2.0 TSI / TFSI vs Drive-E gasolina: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Drive-E gasolina carries less risk than the 2.0 TSI / TFSI: 43/100 (moderate risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The 2.0 TSI / TFSI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «High oil consumption»; the Drive-E gasolina has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «High oil consumption that can damage the turbo».

Risk index

2.0 TSI / TFSI

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

Drive-E gasolina

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 27 September 202616 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 TSI / TFSI reliable?

It depends above all on the generation. The earliest units (2008-2012, without Valvelift) have more oil consumption complaints and somewhat more chain and tensioner wear; from 2012 the Valvelift design reduced oil consumption but kept carbon build-up on the intake valves as a weak point until, around 2016, supplementary indirect injection was added. The thermostat housing with the integrated water pump leaks coolant in several generations.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 5 of the 2.0 TSI / TFSI faults

Is the Drive-E gasolina reliable?

The Volvo Drive-E petrol engine (2.0-litre 4-cylinder T2-T6/B4-B5 and, since 2018, 1.5-litre 3-cylinder T2-T3/B3) powers almost the entire Volvo range since 2013. Owners mainly document high oil consumption that can damage the turbo, carbon build-up on the intake valves caused by direct injection, and the odd coolant reservoir leak; we have not found Volvo acknowledging these faults with a campaign of its own for the petrol engine.^[6][7][8]

See the 4 of the Drive-E gasolina faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 TSI / TFSI and Drive-E gasolina
Item	2.0 TSI / TFSI	Drive-E gasolina
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,984 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	170–320 hp	122–320 hp
Production	since 2008^[1][9]	since 2013^{[6][7][8][10][11][12]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	43Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	4
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: High oil consumption Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner wear Medium severity: Carbon build-up on the intake valves	High severity: High oil consumption that can damage the turbo Medium severity: Carbon build-up on injectors and intake valves due to direct injection Medium severity: Leak from the expansion tank or faulty cap in the cooling system
Most expensive documented repair	up to €4,000High oil consumptionPublished figure^[13]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 3B / evo, with added indirect injection (2016 onwards, 190-320 hp)^[1][5][14]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 1, without Valvelift (2008-2012, 170-220 hp)^{[2][3][14][15]} 2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 2/3, with Valvelift and direct injection only (2012-2016, 180-230 hp)^[2][3][14]	2.0 T2/T3/T4/T5/T6 and B4/B5 mild hybrid 4-cylinder (B4204T, Drive-E, 2013-present)^[6][7][8] 1.5 T2/T3 and B3 mild hybrid 3-cylinder (B3154T, Drive-E, since 2018)^[11][12][16]
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

2.0 TSI / TFSI

See the 42 models with the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

Drive-E gasolina

See the 10 models with the Drive-E gasolina

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

With the Drive-E gasolina

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Sources

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

Volkswagen EA888 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Fiabilité Volkswagen (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Audi (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Motores TFSI: características, ventajas e inconvenientesAutofácil · Motoring press · published 18 May 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor 2.0 TFSI 190 CV (ficha técnica)km77 · Technical documentation · published 13 May 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Fiabilité et pannes Volvo XC60 (2008-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Volvo XC60 II (ab 2017) – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published November 2022 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Volvo V90 – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published January 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Audi TTWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Volvo Engine ArchitectureWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiabilité et pannes Volvo V40Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Volvo XC40 (seit 2017) – Typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published March 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Tu coche quema aceite: 6 señales de alarma y la solución definitiva para salvar tu motorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 19 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Témoignages fiabilité Audifiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Témoignages fiabilité Volkswagenfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes Volvo V60Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French