1.6 CRDi vs Td5 2.5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Td5 2.5 carries less risk than the 1.6 CRDi: 29/100 (moderate risk) versus 70/100 (high risk). The 1.6 CRDi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «MHSG belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley failure (48V mild hybrid)»; the Td5 2.5 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall)».

Risk index

1.6 CRDi

High risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

Td5 2.5

Moderate 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 2 November 202622 sources How we work

Is the 1.6 CRDi reliable?

The U2 D4FB (2009-2018) is a generally robust diesel if well maintained, with known turbo failures in the early units and timing chain problems from 120,000-150,000 km. Its successor, the Smartstream (U3 D4FE, from 2018), has a good reputation, except in the 48V mild hybrid version, which has a belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley fault that can destroy the engine.^[1][2][3]

See the 6 of the 1.6 CRDi faults

Is the Td5 2.5 reliable?

The Td5 is the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder diesel fitted to the Defender from 1998 to 2007 (and to the Discovery II). Land Rover Hub considers it the best diesel the Defender ever had and as reliable as the Tdi; the documented issues are the flywheel recall on the first Td5s and contamination of the injector wiring.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 2 of the Td5 2.5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 CRDi and Td5 2.5
Item	1.6 CRDi	Td5 2.5
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,582 cm³	2,495 cm³
Timing	Chain	Gears
Power	90–136 hp	122–139 hp
Production	since 2009^{[1][8][9][10]}	1998–2007^{[11][12][13][14][15]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	70High risk	29Moderate risk
Documented faults	6	2
Of high or critical severity	4	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: MHSG belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley failure (48V mild hybrid) Critical severity: Timing chain stretch High severity: Premature variable-geometry turbo (VGT) failure	High severity: Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall) Medium severity: Injector wiring contamination and Td5 control unit failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,800Particulate filter (DPF) blocked in urban usePublished figure^[16]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	Smartstream 1.6 CRDi U3 (D4FE, 115-136 hp, without mild hybrid, from 2018)^[2][17]	Td5 122 hp, 15P engines (Defender, 2002-2007)^[4][6][7]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.6 CRDi U2 (D4FB, 90-136 hp, sold in Spain from 2010 to ~2018)^[1][18][19] Smartstream 1.6 CRDi 48V mild hybrid (D4FE MHEV, 136 hp, from ~2019)^[3][20]	Td5 122 hp, 10P engines (Defender, 1998-2002)^[5][6][21] Td5 139 hp (Discovery II, 1998-2004)^[22]
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

1.6 CRDi

See the 18 models with the 1.6 CRDi

Td5 2.5

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 CRDi

With the Td5 2.5

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

Motor Kia y Hyundai 1.6 CRDI (D4FB): ficha tecnica, problemas y tuningMotordinámico · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Ceed III: Bekannte Probleme & RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Kia / Hyundai 1.6 CRDi MHEV Engine FailuresDOHC (especialista en reconstrucción de motores) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
Defender Engines ratedLand Rover Hub (Land Rover Monthly) · Motoring press · published 1 January 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026
How to buy a Land Rover 90, 110 & Defender (1983-2016)Haynes Manuals UK · Technical documentation · published January 2017 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender review: common repair issues (AA Mechanic)The AA · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
Hyundai U engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Hyundai Smartstream engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Hyundai i30 Kombi 1.6 CRDi 48V-Mildhybrid Trend (10/20-01/22): Technische Daten, Bilder, PreiseADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Kia Ceed 1.6 Crdi Problemas | Fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Ceed im TÜV-Check 2026: Schwachstellen, Mängel und ProblemeAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Kia and Hyundai 1.6 CRDI (D4FB) engineEngineDNA · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Best Hyundai Kia 1.6 CRDI Mods & Upgrades Guide to D4FB TuningTorqueCars · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
KIA SPORTAGE 2023 - vehicle recallsGOV.UK (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) · Official body · consulted 26 September 2026
Land Rover Defender Buying GuideHeritage Parts Centre · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Discovery: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026