Have you ever wished for an SUV that was originally designed to carry seven people but been modified to accommodate just three? Good news! Volvo has responded to your prayers and launched the XC90 Excellence Lounge. With a price tag of Rs 1.42 crore (ex-showroom India), it becomes the most expensive offering from the sensible Swedes. What’s worth noting is that the new variant will be sold in limited numbers. So, do rope-in the exclusivity factor when spending that kind of money on your next luxury yacht from the road.

What is it? Essentially, it is the XC90 Excellence with the front passenger seat tossed out. That space is used for what Volvo calls a lounge console. It comprises of a heated footrest, lockable storage and a 13-inch tablet. Now, imagine stretching your feet out on that immaculately trimmed footrest while watching your favourite movie on the go. Come to think of it, you do not need to imagine. If you can afford one of these, chances are you must have experienced first-class pampering in an airliner.

As for the goodies, there are all there. The luxury SUV comes with four-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 1,400-watt Bowers and Wilkins sound system with 20 speakers, 21-inch alloy wheels and air suspension. Being a Volvo, safety kit is top-notch too with features like adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, blind spot information, parking sensors in the front and rear, hill start/descent control and collision mitigation system.

Propulsion comes courtesy of the same plug-in hybrid powertrain that does duty in the XC90 Excellence. The 2.0-litre petrol engine, which is supercharged and turbocharged, is good for 299hp/400Nm. The electric motor, which gets its juices from an 11.6 kWh, li-ion battery, brings in an additional 87hp/240Nm. As per Volvo Auto India, the total system output is 408hp/640Nm. That’s enough for a 0-100kmph sprint time of 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 230kmph.

There is no other SUV in India that offers such a mix of elements. However, if you aren’t bowled over by the XC90 Excellence, you can spend a similar amount on the Range Rover Sport and the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid.