Sunday Drive: Troll hunting in style in the 2025 Volvo V60
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- Deanne with the 2025 Volvo V60 in the parking lot before we hiked off to see Rita the Rock Painter just outside of Cripple Creek, Colorado.
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- The 2025 Volvo V60 charging in our home after our long, adventurous trip home from Colorado.
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- Isak Heartstone in Breckenridge, Colorado, by artist Thomas Dambo.
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- Both of us with Rita the Rock Painter by Thomas Dambo outside of Cripple Creek, Colorado. The trolls are worth the adventure to go and see.
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- Deanne with the new 2025 Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in the mountains of Colorado as we started our adventure over the Continental Divide on a dirt road, hitting Boreas Pass at 11,482 feet before descending into Breckenridge.
It is not every week that we get to drive a vehicle over 1,000 miles and get a feel for how it would really fit into our daily lives. That said, our time with the Volvo V60 started in Denver, where we had traveled to participate in a new event for the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press’ 4xFall, where we took six awesome SUVs into the mountains west of Denver and got to really see how they would perform in the “hills.”
Getting to Denver and being with friends is always great, but getting to come home in a new Volvo plug-in hybrid electric vehicle was the icing on the cake for us. We had a few places that we wanted to go to in Colorado on the way home. We were on a “troll hunt.”
Deanne had discovered that there were three trolls in Colorado that were created by an artist named Thomas Dambo after having visited one in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, when visiting a friend. We planned to see two more — one in Cripple Creek and the other in Breckenridge — as they were generally along the pathway home, at least to some extent.
So, it was for our extended trip home, with the new Volvo, a trip south to Cripple Creek for an overnight stay and see Rita the Rock Painter, then on to Breckenridge the next day to see Isak Heartstone!
Elegant design that stays true to Volvo’s heritage
Volvo has always been known for its minimalist and clean design language, and the 2025 V60 has stayed true to this legacy. Our first look proved that the V60 is a testament to refined sophistication, with sleek lines, a confident stance and the signature Thor’s Hammer LED headlights that instantly identified the car as part of the Volvo family.
It was a perfect fusion of sportiness and elegance. As we drove away from the 4xfall event in Golden, the V60 commanded attention without shouting for it.
The overall proportions of the V60 struck a perfect balance. It was slightly smaller than a full-sized SUV but had more cargo space and practicality than most sedans. It was plenty big enough for our two carry-ons, three backpacks, a small cooler and various pillows that we had brought along.
The ride to Cripple Creek proved to be a great test though the winding Colorado mountains. As we arrived mid-afternoon, it was the perfect time to visit Rita.
Interior: Scandinavian craftsmanship meets modern technology
Getting inside the 2025 Volvo V60 was like entering a sanctuary of luxury and thoughtful design. Volvo has once again delivered an interior that combined exquisite materials, practical functionality and cutting-edge technology.
The leather upholstery in our test model was soft yet durable, and the Volvo seats — always some of our favorites — provided ample support for our long trip home.
As we mentioned, Volvo is known for its focus on seat comfort, and the V60 certainly did not disappoint us. The front seats were both heated and ventilated, a welcome feature for differing types of weather we encountered in early fall.
The center console was dominated by a vertically oriented 9-inch touch screen that runs Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system. The system is highly intuitive, offering crisp graphics and seamless integration with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
One thing we particularly appreciated was the lack of clutter in the cabin. Volvo’s commitment to clean, uncluttered interiors extended to the V60’s cabin layout, with most functions being controlled via the touchscreen or voice commands, reducing the need for physical buttons.
A smooth ride with precision handling
On the road, the 2025 Volvo V60 T8 delivered a driving experience that blended comfort with capability. The adaptive suspension adjusts to varying road conditions, ensuring a smooth ride on both city streets and bumpy country roads. We found this to be a great system as we crossed the Continental Divide above Breckenridge through Boreas Pass on a 22-mile dirt road that Siri recommended.
This turned out to be quite the adventure with some definitely rocky surfaces that we traversed. The Volvo took it all in stride and preformed admirably off of the pavement!
The steering was well-weighted and precise, giving us confidence when tackling curves or making quick lane changes. Even being a plug-in hybrid, the V60 felt nimble, thanks in part to its all-wheel-drive system, which helped to maintain traction and stability in various conditions. The V60’s low center of gravity, owing to its wagon body style, also contributed to its agile handling. All factors added to making our offroad adventure much easier to tame.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain: A marriage of performance and efficiency
What really set the 2025 Volvo V60 apart from its peers was its cutting-edge powertrain. Under the hood, this PHEV system combined a 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a powerful electric motor. Together, they produced an impressive 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. This substantial power output allowed the V60 T8 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, making it one of the quickest vehicles in its class, and of course very fun to drive.
The beauty of the plug-in hybrid system lies in its ability to switch seamlessly between electric and gas power. With an 18.8 kilowatt-hour battery, the V60 T8 offers up to 41 miles of all-electric range, more than enough for most daily commutes or short errands around town. However, we found when charging at home it would consistently deliver upwards of 50 miles of electric range.
When the battery was depleted, the gasoline engine would kick in smoothly, providing excellent power delivery and ensuring we would not suffer from “range anxiety” on longer road trips.
Another standout feature of the V60 was its regenerative braking system, which helped to recharge the battery while driving. It proved to be a very subtle system, and unless we were paying close attention, we didn’t even notice it working.
At the end of the week: A smooth ride with precision handling
On the road back from Denver, the 2025 Volvo V60 T8 Polestar Engineered plug-in hybrid wagon delivered a driving experience that blended comfort with capability. The adaptive suspension adjusted to varying road conditions, ensuring a smooth ride on both city streets and bumpy country roads. Whether we were cruising down the highway or navigating through winding mountain dirt roads, the V60 was composed and planted.
The fact that most everyday driving would be on the all-electric drive train would just be the icing on the V60 cake.
Base price: $71,250
Destination charge: $1,195
Price as driven: $72,835
