The Volvo B5 vs. B6 Engine Comparison Guide
Volvo is committed to leading edge innovation, and improving vehicle technology. Volvo is particularly well known for this when it comes to safety technology, but the brand’s drivetrain technology strides are no less impressive. As such, drivetrain options and even naming conventions change fairly frequently, and it can be difficult to keep up. So we put together this guide to Volvo’s most popular two options, the B5 and B6 powertrains.
B5 VS B6 Performance
| B5 | B6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 247 | 295 |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
Volvo has sold 6-cylinder engines in the past, and is one of the few automakers to have produced 5-cylinders engines as well, even as recently as 2016. So it would be understandable to think that the numbers in the drivetrains correspond to a cylinder count, but in reality, both are 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines. Both are also mated to a mild hybrid system that gives improved low-end responsiveness and fuel economy. The numbers essentially just denote that one drivetrain is more powerful than the other, due to a difference in tuning.
Volvo B5 Drivetrain
The B5 is a widely used drivetrain, available in more Volvo vehicles than any other drivetrain. In almost all of these, it’s paired with an all-wheel drive system. The one exception is the S60, which is also available in front-wheel drive. This is something that those looking to maximize fuel efficiency should keep in mind.
B5 Fuel Economy
| S60 | V60 Cross Country | XC40 | XC60 | XC90 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Economy (city / highway / combined) | 26 / 35 / 30 | 24 / 31 / 27 | 24 / 30 / 26 | 22 / 28 / 25 | 22 / 27 / 24 |
Volvo B6 Drivetrain
The B6 is used only in the largest gasoline-powered Volvo vehicles, those with a “90” in their name, i.e. the S90, V90 Cross Country, and XC90. It produces more power than does the B5, but this comes at the cost of fuel economy. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s still a small drop from the more efficient B5. The combined fuel economy rating for the B5 XC90 is only 1 mpg higher than the B6 XC90.
B6 Fuel Economy
| S90 | V90 Cross Country | XC90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Economy (city / highway / combined) | 22 / 31 / 25 | 22 / 29 / 25 | 20 / 23 / 26 |
See – it’s not very confusing at all. The B5 and B6 gas-powered powertrains are both based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, with one sacrificing a small amount of fuel efficiency for more horsepower needed to accelerate our larger Volvo vehicles.