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MotorFiable

1.6 TDI vs TDV6 / SDV6: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 TDI carries less risk than the TDV6 / SDV6: 45/100 versus 46/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.6 TDI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing belt and water pump»; the TDV6 / SDV6 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Crankshaft breakage and spinning main bearing shells».

Risk index

1.6 TDI

45

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

TDV6 / SDV6

46

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

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

13 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.6 TDI reliable?

It depends on the generation. The EA189 (2009-2015, 75-105 hp) is one of the dieselgate engines: it needs the software update and, unlike the 2.0 TDI, an air flow stabiliser, on top of the typical EGR, particulate filter and turbo faults. The later EA288 (from 2012, 80-120 hp) is not singled out by the scandal, but it shares the need to keep an eye on the timing belt and the water pump.[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.6 TDI faults

Is the TDV6 / SDV6 reliable?

The Land Rover and Jaguar TDV6/SDV6 diesel V6 engines, shared with Peugeot and Citroën, have a serious documented fault: crankshaft and main bearing shells on the 3.0, and the belt-driven oil pump on the 2.7. Insist on a service history and weigh up the repair cost before buying.[5][6][7]

See the 3 of the TDV6 / SDV6 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 TDI and TDV6 / SDV6
1.6 TDITDV6 / SDV6
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,598 cm³2,720 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Wet belt (belt-in-oil)
Power75–120 hp188–302 hp
Productionsince 2009[3][4][8]2004–2018[9]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)45Moderate risk46Moderate risk
Documented faults53
Of high or critical severity22
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and air flow stabiliser
  2. High severity: Timing belt and water pump
  3. High severity: Variable-geometry turbo seized or with play
  1. Critical severity: Crankshaft breakage and spinning main bearing shells
  2. Critical severity: Broken oil pump housing and timing belt jumping on the 2.7
  3. Medium severity: Turbo and pneumatic actuator failure on the 3.0 TDV6/SDV6
Most expensive documented repairup to €3,000Clogged particulate filter (DPF)Published figure[10][11]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.6 TDI common rail EA189 (2009-2015)[1][2]
  • 2.7 TDV6 (276DT/DT17, 2004-2010)[7][13]
  • 3.0 TDV6/SDV6 (306DT, 2009-2018)[5][6]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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 TDI

See the 26 models with the 1.6 TDI

TDV6 / SDV6

See the 15 models with the TDV6 / SDV6

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 TDI

With the TDV6 / SDV6

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.

  1. Escándalo de emisiones contaminantes de vehículos VolkswagenWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Información sobre el motor EA189Volkswagen España · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  4. VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  5. Land Rover Discovery TDV6 engine failures making headlinesLandyOnline · Other source · published October 2015 · consulted 5 October 2026
  6. Land Rover & Jaguar SDV6/TDV6 Crankshaft RepairJLR Engines · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
  7. Land Rover 2.7 TDV6 Timing Belt Replacement GuideBudget Parts (roverparts.eu) · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
  8. List of Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  9. Ford AJD-V6/PSA DT17 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  10. Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Filtro de partículas: ¿mejor limpiar o sustituir?Autofácil · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Bomba de agua del coche: la avería de más de 1.500 euros que arrastra la correa de distribuciónMotor16 · Motoring press · published 21 September 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. TdV6 Timing BeltLes Richmond Automotive (lrautomotive.com.au) · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026