Review: 2025 Volvo XC60 Ultra, T8 AWD Plug-in hybrid
What is it?
Right, let’s be honest, when you hear the word ‘Volvo,’ the average punter - of a certain age, might still picture something square, brown, and built like a brick outhouse, probably driven by a sensible chap who enjoys pipe tobacco and knitwear. Forget it. Shove that image straight in the skip.
The car we’ve been throwing about recently - the XC60 Ultra, T8 AWD Plug-in Hybrid, is about as far removed from a sensible 240 estate as a fighter jet is from a garden shed.
This is a 455 horsepower, 4.9-second-to-60, luxury SUV. It’s a stealth bomber wearing a sharp, tailored Scandinavian suit, and honestly, it looks absolutely spot-on. If the Germans are all sharp edges and aggressive intent, this Volvo is cool, calm, and effortlessly superior.
The XC60 itself is Volvo’s mid-sized SUV offering, sitting neatly below the flagship XC90 and above the smaller XC40. In this Ultra T8 guise, however, it’s arguably the ultimate iteration of the model line. The 'Ultra' trim is Swedish for 'chuck every single fancy bit of kit we have at it, plus the air suspension.'
The 'T8' bit is the real magic: it’s the top-tier plug-in hybrid system that marries a highly stressed 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a stonking great electric motor mounted on the rear axle.
In short, it’s meant to be an efficiency champion, a luxury cruiser, and a surprisingly rapid machine all rolled into one. For us folks at The Mud Life, the critical questions are: can it handle a proper northern B-road when the weather turns grim, and is that 'AWD' badge more than just a marketing gimmick? Let’s crack on and find out.
On-Road: Silken Ride, Ludicrous Pace
Climbing inside is like swapping a dreary bank queue for a session at a high-end spa. It smells fantastic (a hallmark of modern Volvos, that), and everything you touch feels expensive. More on the interior later, but what strikes you first is the drive, especially if you set off on a full battery.
In ‘Pure’ electric mode, the XC60 T8 is an absolute champion. It wafts. It glides. It’s quieter than a church mouse wearing socks, and you can cover a genuine 40 to 45 miles without troubling the petrol tank. For the daily school run, the commute into Manchester, or nipping to the tip, it’s reet. If you diligently plug it in every night (and you absolutely must if you want to see decent running costs), you’ll barely touch the fuel pump.
But let the battery drain, or select ‘Power’ mode, and the Volvo suddenly throws off its sensible slippers and straps on a pair of running spikes. When the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot joins forces with the electric motor, you are suddenly commanding 455 brake horsepower. Yes, 455. That’s enough grunt to haul this two-tonne SUV from 0-60 mph in a genuinely dizzying 4.9 seconds.
It’s quick enough to rearrange your breakfast, and it does it without fuss, drama, or any real noise to speak of. It just goes. On a fast motorway run, this thing is unstoppable, eating up miles with total serenity. Just be careful, mind, because it’s so smooth, quiet and comfortable, you will easily find yourself driving at naughty miles per hour!
The ride quality, courtesy of that Ultra-spec electronic air suspension, is mostly faultless. It manages to be soft enough to cosset you over shoddy town asphalt, yet firm enough in the bends to keep the body roll in check when you decide to use all 455 horses. It rides high, gives you a commanding view, and for long distances, there are few better places to park your backside.
The only negative I found was the steering, it felt a bit… dead. Despite having two settings: firm and soft, neither felt particularly engaging. Shame really, I just wished it was as good as the rest of the car.
The Fuel Economy Conundrum
Now for a dose of reality, delivered with a northern snort. The official MPG figure - the one that stretches into the high 200s, is achievable only if you treat this car as an electric vehicle with a petrol failsafe. Run that battery flat, and you’re lugging around a heavy motor and battery pack with only a 2.0-litre petrol engine (which is both turbocharged and supercharged, bless it) doing all the heavy lifting. Once the volts are gone, the economy plummets into the high 20s or low 30s MPG territory.
So, if you buy this for the tax breaks and then never plug it in, you’re essentially driving a heavy, slightly thirsty, very fast petrol car. Charge it like your phone, and it’s genius. Ignore the plug, and you’ve bought an expensive fast SUV that offers disappointing real-world economy.
Off-Road Ability: A Swedish Safety Net
Now, this is The Mud Life, so we have to address the elephant in the gravel pit. Is this a proper 4x4? No. Is it a highly capable AWD crossover that can get you out of trouble, across a muddy field to a campsite, or safely through a foot of unexpected snow? Absolutely, yes.
The XC60 T8 system isn’t traditional mechanical four-wheel drive. The 2.0-litre combustion engine powers the front wheels through the eight-speed gearbox, but the rear axle is purely driven by the electric motor. This means there is no mechanical connection (like a prop shaft) between the front and back axles. It’s an ‘e-AWD’ system, and it works brilliantly, if subtly.
In ‘Constant AWD Mode’ or the specific ‘Off-Road Mode,’ the car prioritises splitting the torque evenly, and the electric motor provides instant, precise traction to the rear wheels. The Ultra trim’s air suspension is the real hero here; it lifts the car, significantly boosting ground clearance. This is essential, as the T8’s battery pack does sit low down, and you don’t want to be beaching your fancy hybrid on a rock in the Peak District.
The ‘Off-Road Mode’ is only available up to about 25 mph, which tells you everything you need to know: it’s for low-speed recovery, slippery approaches, and tricky campsite manoeuvres, not green-laning with the winch crew. It provides massive confidence and capability far beyond what most owners will ever need, but it remains a luxury SUV with a posh all-weather system, not a Defender replacement. It’ll get you to the trailhead, but not up the sheer side of a mountain
Interior Comfort & Practicality: The Scandi Sanctuary
Inside, the XC60 is absolutely lovely. The seats, famously designed with orthopaedic surgeons, are perhaps the best in the business, especially the Nappa leather items in the Ultra trim, which come with heating, ventilation, and even a massage function. It’s basically a therapist on wheels.
Rear passenger space is generous for a mid-sized SUV; two adults will be extremely comfortable, thanks in part to the panoramic roof that floods the cabin with light, making everything feel airy and less claustrophobic. If you’ve got younger kids, the integrated two-stage booster seats on the outer rear seats are a genius touch that every car maker should nick.
Storage is decent, but not class-leading. Cabin cubbies are fine, but where does the boot land?
Loading the Tat and the Dog
The boot capacity is 468 litres with the seats up. That’s adequate, but it’s worth noting that the battery placement does nibble a bit of space compared to a mild-hybrid XC60 (which is closer to 500 litres). Will it take the camping gear? Yes, for a weekend trip. Will it take the camping gear, the dog, the kids, and enough waterproofs for a week in the Lakes? You’ll be playing high-stakes Tetris. The aperture is wide, the load lip is low (especially if you use the air suspension’s button in the boot to drop the rear), and it’s very easy to slide bulky items in.
Tech and the Infuriating Faff
This is where the review goes a bit sour, but only because modern motoring has decided to commit a few cardinal sins. Volvo, a brand built on sensible, ergonomic safety, has fallen victim to the touchscreen tyranny.
The Great Heater Dial Betrayal
Now, I’m a simple man. When it’s freezing outside and the windscreen is fogging up faster than a politician under pressure, I want a big, chunky dial to crank the heat up without taking my eyes off the road - a bit like the Toyota RAV4.
The XC60 has no such dials. The heating, the fan speed, and the seat warmers are all on the large portrait-oriented screen, running the Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS). To be fair to Volvo, they’ve made the climate control bar static, it’s always sitting at the bottom of the screen, regardless of whether you're using navigation or Spotify. But that still requires a precise touch on a moving display to adjust temperature or fan speed.
Trying to tap a virtual ‘up’ arrow for the fan when you’re cornering on a wet A-road is a recipe for an argument with your passenger, if not a slight detour into a hedge. This is a clear, frustrating negative, and it loses the car valuable, valuable points.
Lane Departure Aid: The Faff of the Ages
My second, and arguably greater, pet peeve is the Lane Keeping Aid (LKA). In fairness it’s part of the Euro NCAP requirements, so Volvo’s hands are tied. Thankfully, there’s a simple shortcut to switching it off - thank you Volvo!
Verdict: Fast, Fluffy, and a Touch Too Digital
So, where does the Volvo XC60 Ultra T8 AWD land?
It’s an absolutely magnificent piece of kit, provided your daily commute involves a charging point. It offers truly ballistic performance wrapped in a sheet of serenity, thanks to that huge 455hp combined output. The Ultra trim’s ride quality with the air suspension is outstanding, delivering the sort of mile-munching comfort that will make you look forward to long trips. It tows well (2,250 kg), and its e-AWD system, backed by the adjustable ride height, gives it a robust, dependable capability for slippery conditions, perfect for getting you across a muddy event parking field or up a snowy drive without drama.
It falls down, however, on core usability, particularly for those of us who appreciate tactile control. The reliance on the touchscreen for essential functions, for me, is the XC60’s chief weakness. It feels like Volvo’s obsession with minimalism has won out over genuine, safe ergonomics.
Our Verdict: This is a spectacular, ludicrously fast luxury cruiser that gives you access to serious power and a massive EV range (if you charge it). For 95% of 'The Mud Life' readership, it offers all the comfort, practicality, and wet-weather grip you’ll ever need. It’s brilliant, it’s beautiful, but it needs a few more buttons.
