The 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription AWD SUV
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: Volvo has been building cars since 1927, and is now 93+ years old, and counting. Volvo Cars, stylized as VOLVO, is a Swedish luxury automobile company. Volvo manufactures and markets SUV sport utility vehicles, station wagons, hatchbacks, sedans and compact executive sedans. It is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden and most of its worldwide employees are based in Sweden.
Today Volvo is a subsidiary of the Chinese automotive company called Geely. Volvo Cars formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by the Ford Motor Company. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding. Most of the Volvo dealerships worldwide are independently owned.
The 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 AWD Inscription model is the Swedish rendition of a luxury SUV. It looks like a tall station wagon with a lot of ground clearance. And it comes in three models, the XC40, XC60 and the top of the line XC90 edition. The XC stands for Cross Country and the 40, 60 and 90 designate the size of the SUV as small, medium and large.
Volvo Recharge refers to the luxury automaker’s lineup of PHEV plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and EV electric vehicles. Volvo introduced the name when it debuted the new 2021 XC40 Recharge electric SUV, and the company is also applying it as an umbrella concept to its family of PHEV vehicles.
Like all of Volvo Cars new generation of plug-in electric hybrid cars, the T8 models have a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0 liter four cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a combined 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The result is effortless performance and a strong, consistent response when you press the accelerator. Plus you get 18 miles of pure electric driving range in hybrid mode.
The Recharge Expression is the base model with the PHEV drive train, and the Recharge Inscription Edition is
the XC90’S most luxurious trim. The Volvo XC90 is classified as a midsize luxury three row SUV, and competes in a very crowded segment, with seven direct competitors. This class includes the Lincoln Aviator, Audi Q7, Cadillac XT6, Acura MDX, Buick Enclave, Infiniti QX60 and the new Land Rover Discovery. The Volvo XC90 scores an Intellichoice Value Rating of Excellent, and is rated as a Best Buy in this class.
This week Volvo sent me a 2021 XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription AWD SUV to test drive and review. The base price of this model is $69,750. The options on the test car are extensive: They start with the Lounge Package for $1,700, the Climate Package for $750, the Advanced Package for $1,500, the Metallic Paint for $645, the Integrated Center Booster Cushion for $300, the Bowers and Wilkins Premium Audio Sound System for $3,200, the 4 Corner Air Suspension System for $1,800, the Air Quality Advanced Air Cleaner for $250, and the 21” 8 Spoke Alloy Wheels for $800. The total MSRP manufactures suggested retail price, including the $995 destination charge, came to: $81,690.
This Volvo AWD all wheel drive SUV sport utility vehicle has every factory option you can add to an XC90. The Inscription Edition alone lists over 20 options and includes the Nappa Leather seats that are power, heated and ventilated with memory settings, real Deco Wood trim inserts, 4 zone Automatic Climate Control with Cleanzone air filtration, and a Sensus Pro Navigation system, just to name a few.
The option list is $ 10,945 in cost over and above the $ 69,750 base price. With the $ 995 delivery charge, plus local state sales tax and DMV fees, the total out the door price to buy this luxury midsize SUV came to around $ 91,901. That number alone puts this Volvo XC90 in the upper luxury car class, as its defined from $ 75,000 to $ 100,000 Grand.
That’s big bucks for a top of the line vehicle from Volvo, and that includes every known comfort and tech package that they can fit in the car! For $90K plus you can buy the best of the best in the Volvo line up, with hybrid electric power, superb safety systems, and the most up to date options that money can buy.
Volvo is always on your side with advanced technology that helps connect your driving style to your personalized comfort and mobility. If your in the market for an award winning, luxury midsize three row SUV, that is super safe, spacious and confident, then you have to put the XC90 at the top of your list just for the value and style that make this SUV great.
So call, click or visit your local Volvo dealer for a test drive and a Bottom Line price review, on one of the best SUV’S for sale in the midsize luxury class. The Volvo XC90 starts at only $49,000, so there is an XC90 model priced right in your budget.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©” . This Bottom Line Review is provided by: Tony Leopardo © Autowire.net. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net or visit Autowire.net at www.autowire.net