[2] The D5 displaces 2.4 liters; a smaller series of two-litre engines were developed in 2010 and marketed as the Volvo D3 and D4.

In all but one late version it has a VGT turbocharger of the type VNT (variable nozzle turbine), common rail direct injection and cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).

There are three generations of D5 engines: Volvo has a special version of the D5 (D5244T8/T13) for use in the C30, S40, V50 and C70 models that produces 180 PS (132 kW) and 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) of torque, reduced to 350 N⋅m (258 lb⋅ft) with automatic transmission.

[4] These upgrades have no impact on official emission or fuel consumption figures, but produce power and torque gains of typically a little over 10%.

[8][9] Similarly the 2016 XC60 AWD branded the 190PS D5244T21 as 'D4', but the 220PS D5244T20 as 'D5', whilst the two wheel drive XC60 model of the same year used 'D4' to describe the different D4204T four-cylinder diesel engine developed in conjunction with Ford and PSA.

The direct injection pump is a Bosch CP4 with two heads, helping to produce torque of around 400 N⋅m (300 lb⋅ft) even at low engine speeds.

The D3/D4 bore remains the same as in the D5, but with a 77 mm (3.0 in) stroke the displacement is brought down to 1,984 cc (121.1 cu in), keeping it below the vital two-litre threshold in many countries.