2018 Volvo XC90: More Volvo Passengers, Same Volvo Price

It wasn’t the elegant S90 sedan or oddly seductive V90 wagon that heralded Volvo’s return to the top of its game — it was the earlier XC90 SUV, specifically the upright and self-assured second-generation model.

Now that it’s no longer the newest vehicle in the stable (thanks to a product surge fueled by Chinese dollars, it’s quickly becoming the oldest), the XC90 enters 2018 with an extra dose of value.

According to CarsDirect, 2018 XC90 buyers won’t have to shell out more cash to get more passengers into their new Volvo. This coming year, the base T5 trim adds a third-row seat for no extra charge. Isn’t that considerate? The aim, obviously, is for more buyers to consider the XC90.

The model’s order guide shows the midsized SUV has quietly added a standard third row while leaving its MSRP remaining unchanged. Previously, you’d have to move up to the T6 variant to squeeze seven members of your family into the SUV’s dignified confines. Volvo claims the third row, like in its higher-trim models, can be folded into the floor when not needed, thus maintaining cargo volume.

By adding a standard third row, Volvo has made the SUV a contender for larger families shopping in the near-premium class. A base XC90 Momentum T5 FWD retails for $47,895 after delivery. A Momentum T6, which comes with all-wheel drive and a higher-output turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (315 hp vs 250 hp), carries an entry price of $55,045.

It looked like XC90 sales were cooling off earlier this year, but the latter part of 2017 saw the SUV’s popularity climb back to healthier levels. Leaving a dismal winter in the past, the model has now enjoyed four consecutive months of U.S. year-over-year sales gains, with November’s tally up 25.1 percent. Over the first 11 months of 2017, XC90 sales are down 10.2 percent.

[Image: Volvo Cars]