Skip to content
MotorFiable
en

1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.5 EcoBoost: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI carries less risk than the 1.5 EcoBoost: 23/100 (low risk) versus 43/100 (moderate risk). The 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI has no documented serious faults; the 1.5 EcoBoost has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)».

Risk index

1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI

23

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.5 EcoBoost

43

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

24 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI reliable?

The three-cylinder 1.0 TSI has a reputation for being robust and has no systematic serious faults. The 2017–2019 1.5 TSI evo suffered cold-start jerking at low speed, which Volkswagen corrected with software between 2019 and 2020; later units and the 2022 evo2 are more mature. Watch for coolant leaks and check the 2019 and 2020 recalls.[1][2][3][4][5]

See the 5 of the 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI faults

Is the 1.5 EcoBoost reliable?

These are two engines with the same name. The four-cylinder (2014-2019: Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max) has documented cases of coolant loss through a microcrack in the block, which can end in a new engine. The three-cylinder Dragon (from 2018) has hardly any mechanical faults cited, but the Kuga has been recalled several times because an injector can crack and cause a fuel leak with a fire risk.[6][7][8][9]

See the 2 of the 1.5 EcoBoost faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI and 1.5 EcoBoost
1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI1.5 EcoBoost
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement—1,498 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Chain
Power82–150 hp120–200 hp
Productionsince 2014[10][11][12][13][14]since 2014[15][16][17][18][19]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)23Low risk43Moderate risk
Documented faults52
Of high or critical severity02
Worst severityMedium severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: Coolant leaks from the water pump and thermostat module
  2. Low severity: Cold jerking at low speed ("kangaroo effect") on the 1.5 TSI evo
  3. Medium severity: Lack of torque on starting in the manual 150 hp 1.5 TSI (2019 recall)
  1. Critical severity: Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)
  2. Critical severity: Fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.0 TSI EA211 (CHZ, DKL, DKR; 2014 onwards)[1][2][5]
  • 1.0 TSI / 1.0 eTSI evo (DLAA, DLAB; 2020 onwards)[1][12]
  • 1.5 TSI / 1.5 eTSI evo 114/130/150 hp (DPCA, DPBC; built from 2020)[1][20]
  • 1.5 TSI / 1.5 eTSI evo2 116/150 hp (DXDB, DNKA; 2022 onwards)[1][21]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.5 TSI evo 130/150 hp (DACA, DADA, DPBA; 2017–2019)[1][3][4]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder 120/150/160/182 hp (Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max, S-Max, Galaxy, 2014-2019)[6][7]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon 3-cylinder 120/150/182 hp (Kuga III and Focus IV, from 2018)[8][9][22][23]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost ST 200 hp (Fiesta ST 2018-2023 and Puma ST, code YZJA)[8][17][24]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI

See the 42 models with the 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI

1.5 EcoBoost

See the 10 models with the 1.5 EcoBoost

Other comparisons

With the 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI

With the 1.5 EcoBoost

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Zuverlässigkeit der TSI-Motoren von 1.0 bis 2.0: welche Jahrgänge und Generationen Probleme machenAutohled · Motoring press · published 15 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  2. VW EA211: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 26 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  3. ¿Tu motor 1.5 TSI de Volkswagen sufre de tirones en frío? Llegan novedadesMotor.es · Motoring press · published 5 September 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. VW, Seat und Skoda: Rückruf wegen Motorsoftware-Updatekfz-betrieb (Vogel Communications) · Motoring press · published 30 September 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  5. Rückruf bei VW, Seat und Skoda: Neue Einspritzanlage für TSI-Motorkfz-betrieb (Vogel Communications) · Motoring press · published 29 July 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  6. Ford Mondeo V - Auto ReviewANWB · Consumer association · published 2 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Dutch
  7. Ford EcoBoost Probleme und Haltbarkeitgebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  8. Rückruf: Bei diesen Ford-Modellen besteht BrandgefahrADAC · Motoring press · published 2 February 2026 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  9. Rückruf Ford Kuga: Brandgefahr wegen defekter Einspritzventileauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 3 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  10. VW EA211Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  11. VW EA211 evoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  12. The compact all-rounder: TSI evo engine with a capacity of 1.0 and 1.5 litresVolkswagen Newsroom · Manufacturer · published 8 December 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026
  13. Golf eTSI, Golf eHybrid and Golf GTE – International Media Drive (dossier de prensa)Volkswagen AG · Manufacturer · published August 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026
  14. Prueba de consumo (251): VW Golf Evo 1.5-TSI ACT 150 CV DSG Sport R-Line 5pkm77 · Motoring press · published 22 January 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Ford EcoBoost engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  16. Ford EcoBoostWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  17. Every Ford Powered By The 1.5L EcoBoost 'Dragon'SlashGear · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026
  18. Ford Kuga Titanium 1.5 EcoBoost Auto-Start-Stop 150 CV 4x2 (2014-2016): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  19. Ford Kuga MK3 2019-2026 Probleme und Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  20. Efecto canguro, el problema de los tirones en frío de los motores 1.5 TSI del Grupo VolkswagenSeis en Línea · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  21. Volkswagen EA211 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  22. Trois problèmes avec le Ford Kuga : jauge de carburant, injecteurs et toit panoramique défectueuxcar-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  23. Tous les problèmes sur Ford FOCUS 4 2018 (93 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  24. YZJA engine (Ford 1.5 EcoBoost)Motorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026