1.6 TDI vs 2.0/2.2 D-4D: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 TDI carries less risk than the 2.0/2.2 D-4D: 45/100 (moderate risk) versus 77/100 (very high risk). The 1.6 TDI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing belt and water pump»; the 2.0/2.2 D-4D has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Warped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D».

Risk index

1.6 TDI

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

2.0/2.2 D-4D

Very high risk · 1 serious fault

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202620 sources How 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 2.0/2.2 D-4D reliable?

No: the 2.0/2.2 D-4D family is among the most problematic Toyota diesels. The 2.2 block (2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV D-CAT) has a large number of cases of warped cylinder head gaskets and oil consumption or dilution in the Avensis, RAV4, Auris, Corolla Verso and Verso; the EGR valve and injectors fail frequently across the whole family, and the D-CAT filter clogs up if the car is not driven regularly on open roads.^[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the 2.0/2.2 D-4D faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 TDI and 2.0/2.2 D-4D
Item	1.6 TDI	2.0/2.2 D-4D
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,598 cm³	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	75–120 hp	116–177 hp
Production	since 2009^[3][4][9]	2005–2018^{[10][11][12][13][14]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	45Moderate risk	77Very high risk
Documented faults	5	4
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	High severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and air flow stabiliser High severity: Timing belt and water pump High severity: Variable-geometry turbo seized or with play	Critical severity: Warped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D Medium severity: EGR valve clogged with soot Medium severity: Injector wear and failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €3,000Clogged particulate filter (DPF)Published figure^[15][16]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.6 TDI EA288 (from 2012)^[1][17]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.6 TDI common rail EA189 (2009-2015)^[1][2]	2.0 D-4D (1AD-FTV, 116-126 hp, 2005-2018)^[5][18]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	2.2 D-4D (2AD-FTV, 136-150 hp, 2005-2015)^{[5][6][7][8][18][19][20]} 2.2 D-4D D-CAT (2AD-FHV, 174-177 hp, 2005-2015)^[6][18][19]

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

2.0/2.2 D-4D

See the 9 models with the 2.0/2.2 D-4D

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 TDI

With the 2.0/2.2 D-4D

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Sources

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

Escándalo de emisiones contaminantes de vehículos VolkswagenWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Información sobre el motor EA189Volkswagen España · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Toyota Avensis (2003-2009) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Avensis (2008-2018) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota RAV4 (2006-2012) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota RAV4 (2013-2019) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
List of Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Toyota AD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota AvensisWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota AvensisWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Toyota AurisWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota VersoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Filtro de partículas: ¿mejor limpiar o sustituir?Autofácil · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
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
Toyota Auris (2007-2012) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Corolla Verso : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Verso : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French