Volvo has announced that the XC90 has won the Motor Trend 2003 Sport/Utility of the Year Award more than a month before the first vehicles arrive in US retailers. Motor Trend's editorial staff selected this year's winner following rigorous testing on 14 eligible vehicles. To qualify for the competition, vehicles had to be SUVs that were new or substantially redesigned for 2003 and are, or will be on sale Jan. 1, 2003. In addition to the Volvo XC90, the contenders were Ford Expedition, HUMMER H2, Lexus GX 470, Lincoln Aviator, Lincoln Navigator, Honda Element, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Baja, Subaru Forester, Toyota 4Runner, Honda Pilot, Isuzu Ascender, and Kia Sorento. Two all-wheel-drive versions of the Volvo XC90 will be offered initially when the vehicle goes on sale next month: the XC90 AWD and the XC90 AWD T6 starting at $35,100. They will be joined in the first quarter of 2003 by a front-wheel-drive version priced at $33,350.