1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI vs 1.2 16v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI carries less risk than the 1.2 16v: 23/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (moderate risk). The 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI has no documented serious faults; the 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss».
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 1.2 16v reliable?
The 1.2 16v (D4F) and its 8-valve predecessor, the D7F, are simple naturally aspirated engines, used for over two decades as the entry-level option in Renault and Dacia cars, with a reputation for reliability: the reliability pages consulted document no catastrophic failures and no oil consumption. The most-cited problems are ignition coils and sensors and, on higher-mileage cars, the head gasket.[6][7][8][9]
See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI | 1.2 16v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 82–150 hp | 60–76 hp |
| Production | since 2014[10][11][12][13][14] | 2001–2020[15][16][17][18] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 23Low risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 0 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Medium severity | High 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 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 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 1.8 TCe
- 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 1.2 16v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 16v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 16v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 16v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 16v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 16v vs M111
- 1.2 16v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 16v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 16v vs M260
- 1.2 16v vs M271
- 1.2 16v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 16v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 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
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Maxi-fiche fiabilité : la Renault Twingo 2Caradisiac · 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
- Moteur D RenaultWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · 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
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault KangooFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia LoganFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia SanderoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French