Volvo XC90 named sport ute of the year
October 16, 2002

DETROIT -- A versatile ride with elements of a sturdy truck and a comfortable sedan helped Volvo's first entry into the sport utility market claim this year's honor of Motor Trend Magazine SUV of the Year.

Built on a car body, the all-wheel drive XC90 has three-row seating and room for seven adult passengers, though Volvo, a unit of Ford Motor Co., designed some of the seats with children in mind.

The second row includes a middle seat that moves forward so parents can scoot a child closer to them. The third row can be folded into the floor to provide more storage capacity.

"It's a very good overall package, offering some off-road capability, a good deal of comfortable interior space and decent fuel mileage," said Todd Lassa, Motor Trend's Detroit editor.

The XC90 becomes available to U.S. dealers next month, although Volvo's limited supply for the rest of the year -- 5,500 to 6,000 -- has been pre-sold, said Victor H. Doolan, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars of North America LLC.

The sticker price starts at $35,100 and climbs to about $40,000 when leather seats, a moonroof and an in-dash CD player are added.

The XC90 competed against 14 other new or significantly reengineered SUVs like the Ford Expedition, Honda's Element and Pilot, the Hummer H2, the new Toyota 4 Runner and the Lincoln Navigator.

The Land Rover Range Rover and Saturn VUE were not judged because they chose not to submit vehicles for testing, Motor Trend said.

Jack Keebler, Motor Trend's Detroit bureau chief, said the publication considers three questions when selecting a winner: What's the most significant new SUV; Is it the best in its class?; Is it a good value?

He said judging is tricky because of the diverse line of vehicles. Price can vary $40,000 from one end of the SUV spectrum to the other, and some are built on truck bodies while others -- like the XC90 -- are made on car platforms.

No longer simply a roughneck ride, SUVs have become a boon for luxury carmakers with some of them now outselling venerable sedans in their line.

David Lucas, an analyst with Autodata Corp., said the XC90 faces stiff competition in its class from the likes of the BMW X5 and the Acura RX300.

A definite plus for the XC90, Lucas said, is its versatility.

"Anything that gives you the utility and somewhat macho look of a truck but still has the amenities of a car and the comfort that the ride affords you, that's going to be the winner," he said.

The XC90 can come equipped with either a five-cylinder or six-cylinder engine -- both turbocharged. Doolan said the XC90 is averaging around 24 miles per gallon.

Motor Trend also will select a car and truck of the year.