is the first thing ive notoced and those wheels dont look like an upgrade. then i dont see anything like 2 tone interior or a polestar set up .. even 75k would be pushing it sinces it escalade territory.

TheSteve - 3/27/2016 5:30:12 PM

+1 Boost

I believe the prudent steps are:
1) Prove that you can product something that the affluent want
2) Charge a lot for it, because it's justified

MDarringer - 3/27/2016 8:15:30 PM

0 Boost

$100K for a Volvo means it's $50K overpriced.

Volvo is a brand ONE STEP BELOW the likes of Mercedes.

$50K is perfect for this Swedish Buick.

If you've going to dump 100K on an SUV...see the Mercedes GL. The Volvo may be similarly priced but it is nowhere near as refined.

momentofsurrender - 3/27/2016 11:19:46 PM

+1 Boost

I'm surprised this was launched so quickly after the original release. Usually they wait a little longer. I'd be a little pissed if I had the money and wanted the top of the line XC90, purchased and then this came along out of nowhere.

MDarringer - 3/28/2016 9:54:22 AM

0 Boost

The last XC90 sold not at all. This one is selling at a trickle. On a percentage basis, this is a runaway it, but in terms of volume it simply isn't. So Volvo/Geely has dropped money into a new platform, but is it selling well enough to amortize the outlay of cash? Probably not. Let the desperate flailing begin.

Positioning Volvo as an Acura/Subaru-level brant was the meal ticket and not the borrow a page from VW and think it's equal to Mercedes.

Zach - 3/28/2016 11:38:25 AM

+2 Boost

It's annoying when people just spew their ignorant comments without actually having a hands on with the new XC90. It's not a Mercedes, I get it but not everyone wants a German car. The new Volvos XC90/S90 are as luxurious as your Mercedes, the optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system is second to none. For people who wants luxury but prefers to be under the radar- Volvo is the perfect brand. And yes, the XC90s are selling well. People even wait for eight months to get a T8. The XC90 has already garnered a hundred of awards and that is no accident.

MDarringer - 3/28/2016 12:49:34 PM

0 Boost

Go buy one then. They are selling at a niche level at best.

cidflekken - 3/28/2016 1:53:26 PM

+2 Boost

Couldn't agree with you more, Zach. The new XC90 makes the X5, GLE, and Q7 look like the ugly stepsisters in the SUV market. It's gorgeous inside and out with only its 4-cylinder engine being a weakness. But the 400-hp plug-in should be a good upgrade.
The XC90 may never rival the GLE or X5 in sales, but its first target is the Q7, it closest rival and it's already outselling it this year. Volvo moved 50% more XC90's than Audi moved of the Q7 in February.