If we assign personality traits to some automakers, brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini would be passionate, Chevrolet and Ford would be patriotic, and more subdued brands like Honda and Toyota would be sensible. If we're referring to Volvo, though, it's a little bit of a toss-up. The Swedish brand has produced some widely different products over the years, and has a particular affinity for safety. However, its repertoire has swung from tiny sports cars to big, safe wagons, all the way up to bespoke luxury models.In essence, you can almost think of Volvo as a sensible person with a rare, but powerful, penchant for thinking outside the box. Take our model of interest as an example, the XC90 Excellence. The normal XC90 fetched a sticker price of anywhere around $45k to $60k when it was new. However, the Excellence model sat at over $100,000. It wasn't a coach-built model, it was home-grown by Volvo themselves. Why did they make it? Simply because, why not? The XC90: Volvo's Bread & Butter SUV VolvoThe first-gen Volvo XC90 launched in 2002, just one year after Volvo's Adventure Concept Car was unveiled at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show. At the time, Volvo was looking to join the SUV market for the first time, as US-based buyers were becoming increasingly more interested in the then-burgeoning segment. Reception of the concept was overwhelmingly positive, leading to Volvo's eventual teaser image of the production XC90 being released in late 2001.Volvo Upon its mass-production debut, Volvo offered the XC90 with just two trim levels, a base 2.5T and the hotter T6 grade, the latter of which took advantage of a twin-turbocharged inline-six. The XC90 was quickly taken to by the masses, and numerous automotive publications praised its space, power output, and overall styling. Motor Trend went so far as to name the '03 XC90 "North American Car of the Year" and the "Sport/Utility of the Year". On top of the praise and its well-liked nature, it further continued to win over the hearts of the masses once a 4.4-liter Yamaha-bred V8 was introduced into the fold for the 2005 model year.The first-gen iteration stayed in regular production until 2014 for the 2015 model year, after which the second-gen model hit the streets in 2016. Gone was the Yamaha V8, along with the base 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder engine and the straight-six. Instead, a slew of inline-four-cylinder engines were made available, some of which boasted hybrid power. The standard top-spec second-gen XC90 was called the T8 Twin Engine, which came equipped with both a turbocharger and a supercharger, along with a rear-mounted electric motor.Volvo However, the T8 Twin Engine briefly gave up its top-dog spot once the XC90 Excellence entered the fold in 2017. When Volvo Thought It Was Rolls-Royce VolvoIt seems that Volvo's top brass told the engineers and designers working on the XC90 "do what you want" when it came to drumming up the XC90 T8 Excellence. On the outside, you almost can't tell it's nearly as bespoke as it actually is. Keen-eyed readers, though, will point out its unique set of 21-inch, eight-spoke diamond-cut wheels, the extra smattering of chrome on the B and C pillars, and its slightly different front grille. However, the vast majority of upgrades take place inside the cabin.VolvoStepping inside seems to be like stepping into one of those first-class airline seats that cost tens of thousands. Only four seats are present inside, as opposed to the usual seven, all finished in premium Nappa leather. Behind the rear seat passengers sits a glass partition, which helps deaden noise. Both rear seats are individually capable of heating, cooling, and a slew of massage settings, including Swell, Tread, Advanced, Lumbar, and Shoulder. In addition, three speeds can be selected for the massage, along with three intensity levels.Volvo Rear-seat passengers are also treated to numerous other luxurious amenities. Between both occupants is a champagne cooler, complete with a pair of unique, hand-blown crystal champagne flutes produced by Orrefors, a Swedish glassmaker. A 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system provides the tunes for everyone, and a quad-zone climate control system featuring air purification allows each of the XC90 Excellence's passengers to be comfortable. A dual-pane, power-sliding panoramic moonroof was standard fare, too, along with a rear-seat entertainment system.Volvo The luckiest of the four passengers inside the XC90 Excellence is whoever manages to secure the use of the rear passenger-side seat. That's because the front passenger seat can fold away into a footrest that can also double as an extension, allowing occupants to lay down completely. Front-seat passengers, while not as catered to, are not forgotten about. A 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits center-stage in the middle of the dashboard.But, let's face it. You want to be in the back seat of an XC90 Excellence. Things Are Good Under The Hood, Too Cars & BidsBeing Volvo's most bespoke-ever offering in the US, the Swedish automaker knew it needed to impress in the powertrain department, too. Under the hood, Volvo's turbo and supercharged 2.0-liter inline-four is present, which belongs to the brand's B4204T engine subfamily. It also employs Volvo's E-Drive system, which is a plug-in hybrid configuration. In total, it could be driven for up to 14 miles in electric-only mode using a 9.2-kWh battery. The powertrain setup as a whole is referred to as the "T8". A handful of other Volvo models use the namesake, such as the flagship S90 sedan.Handling the XC90 Excellence's power is an eight-speed automatic transmission developed and produced by Aisin, a subsidiary of Toyota. All-wheel drive is the sole drivetrain option, as well. Its suspension is a fully independent setup, consisting of four-corner air ride boasting continuously adaptive programming that Volvo refers to as "4C Technology".The tech is able to actively predict bumps and changes in the road surface, meaning it can react before any bumps are actually hit. The air ride setup can lower the XC90 Excellence when the car is parked for easier passenger entry and exit. Want One? Here's What You'll Pay VolvoWhen the Volvo XC90 Excellence was new in 2017, Volvo was asking a whopping $104,900 before any destination fees or taxes were added into the mix. This was well over $40k more expensive than the second-highest-trimmed XC90, the Inscription AWD, which boasted a sticker of $57,350. That extra $47k or so, however, can be found in virtually every nook and cranny of the Excellence model. Maybe even in the hand-cut glasses alone.It may not come as a surprise to learn that finding a Volvo XC90 Excellence for sale isn't exactly a common occurrence, although it isn't impossible. According to Volvo, they made about 1,927 examples between 2017 and 2020. These days, you can find them for sale at around $22,980, at least according to Kelley Blue Book.Currently, there are only two examples for sale within 100 miles of the Chicagoland area: 2017 model for $22,999 in Mchenry, Illinois with 107,107 miles 2017 model for $29,888 in Downers Grove, Illinois with 66,814 miles If You Can Find One... Cars & BidsJust over nine years after its initial release, you can find examples of the most expensive and most opulent Volvo to ever grace the US roadways for nearly a fifth of its original price: that's a good bang for your buck. However, the issue will be finding one in general, should you fancy one for yourself. If you do snag one, you'll be able to enjoy something built by the company who, for a few years, really pretended it was Rolls-Royce, and it didn't do a bad job at it.