New Volvo XC90 packs in a lot … 

Honestly, the new Volvo XC90 is a bit overwhelming.

It’s a big luxury crossover or ute, whichever you prefer. It looks buttoned-down collar sharp and has nearly every conceivable electronic doodad, safety device and feature one could expect. But there’s just so much here to enjoy and learn it’s a bit like going to flight school straight from junior high shop.

There’s no denying Volvo has been a fuddy-duddy brand for years, the square car in the round hole that is the wagon and now crossover marketplace. Safety was its gig, which is laudable, but styling and luxury were, let’s say, well down Volvo’s best practices list.

The luxury bit has been addressed in the past several years, but the XC90 brings Volvo up to and beyond some peers in the luxury market and now its sophisticated styling is a big help.

First, the XC90 ranges from moderate luxury to full-on eye-popping price tag luxury. The base T5 Momentum starts at $46,745 in front-drive mode and still features the potent 2.0-liter, supercharged and turbocharged I4 that runs throughout the lineup. It creates 250 horsepower in the base model and 316 horsepower in the tested T6 model with all-wheel drive. Both feature a smooth shifting 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission.

The tested T6 AWD Inscription lists at $51,600, plus $995 delivery, but the Inscription package adds another $5,600. The metallic black test ute ended up at $72,805 after adding nine more options and packages.

Now hold on for the upper end. Volvo’s plug-in hybrid, the T8 Excellence lists at $105,989 with delivery. You read that right, but it adds an 80-horse electric motor to the equation to boost gas mileage to a still mild 25 mpg, but can run 25 miles on an electric charge. It also includes heated and massaging rear seats, a built-in fridge and a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo.

OK, back to reality, sort of!

The XC90 T6 is a big ute that includes a third row seat so you can squeeze up to 7 folks aboard, plus it’ll tow 5,000 lbs. making it more useful than some large utes.

But the power its supercharged and turbocharged I4 creates is nothing short of amazing, considering this is a 4-cylinder engine. Like others with selectable drive modes, the power is tamed in the Eco and Normal modes, but still, the Volvo will get up to highway speeds smoothly and quickly in Normal.

Switch to Dynamic mode and the Volvo becomes a beast. Really! Even in normal driving the engine revs higher and torque builds quicker. But drop the accelerator and the XC90 seems to leap into hyper mode. You’ll be pushed back in the comfy Nappa leather seats and the crossover feels as if it launches off its rear wheels like a horse galloping toward the open range.

Ride is superior too with double wishbone suspension up front and multi-link in back. Roads are smoothed and tamed. This was aided serious by four-wheel air suspension, a $1,800 option, on the test ute. I’d spring for this!

Handling is good for a big ute with fairly responsive steering slightly helped in Dynamic mode, but fine in Normal for all, well, normal driving.

Braking is first rate too and start/stop is standard to slightly aid gas consumption. Still, I got only 20.2 mpg in a week’s drive about evenly split between city and highway. AWD aids in slippery conditions, and seems to do a good job of helping grip when in Dynamic mode. Note too the Inscription comes with 20-inch tires, but the test ute added giant 21-inchers with fancier alloy wheels for $750.

As much fun as the performance is, the splendidly quiet interior, black leather dash and door trim and light brown walnut inlays in the dash, doors and atop the console deliver a high-end luxury feel. Perforated butterscotch-colored leather seating is well formed and supportive, near perfect, and of course is powered and easy to adjust for both front seats. Both also feature three memory settings.

Front seats are heated and cooled and rear outboard seats are heated. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is heated too, but oddly it’s a manual tilt/telescope wheel. I expect power at this price point.

Overhead is a giant panoramic sunroof with screen and the center stack mounted info touchscreen is large, nine inches tall. This is infrared controlled so you can use it when wearing gloves, but I found the screen a bit too touchy, sometimes reacting as you moved your hand it before you reached the touch point. The screen also be changed, like a tablet, by brushing the screen sideways with a hand or finger.

That big screen is particularly nice when backing up and it shows a 360-degree view with the surround view camera that’s part of a $1,950 option package. Also included in that package are retractable rearview mirrors and auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, plus blind-spot warning and cross-traffic alert.

Need more bells and whistles, well the $1,950 climate package includes a head-up display and that heated wheel and rear seat, plus heated washer nozzles. The $1,800 convenience package includes semi-autonomous controls to keep you in your lane and from running into a ditch, plus adaptive cruise control, HomeLink, 12-volt outlet in the cargo area and park assist, among others.

A sensuous sounding Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system with CD player adds $2,650 and a luxury package with leather sun visors, back massage in the front seats and special headliner adds another $2,900. I found the back massage function, run through that big dash screen, to be annoying, not relaxing.

Included with the Inscription package are active bending LED headlights that help the driver see around corners, plus an automatic high-beam headlight system that worked quite well. It also adds tread plate illumination and the amazingly named Thor’s hammer daytime running lights that feature a T-design (as in Thor)! Rear door side sun screens are part of the package too.

One thing I wish the XC90 included is a running board. The step-up height is considerable as the ute has a 9.4-inch ground clearance. This was a bit of a stretch, so a running board could ease entrance and exit. Another short person likened the exit to parachuting from a small airplane.

There’s no denying though that Volvo has created a lovely crossover/ute with a wide range of options and prices to suit many luxury-leaning buyers’ virgin leather checkbooks. At its lower trim levels it’s a bargain. It becomes quite pricey as you add its high-priced options.

FAST STATS: 2017 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription

Hits: Powerful big crossover with decent handling and superior ride. Super quiet interior with giant sunroof, big info screen, all the requisite safety devices, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seat and steering wheel. T6 and above comes with third row seating.

Misses: Tilt/telescope wheel is manual not power, touchscreen is too touchy, step-up height is considerable, needs a running board. Price starts reasonable, options make it pricey.

Made in: Gothenburg, Sweden

Engine: 2.0-liter, super/turbocharged I4, 316 hp

Transmission: 8-speed Geartronic automatic

Weight: 4,627 lbs.

Length: 194.9 in.

Wheelbase: 117.5 in.

Cargo: 15.8 cu.ft. (85.7 cu.ft. rear two rows down)

MPG: 20/25 (EPA)

MPG: 20.2 (tested)

Base Price: $51,600

Invoice: $54,763 (includes Inscription package and delivery)

Major Options:

Inscription package (LED headlights w/active bending, auto. high beam, Thor’s hammer daytime running lights, illuminated tread plates, high-level interior illumination, silver matte grille, Inscription logo on lower door moldings, aluminum roof rails, 20-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, Nappa leather upholstery/dash/upper door panels, ventilated front seats w/power side support and cushion extensions, walnut inlays, rear side sun screens, Nappa leather fob, Inscription badge on tailgate), $5,600

Vision package (360-surround view camera, retractable rear-view mirrors, auto-dimming interior/exterior mirrors, blind-spot system, cross-traffic alert), $1,950

Climate package w/HUD (head-up display, heated washer nozzles, heated rear seat, heated steering wheel), $1,950

Convenience package (pilot-assist semi-autonomous drive w/adaptive cruise control, HomeLink, grocery bag holder, 12-volt outlet in cargo area, compass in rearview mirror, park assist), $1800

Luxury package (front seat back massage, headliner w/A,B,C pillar in Nubuck, front/rear leather grab handles, leather sun visors), $2,900

Bowers & Wilkins prem. sound w/CD, $2,650

Metallic paint, $560

Second row center booster, $250

21-inch 8-spoke silver diamond cut alloy wheels, $750

4-corner air suspension, $1,800

Delivery: $995

Test vehicle: $72,805

Sources: Volvo, www.kbb.com

Photos: Mark Savage