It is an all aluminium five-cylinder engine with 20 valves and double overhead camshafts.
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:
The first generation was introduced in 2001.

The second generation was introduced in 2005.
The second generation got a slight reduction in stroke and has a reduced compression ratio, a water-cooled VNT turbocharger with a bigger compressor and an electric servo motor to adjust the vanes, an improved EGR system, a throttle valve, revised intake and exhaust ports and a newer generation of common-rail direct injection with improved injectors.

The third generation was introduced in 2009.
The third generation got a further reduction in compression ratio, a two-stage turbo system (D5244T10), an improved exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, revised intake and exhaust ports and a newer generation of common-rail direct injection with higher pressure and piezoelectric injectors.

Volvo has a special version of the D5 for use in the C30, S40, V50 and C70 models that produces 180 hp (134 kW) and 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) of torque (reduced to 350 N⋅m (258 lb⋅ft) with automatic transmission).
The engine compartments of these cars are smaller so among other things the engine has a different air intake system, different exhaust system, smaller charge air cooler and a smaller radiator.

In 2009 Volvo, in conjunction with Polestar, launched software upgrades for many of its D5 engines.
These upgrades have no impact on official emission or fuel consumption figures, but produce power and torque gains of typically a little over 10%.
The first engine to have such an upgrade available was the D5244T4, and the upgrade increased the torque from 400 to 450 N⋅m (295 to 332 lb⋅ft), and power from 185 to 205 PS (136 to 151 kW).
The same upgrade was available for the mechanically-identical D5244T5.
Similar upgrades have since been launched for later engines.
It is an all aluminium five-cylinder engine with 20 valves and double overhead camshafts. 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:
The first generation was introduced in 2001.
The second generation was introduced in 2005. The second generation got a slight reduction in stroke and has a reduced compression ratio, a water-cooled VNT turbocharger with a bigger compressor and an electric servo motor to adjust the vanes, an improved EGR system, a throttle valve, revised intake and exhaust ports and a newer generation of common-rail direct injection with improved injectors.
The third generation was introduced in 2009. The third generation got a further reduction in compression ratio, a two-stage turbo system (D5244T10), an improved exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, revised intake and exhaust ports and a newer generation of common-rail direct injection with higher pressure and piezoelectric injectors.
Volvo has a special version of the D5 for use in the C30, S40, V50 and C70 models that produces 180 hp (134 kW) and 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) of torque (reduced to 350 N⋅m (258 lb⋅ft) with automatic transmission). The engine compartments of these cars are smaller so among other things the engine has a different air intake system, different exhaust system, smaller charge air cooler and a smaller radiator.
In 2009 Volvo, in conjunction with Polestar, launched software upgrades for many of its D5 engines. These upgrades have no impact on official emission or fuel consumption figures, but produce power and torque gains of typically a little over 10%. The first engine to have such an upgrade available was the D5244T4, and the upgrade increased the torque from 400 to 450 N⋅m (295 to 332 lb⋅ft), and power from 185 to 205 PS (136 to 151 kW). The same upgrade was available for the mechanically-identical D5244T5. Similar upgrades have since been launched for later engines.
Volvo D5 engine