1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v: which engine is more reliable?
The 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI and the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v tie on our risk index: 23/100 (low risk). The 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI has no documented serious faults; the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v has no documented serious faults.
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
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 faultsIs the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v reliable?
The 1.6 and 1.8 16v Ecotec (Z16XER/A16XER, Z18XER/A18XER) that Opel fitted between 2005 and 2015 to the Astra H and J, Zafira B, Vectra C and Insignia A have a reputation as reliable naturally aspirated engines: the sources consulted document no serious faults or failure patterns, only minor problems such as ignition coils and, on the 1.8, leaks from the oil cooler or thermostat.[6][7][8][9]
See the 3 of the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI | 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | — |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 82–150 hp | 115–140 hp |
| Production | since 2014[10][11][12][13][14] | 2005–2015[15][16][17][18] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 23Low risk | 23Low risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 3 |
| Of high or critical severity | 0 | 0 |
| Worst severity | Medium severity | Medium severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | ||
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | None | |
| AvoidVersions to avoid | None | None |
Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them
Cars that each one is fitted to
Other comparisons
With the 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW B58
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW M54
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW N13
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW N20
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs MZR gasolina
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs M111
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs M112 / M113
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs M264/M254
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs M260
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs M271
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs M272/M273
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs M270/M274
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 THP
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 16v
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Rover K-Series
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 12V
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW B58
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW M54
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW N13
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW N20
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs M111
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs M112 / M113
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs M264/M254
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs M260
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs M271
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs M272/M273
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs M270/M274
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 16v
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- 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
- VW EA211: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 26 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- ¿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
- VW, Seat und Skoda: Rückruf wegen Motorsoftware-Updatekfz-betrieb (Vogel Communications) · Motoring press · published 30 September 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- Opel Insignia A – Typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité Opel Astra (H): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Opel Zafira 2 (B): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Opel Insignia (A): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- VW EA211Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- VW EA211 evoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- Golf eTSI, Golf eHybrid and Golf GTE – International Media Drive (dossier de prensa)Volkswagen AG · Manufacturer · published August 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026
- 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
- Opel Astra HWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Opel ZafiraWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Opel Astra JWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Opel Astra J – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- Volkswagen EA211 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- Opel Vectra C: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German