Volvo goes full SUV luxury with new XC90 Excellence… it wears a crown

Volvo XC90 Excellence

The range-topping Volvo XC90 Excellence is now available in South Africa, adding lots of luxury to the flagship Volvo range.

The most luxurious models in Volvo’s history, the flagship Swedish SUV redefines what is possible in a luxury vehicle, and brings out the best in terms of sophistication, opulence and ultimate splendour.

Produced on a separate, specialised line at Volvo Cars’ Torslanda plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, the new XC90 Excellence is available exclusively with Volvo’s T8 Twin Engine powertrain as a bespoke 4-seater, providing absolute luxury to any of the 4 occupants.  Instead of the usual 7-seater layout, the Excellence receives a pair of rear “lounge” seats.

“The XC90 Excellence offers a sublime and luxurious experience.  It is our top-of-the-line XC90 offering and we have seen a lot of interest from our more affluent customers across the globe,” says Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President Marketing, Sales and Service at Volvo Cars.  “The additional sound insulation, enhanced Bowers & Wilkins sound system and convenience of rear seat controls elevate the XC90 Excellence to a new level of luxurious calm and comfort.”

The ultimate expression of Swedish luxury

All 4 seats in the XC90 Excellence are up to top-notch Volvo standards of comfort, and each feature heating, ventilation and massage functionality.  The bespoke perforated Nappa leather on the seats matches the fine Nappa leather on the doors and dashboard, offset by genuine open-pore walnut and real aluminium. 

As with existing XC90 T8 Twin Engine derivatives, the plug-in hybrid XC90 Excellence also features a unique Orrefors crystal gear selector (exclusive to Volvo T8 models).

Despite being as engaging to drive as any other XC90, the XC90 Excellence places its focus on the 2 individual rear seats.  Offering full electric adjustment including fine-tuning of the side bolsters and an extendable seat cushion, the rear seats are to provide ultimate comfort to whomever finds themselves being chauffeured in the XC90 Excellence.  Built-in foot rests on the floor also elevate comfort levels.

Convenience for the rear seats is augmented by 2 additional storage pockets and an armrest glove box.

Extra entertainment is taken care of by standard-fitment tablet holders on the front seatbacks, and twin folding tray tables which feature gloriously intricate design elements, to enable work to be carried out while on the move.  A 230V power outlet is also available for charging laptops and similar devices while on the move, supplemented by 2 x USB ports.

Cup holders are heated and cooled, and a refrigerator is located between the 2 rear seats. 

Volvo’s partnership with the famous Swedish glassmaker, Orrefors, continues beyond just the gear lever in the XC90 Excellence – the pair of exquisite hand-made Orrefors crystal champagne flutes are included, featuring a unique stem design, matched by distinctive, specialised cup holders in the centre console and on each tray table, when extended.

Another unique aspect in the XC90 Excellence is the rear seat control panel, which is hidden neatly in the rear console.  Accessible by either of the rear passengers, the extendable panel enables touch-based control of seat adjustment, heating and cooling, and massage functions.

A glass partition separates the luggage area from the passenger compartment in the XC90 Excellence, which enhances soundproofing but maintains the sense of space. With the removal of the 3rd row of seats, luggage capacity in the XC90 Excellence varies from 431 litres with luggage cover extended to 726 litres loaded to roof height.

T8 Twin Engine powertrain

The T8 is not a V8.  No sir.  Instead of the expected V8 engine, the T8 uses a petrol turbo-supercharged 4-cylinder + an electric motor.

The XC90 Excellence is perfectly matched to its smooth, quiet and technologically-advanced T8 Twin Engine drivetrain.  Up front, a 235 kW/ 400 Nm supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Drive-E petrol engine powers the front wheels via an 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. 

At the rear, the Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) system, which is fed by a 9.2 kWh battery pack, sees a 65 kW/ 240 Nm electric motor powering the rear wheels – enabling all-wheel drive when necessary.

Total output is 300 kW and 640 Nm, and the vehicle is able to switch seamlessly between either engine (petrol or electric “engine”, hence the name Twin Engine) depending on requirements and driver input.  This is enough power to propel this large vehicle to 100km/h from 0 in 5.9 seconds.

The claimed combined fuel consumption, when making use mostly of the electric engine of this hybrid, is an absurdly-low 2.5 l/100km.

As with other XC90 T8 Twin Engine derivatives, 3 main drive modes are available in the XC90 Excellence: Pure, Hybrid and Power.  When running on electric power alone in Pure or Hybrid modes, the XC90 Excellence is a particularly quiet and relaxing sanctuary.  Volvo has something unique here – a full-size full-luxury SUV able to run as quiet as the electric drive allow… which is very quiet.

Extra sound insulation ensures that, even when the combustion engine turns on in Hybrid or Power modes, noise levels remain impressively low.

Driving dynamics are enhanced by the standard fitment of 4-corner air suspension, which maximises comfort while also maintaining dynamic stability regardless of the chosen drive mode.

To recharge the car’s battery pack, delegate to your chauffeur the task of plugging in your Volvo Excellence.

1st-class in 2nd row

The brochure indicates “Seclusion. The ultimate form of sophisticated travel.”

As one would expect with a luxury 4-seat SUV of this nature, the XC90 Excellence features top-level specification with all available extras fitted as standard – the only available options are on exterior paint colour (10 colours are available) and interior leather colour – a choice of Blonde in Charcoal or Charcoal in Charcoal. 

Yes, every compatible feature that would be an option on the XC90 T8 has been included as standard equipment for the XC90 T8 Excellence, including adaptive air suspension, keyless access and drive, hands-free gesture-controlled electric tailgate, blind spot warning, head-up display, rear window sunshades, rear privacy glass, extended leather upgrade to dashboard and doors, puddle lamps, surround view camera, 21-inch wheels… plus the list of pampering features exclusive to the Excellence spec, which you cannot order in the other models.

It wears a crown

The XC90 T8 Excellence is the Volvo flagship vehicle, and it wears a crown… literally, as an elegant and uniquely original way of indicating the top-of-the-range status.  Identified by a subtle badge on the tailgate – instead of the usual Inscription or R trim level badge – the Excellence has a crown badge.

The headrests have engravings into the leather: the crown logo at the top, with the lettering EXCELLENCE in prime spot, and, in a smaller font, BY SWEDEN.

The new luxury “car”?

With the increasing popularity of the luxury SUV as successor/supplement to the luxury sedan (as seen by the ever-upward-climbing Range Rover range with the L SVAutobiography, the Bentley Bentayga and, perhaps, Maserati Levante) the Volvo XC90 T8 Excellence is aimed at the luxury car buyer looking for supreme rear-seat comfort.

The Volvo, though, has the advantage of being much more discreet than the others in this market.  A new Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription currently prices at R 1 137 600, and adding in options can tally up an extra few-hundred grand.  The XC90 Excellence already has all the options included, plus the extra items like those crystal flutes and massaging rear seats, to retail for R1 550 000.  The abovementioned British brands cost more than twice that, albeit with their own high-end allure.

Including a 5-year/ 100 000 km vehicle warranty and full maintenance plan, the new Volvo XC90 Excellence is available on an order-only basis.