The manufacturing of 5 cyl models started 1/1999. Many testers say that the road handling is better with a L5 engine under the hood because it is 100 kg lighter than the L6 engine. I have driven both of them and I must say that the difference is quite marginal (170 hp l5 vs. 204 hp l6). Both of them are short of torque on lower revs. But this problem has been totally cured when Volvo introduced S80 with a low pressure turbo line 5 engine (200 hp) last summer. It is by my knowledge the best alternative of all engines. Of course it doesn´t deliver the rocket like power of T6 if you need that...

Hannu M