1.6 dCi vs 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi carries less risk than the 1.6 dCi: 38/100 versus 48/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.6 dCi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Premature turbocharger failure or breakage»; the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi)».

Risk index

1.6 dCi

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202618 sources How we work

Is the 1.6 dCi reliable?

The 1.6 dCi (R9M) is a diesel with a generally reasonable track record, but with well-documented known faults: the turbo fails relatively often, even at low mileage, the EGR valve clogs, the particulate filter can block up on short journeys, and there are cases of oil leaks from the timing chain cover that go as far as requiring the engine to be removed.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.6 dCi faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi reliable?

The R family groups the 2.0 CRDi (D4HA, 136-185 hp) of the compact SUVs (Tucson, ix35, Sportage) and the 2.2 CRDi (D4HB, 197-202 hp) of the large ones (Santa Fe, Sorento): Bosch common rail, variable-geometry turbo and chain-driven timing. The 2.2 CRDi can suffer high oil consumption from 100,000 km in the Santa Fe and a turbo that is expensive to repair between 100,000-150,000 km in the Sorento; for the 2.0 CRDi we have not found sources with a specific serious fault.^[5][6][7]

See the 3 of the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 dCi and 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
Item	1.6 dCi	2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,598 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	95–165 hp	136–202 hp
Production	2011–2020^{[2][8][9][10][11]}	since 2009^{[5][12][13][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	48Moderate risk	38Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	3
Of high or critical severity	2	2
Worst severity	High severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: Premature turbocharger failure or breakage High severity: Oil leak from the timing chain cover Medium severity: Blocked or failed EGR valve	High severity: High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi) High severity: Variable-geometry turbo failure from 100,000-150,000 km (2.2 CRDi) Medium severity: Particulate filter (DPF) clogged by short journeys
Most expensive documented repair	up to €3,000Premature turbocharger failure or breakagePublished figure^[17]	up to €1,600High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi)Published figure^[6]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.6 dCi in Mercedes-Benz (OM 622/OM 626, 115 and 136 hp, 2014-2018)^[9]	2.0 CRDi (D4HA, 136-185 hp, Tucson/ix35/Sportage, 2010-2021)^[5]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.6 dCi Euro 5 (110 and 130 hp, 2011-2015)^[1][2] 1.6 Energy dCi Euro 6 with NOx trap (130 and 160/165 hp, 2015-2019)^{[1][2][3][4][18]} 1.6 dCi for vans (95, 115, 125 and 145 hp, Trafic III/Vivaro B/Talento, 2014-2020)^[11]	2.2 CRDi (D4HB, 197-202 hp, Santa Fe/Sorento, 2010-2020)^[6][7]
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 dCi

See the 15 models with the 1.6 dCi

2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

See the 8 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 dCi

With the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

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.

Fiabilité Renault Espace 5 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Renault Kadjar : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Nissan Qashqai 2 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Nissan X-Trail 3 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Hyundai R engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Hyundai Santa Fe: fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Sorento: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Nuevo Renault Energy dCi 130 CVCoches.net · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Mercedes-Benz OM 622 / OM 626Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Renault EspaceWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Renault TraficWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Hyundai ix35Wikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Hyundai TucsonWikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Kia SportageWikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Hyundai Santa FeWikipedia (es.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia SorentoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Las 10 averías del coche más caras en 2026: cuánto cuesta cada reparaciónMotorpoint · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Si no hubo fraude, ¿por qué 15.000 Renault Captur y Espace serán revisados por un nivel de emisiones excesivo?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 19 January 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish