The most reliable Volvo engines by the numbers
Volvo's best engines reflect two engineering philosophies: the proven five-cylinder era and the mature Drive-E modular platform. Both deliver Scandinavian reliability — built for Nordic conditions, which means they handle European winters and high-mileage commutes with confidence.
Complete ranking
| Rank | Engine | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D5 (D5244T) | 80/100 | BUY |
| 2 | D5244T (D5) | 80/100 | BUY |
| 3 | VEP4 T5 (B4204T23) | 78/100 | BUY |
| 4 | T5 VEA (B4204T) | 78/100 | BUY |
D5 (D5244T) — 80/100
2.4L Turbo Diesel I5
Found in: S40, S60, S80, V50, V60, V70, XC60, XC90
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full D5 (D5244T) reliability report →
D5244T (D5) — 80/100
2.4L Turbo Diesel I5
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- EGR cooler failure — city use — severity high, typically appears around 120.000 km
- DPF blockage (city use) — severity high, typically appears around 60.000 km
- Injector wear at high mileage — severity moderate, typically appears around 150.000 km
Full D5244T (D5) reliability report →
VEP4 T5 (B4204T23) — 78/100
2.0L Turbo I4
Found in: S60 T4, V40 2.0T T3, V40 2.0T T4, V40 2.0T T5, XC40 2.0T T4
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Oil consumption — piston rings (2014-2016) — severity high, typically appears around 50.000 km
- Engine / transmission mount wear — severity minor, typically appears around 80.000 km
- Turbo diverter valve failure — severity moderate, typically appears around 80.000 km
Full VEP4 T5 (B4204T23) reliability report →
T5 VEA (B4204T) — 78/100
2.0L Turbo I4
Found in: S40/V40, S60, S90, V40, V60, V90, XC40, XC60
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full T5 VEA (B4204T) reliability report →
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →