1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI carries less risk than the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI: 7/100 (low risk) versus 84/100 (very high risk). The 1.2 and 1.4 TSI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)»; the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI 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 1.2 and 1.4 TSI reliable?
It depends on the generation. The chain-driven 1.2 and 1.4 TSI EA111 engines (2006-2015) carry a recognised problem of chain stretch and tensioner failure, and the 1.4 twincharger engines from before 2012 can break pistons. The belt-driven EA211 engines (from 2012) are considerably more reliable: their typical fault is a leaking water pump.[1][2][3][4][5]
See the 5 of the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI faultsIs the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI reliable?
MG/SAIC's "1.5" covers two different engines: the naturally aspirated VTi-TECH (106 hp), the entry-level engine in the MG ZS, and the turbocharged T-GDI (162-170 hp), found only in the MG HS and as the petrol engine in its plug-in hybrids. Neither has well-documented engine faults in independent sources yet: the complaints published concern electronics, the automatic gearbox and finish, not the engine block.[6][7][8][9][10][11]
See the 2 of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 and 1.4 TSI | 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | — |
| Timing | Chain | Chain |
| Power | 85–185 hp | 106–170 hp |
| Production | since 2006[12][13][14][15][16] | since 2017[6][7][17][18][19] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 84Very high risk | 7Low risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 2 |
| Of high or critical severity | 3 | 0 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | Low severity |
| Main faults |
| |
| Most expensive documented repair | up to €1,400Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)Published figure[20][21] | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions |
| |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | ||
| AvoidVersions to avoid | 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
1.2 and 1.4 TSI
See the 34 models with the 1.2 and 1.4 TSIOther comparisons
With the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW B58
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW M54
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N13
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N20
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M111
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M264/M254
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M260
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M271
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M272/M273
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs M270/M274
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 and 1.4 TSI vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW B58
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW M54
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW N13
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW N20
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs MZR gasolina
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs M111
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs M112 / M113
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs M264/M254
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs M260
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs M271
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs M272/M273
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs M270/M274
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 THP
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 16v
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Rover K-Series
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.2 12V
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI 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.
- VW 1.2 TSI & 1.4 TSI Steuerkette: VW kassiert Kulanz-VersprechenAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 1 June 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Probleme und Schwachstellen beim 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI (EA111)Gebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · published 1 September 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- VW EA211: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · published 26 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Volkswagen CAVD 1.4 Litre TSI Engine ProblemsGrant Walker (taller, Australia) · Other source · published 28 June 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026
- VW Golf 7: Probleme, Mängel & Schwachstellencarwiki.de · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- MG ZS (crossover)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- MG HSWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Essai complet : MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du MG eHSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- MG HS PHEV: guía definitiva de problemas y soluciones del SUV, el híbrido enchufable más vendidoAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 10 November 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Self-Study Programme 359: 1.4l TSI Engine with Dual-chargingVolkswagen AG (copia alojada en volkspage.net) · Manufacturer · published March 2006 · consulted 26 September 2026
- Volkswagen EA111 engine (1.2 TSI/TFSI)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- Volkswagen EA211 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- Audi A1Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
- International Driving Presentation of the new Polo BlueGTVolkswagen Newsroom · Manufacturer · published 2 July 2012 · consulted 26 September 2026
- MG HSWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- MG HSWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- List of General Motors enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Coste de cambiar la cadena de distribución: guía VW Audi TSISkanyx · Other source · published 25 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Problemas en la cadena de distribución: casos y costeGT Autos (Málaga) · Other source · published 22 December 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
- VW: Austritt von Motoröl möglichautoservicepraxis.de · Motoring press · published 16 August 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- Bei älteren VW 1.2 TSi-Motoren: Gefahr einer Längung der Steuerkettefebi bilstein (blog técnico) · Technical documentation · published 28 January 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- ADAC Pannenstatistik 2019 (anexo: defectos por encima de la media por modelo)ADAC e.V. · Reliability study · published 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
- MG – Common problems (llamadas a revisión de la UE y del Reino Unido)car-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
- MG HS SUV (2019-2024) Exclusive 1.5T-GDI 5d: opinión de propietario (10 jun 2022)Parkers · Owners' forum · published 10 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
- Bulletin – Volkswagen 1.4 Piston FailureSouthside Cylinder Heads (taller, Australia) · Other source · published 6 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026