M50 and M52 vs Honda IMA híbrido: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda IMA híbrido carries less risk than the M50 and M52: 21/100 (low risk) versus 52/100 (high risk). The M50 and M52 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cooling system failure (expansion tank, thermostat, pump and radiator)»; the Honda IMA híbrido has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)».

Risk index

M50 and M52

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

Honda IMA híbrido

Low 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 2 November 202622 sources How we work

Is the M50 and M52 reliable?

The M52 and its predecessor the M50 are six-cylinder petrol engines that the sources describe as durable: Enginescope considers 300,000 km routine with the cooling circuit looked after. Watch the plastic cooling parts, VANOS, crankcase ventilation and oil leaks and, in the aluminium-block M52s built from 1995 to March 1998, cylinder wear caused by sulphur (Nikasil).^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the M50 and M52 faults

Is the Honda IMA híbrido reliable?

Honda's IMA hybrid system (Insight II, Jazz Hybrid, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid) has a good reputation for reliability in the British press, and its documented weak point is the ageing of the high-voltage battery, which turns on the IMA warning light. There were also two one-off campaigns: the DC/DC converter on the 2006 Civic Hybrid and the CR-Z software.^[4][5][6]

See the 3 of the Honda IMA híbrido faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M50 and M52 and Honda IMA híbrido
Item	M50 and M52	Honda IMA híbrido
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	150–193 hp	88–132 hp
Production	1990–2001^{[7][8][9][10]}	1999–2016^{[5][11][12][13][14]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	52High risk	21Low risk
Documented faults	5	3
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: Cooling system failure (expansion tank, thermostat, pump and radiator) Critical severity: Premature cylinder wear (Nikasil coating) Medium severity: Worn VANOS seals	Medium severity: High-voltage IMA battery degradation and IMA warning light on High severity: IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006) Medium severity: CR-Z IMA hybrid system software: the car may move when the engine stalls
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.3 i-VTEC IMA 98 (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Insight II, 2009-2014)^[5][6] 1.3 i-VTEC IMA (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Jazz Hybrid, 2011-2015)^[5][15][16] 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 132 (LEA1, CR-Z with lithium-ion battery, 2013-2016)^[14][17]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M50B20, 2.0 litre (150 hp; 1990-1995)^[18][19] M50B25, 2.5 litre (192 hp; 1990-1995)^[18][19] M52B20, 2.0 litre (150 hp; 1994-1999)^[8][18] M52B25, 2.5 litre (170 hp; 1995-1999)^[8][18] M52B28, 2.8 litre (193 hp; 1995-1999)^[8][18][20] M52TUB20, 2.0 litre (150 hp; 1998-2001)^[7][18] M52TUB25, 2.5 litre (170 hp; 1998-2000)^[7][18] M52TUB28, 2.8 litre (193 hp; 1998-2001)^[3][7][18]	1.3 i-DSI IMA 110 (LDA-MF5 / LDA2, Civic Hybrid VIII, 2006-2011)^[4][21][22] 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 123 (LEA1 / LEA-MF6, CR-Z with NiMH battery, 2010-2012)^[4][14][17]
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

M50 and M52

Honda IMA híbrido

Other comparisons

With the M50 and M52

With the Honda IMA híbrido

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.

BMW 3 Series E36 320i (M52B20): reliabilityEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW M52 reliabilityAutoscore · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW M52 Engine: Performance, Reliability, and TuningBMWBlog · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
Used Honda Insight Mk2 buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 24 October 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026
Honda Insight (2009 - 2014) used car reviewRAC · Motoring press · published 13 February 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
BMW M52Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW M52Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
BMW M50Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
BMW M50Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Integrated Motor AssistWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Honda CR-ZWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Used Honda CR-Z buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 31 October 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026
Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Used Honda CR-Z reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 14 August 2016 · consulted 8 October 2026
BMW M50 / M52: problemas conocidosEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Der BMW M50 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
BMW Z3 Reliability Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before BuyingEuro Premium Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 22 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German