1.3 TCe vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC carries less risk than the 1.3 TCe: 23/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (moderate risk). The 1.3 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault»; the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Camshaft wear and pitting on the 2.0 K20 (Accord VII, CR-V II, Civic)».

Risk index

1.3 TCe

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202615 sources How we work

Is the 1.3 TCe reliable?

The 1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T (H5Ht at Renault and Dacia, HR13DDT at Nissan, M282 at Mercedes-Benz), developed with Daimler since 2018, has a clearly better record than its predecessor, the 1.2 TCe: no oil consumption or chain problems have been documented. It had manufacturing defects that have since been corrected (injectors, calibration, turbo, timing) and, on the Captur II and Clio V, a fuel pump fuse failure with no confirmed official fix.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the 1.3 TCe faults

Is the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC reliable?

Naturally aspirated Honda petrol engines (K20/K24 and R20) with a timing chain. The only serious documented fault is camshaft wear in the early K20s (2003-2004); the R20A and K24Z show no serious faults in the sources consulted, and only isolated cases of oil consumption appear. The sample of testimonies is small.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

See the 2 of the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.3 TCe and 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
Item	1.3 TCe	2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,332 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	109–163 hp	150–200 hp
Production	since 2018^{[3][10][11][12]}	2001–2016^[13][14][15]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	36Moderate risk	23Low risk
Documented faults	5	2
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	High severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: Turbo actuator (wastegate) fault High severity: Blown fuel pump fuse Medium severity: Unstable idle, juddering and stalling caused by the injectors	High severity: Camshaft wear and pitting on the 2.0 K20 (Accord VII, CR-V II, Civic) Low severity: Excessive oil consumption on the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC engine
Most expensive documented repair	up to €700Turbo actuator (wastegate) faultPublished figure^[1][2]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 and Mild Hybrid (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, corrected production from 2020)^[1]	2.0 i-VTEC 156 and 2.4 i-VTEC 200 (K family, Accord VII)^[7] 2.4 i-VTEC 200 hp (K24Z, Accord VIII)^[6] 2.0 i-VTEC 156 hp (R20A, Accord VIII)^[6] 2.0 i-VTEC 150-155 hp (R20A, CR-V III and IV)^[4][5]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.3 TCe / 1.3 DIG-T 109-163 (H5Ht / HR13DDT / M282, first series 2018-2020)^[1]	2.0 i-VTEC Type R (K20Z, Civic VIII FN2)^[13]
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

1.3 TCe

See the 18 models with the 1.3 TCe

2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

See the 7 models with the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

Other comparisons

With the 1.3 TCe

With the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

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.

Renault-Dacia. Quel bilan fiabilité pour le moteur 1.3 TCe ?L'argus · Motoring press · published 5 April 2021 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité moteur 1.3 TCeAuto Platinium · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Honda CR-V III: averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Honda CR-V IV: averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Honda Accord (2008-2015): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Honda Accord (2003-2008): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Honda Accord 8: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
Honda CR-V RM: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes-Benz M282 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Renault Scenic Zen TCe 103 kW (140 CV) GPF (2020-2021): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Honda K engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Honda R engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Honda AccordWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish