Elegant, quick, fun to drive, and plenty of Scandinavian charm. That’s the 2025 Volvo XC60 T8. This luxury plug-in hybrid SUV comes well-equipped, has a stylish interior and has an all-electric range of 35 miles.
Base Price: $75,250
As Tested: $77,345
Horsepower: 455
Mileage: 28 MPG combined / 63 MPGe gas + electric
The XC60 T8 used to be called the XC60 Recharge, but for 2025, Volvo simplifies things by calling it a plug-in hybrid, and the Ultimate trim is now dubbed Ultra. The second generation XC60 Recharge debuted for 2018 and was updated in 2022.
It comes in four trims: Core, Plus, Ultra and Polestar Engineered. Starting prices range from $59,345 to $76,545. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
All trims get the same T8 powertrain with a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, electric motor and 18.8-kWh lithium-ion battery. Total output is a healthy 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic.
This is one fast and fun Volvo! The XC60 plug-in hybrid can launch from zero to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, according to Volvo. There’s plenty of low-end torque and also more than enough muscle for accelerating at higher speeds. Just touch the accelerator and you’re off! Brakes have a normal feel but they can also be set to regenerative braking mode for one-pedal driving. The switch between electric and gas power happens seamlessly. The XC60 plug-in hybrid feels balanced when cornering. Steering is precise but there’s not a lot of feedback. The eight-speed shifts smoothly and quickly. The XC60 plug-in hybrid is also civilized for driving around town. One drawback is that the ride is fairly firm and can get harsh over rough roads. All in all, though, this electrified XC60 is a good blend of power and comfort.
Fuel efficiency is good for a luxury plug-in hybrid. EPA ratings are 63 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) combined using electric and gas power, and 28 mpg combined with gas only. I only used about one/eighth of a tank of gas as I charged the Volvo every evening at home and then had about 35 miles of all-electric range each day.
The cabin is stylish and attractive with a modern, clean look, thanks to its Scandinavian heritage. Seats are comfortable and supportive, even on long drives, and the front seats can be adjusted a myriad of ways. Front passengers have good leg- and headroom. The second row isn’t quite as roomy but still offers decent space for two average-size adults. A portrait-oriented touchscreen is on the dash.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, driver’s seat memory settings, 12-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment system with nine-inch vertical touchscreen, Google-based navigation, 10-speaker audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive headlights, and a panoramic moonroof.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, synthetic leather upholstery, Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and front passenger-side memory settings, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and a universal garage door opener.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and driver attention monitoring.
Available driver assistance technologies include stop-and-go adaptive cruise control.
The Google-based infotainment looks good with its tablet-like vertical screen. It includes Google Maps and Google Assistant. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard as well but you have to use a cord. Graphics are sharp and the system responds quickly to commands. But there’s a learning curve and it takes time to figure out the menus and submenus. There are a few physical controls for some audio and climate settings.
Cargo space is good for a luxury plug-in hybrid SUV. There are 22.4 cubic feet behind the second row, and 63.3 cubes with the second row folded. A power liftgate is standard. There’s a small area under the cargo floor to keep the charging cable.
The good:
Peppy performance
All-electric range of 35 miles
Upscale, comfortable and spacious cabin
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay but it’s wired
The not-so-good:
Ride can be harsh on rough roads
Infotainment system takes time to figure out
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $75,250. 22-inch Polestar Engineered forged alloy wheels (summer tires) are $800. The destination charge is $1,295, bringing the grand total to $77,345.
Bottom line:
The 2025 Volvo XC60 T8 is an excellent plug-in hybrid that’s fun to drive, has an upscale and stylish cabin, gets good fuel economy, and has about 35 miles of all-electric range, which will seriously cut back on your visits to the gas station. It’s a compelling offering among luxury plug-in hybrids.
