2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II carries less risk than the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v: 19/100 (low risk) versus 25/100 (moderate risk). The 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v has no documented serious faults; the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

Moderate risk · 0 serious faults

Risk index

1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II

Low risk · 0 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 2 November 202619 sources How we work

Is the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v reliable?

The 30-valve V6 engines of the Volkswagen Group (2.4, 2.8 and 3.0) have few documented faults: there are few owner reviews, and they mention coils, the thermostat and oil leaks. The most sensitive item is the timing belt, which on the 2.8 also drives the water pump: Audi and VW ask for it to be changed every 120,000 km, and the job takes 2.9 to 3.5 hours.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v faults

Is the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II reliable?

The 1.4 and 1.6 16v GM Daewoo E-TEC II (first-generation Lacetti/Optra and Aveo) have a timing belt and, according to the Polish press, a moderate fault record. Documented issues are faulty valves in the first units (2004-2005), lambda sensor faults and a few cases of oil leaks or oil consumption.^[5][6][7]

See the 3 of the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v and 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
Item	2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v	1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	136–220 hp	83–109 hp
Production	1996–2006^[8][9][10]	2004–2011^{[11][12][13][14][15]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	25Moderate risk	19Low risk
Documented faults	4	3
Of high or critical severity	0	0
Worst severity	Medium severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Timing belt, tensioner and water pump on the 30v V6 Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils Medium severity: Thermostat and water pump leaking or seized	Medium severity: Faulty valves and ignition faults in the first units (2004-2005) Low severity: Lambda sensor faults Low severity: Oil consumption and oil leaks
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.4 and 1.5 8v SOHC (Aveo, 2005-2011)^[7][15]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.4 V6 30v 136-170 hp (ALW, ARN, ASM, APZ, AMM, AJG, AGA, AML, ALF, APS, ARJ, BDV; 1997-2005)^[2][3] 2.8 V6 30v 190-193 hp (ACK, APR, AMX, AQD, ALG, ATQ, BBG; 1996-2006)^{[1][3][16][17][18]} 3.0 V6 30v 220 hp (ASN, AVK; 2000-2005)^[3][4]	1.4 16v DOHC 95-101 hp (F14D4/L95, 2004-2011)^[5][6][15] 1.6 16v DOHC 103-109 hp (L91/LXT, 2004-2011)^[6][15][19]
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

2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II

Other comparisons

With the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

With the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

Installation tips: changing timing belts. Detailed instructions for the 2.8L 30V engine in the Audi A4, A6, A8 and VW PassatContiTech (Power Transmission Group) · Technical documentation · published December 2010 · consulted 2 November 2026
Zahnriemenwechsel Audi » Intervalle • Kosten • WerkstättenFairGarage · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Audi A6 1997 - 2004 (186 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Audi A4 2001-2007 (446 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Chevrolet Lacetti 1.4 16V - Niełatwo zdobyć zaufanieAuto Świat · Motoring press · published 19 November 2007 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
Bez fajerwerków - Chevrolet Lacetti (2003-2010)AutoCentrum.pl · Motoring press · published 7 April 2012 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
Czy warto kupić: używany Chevrolet Aveo (od 2002 do 2011)AutoCentrum.pl · Motoring press · published 5 March 2013 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
List of discontinued Volkswagen Group petrol enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Audi A6 C5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Audi A6Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
GM Family 1 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Chevrolet LacettiWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Chevrolet LacettiWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Chevrolet Aveo (T200)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Używany Chevrolet Aveo T200/T250 - typowe awarie i problemyWP Autokult · Motoring press · published 28 January 2012 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen PASSAT 1996-2004 (310 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Skoda SUPERB 2002 - 2008 (47 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
2.8 V6 30V engine reliabilityMotorsforum · Owners' forum · published April 2006 · consulted 2 November 2026
W pierwszych silnikach 1,6 l przecierały się zawory (Chevrolet Lacetti)AutoCentrum.pl (usterki) · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language