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M50 and M52 vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet carries less risk than the M50 and M52: 6/100 (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 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

M50 and M52

52

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

6

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

21 sourcesHow 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 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet reliable?

The Suzuki Boosterjet (1.0 K10C and 1.4 K14C/K14D) is a turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine with a timing chain, fitted since 2015 to the Vitara, S-Cross, Swift Sport and Baleno, with a 48 V mild-hybrid variant of the 1.4 since 2020. German TÜV inspection reports and the workshops we consulted rate its reliability as high: no widespread fault with the chain, oil, fuel pump or mild-hybrid system is documented.[4][5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M50 and M52 and 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
M50 and M521.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power150–193 hp110–140 hp
Production1990–2001[9][10][11][12]since 2015[4][13][14][15]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)52High risk6Low risk
Documented faults54
Of high or critical severity20
Worst severityCritical severityLow severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Cooling system failure (expansion tank, thermostat, pump and radiator)
  2. Critical severity: Premature cylinder wear (Nikasil coating)
  3. Medium severity: Worn VANOS seals
  1. Low severity: Timing chain: no documented pattern of failures
  2. Low severity: Oil consumption: no documented pattern
  3. Low severity: Direct injection and fuel pump: no documented faults or recalls
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
  • 1.0 Boosterjet 110-112 hp (K10C, three-cylinder, 2015-present)[5][6][16][17]
  • 1.4 Boosterjet 140 hp (K14C, non-hybrid, 2015-2020 in Europe)[5][6][18]
  • 1.4 Boosterjet Mild Hybrid 129 hp (K14D, 48V SHVS, since 2020)[14][15]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • M50B20, 2.0 litre (150 hp; 1990-1995)[19][20]
  • M50B25, 2.5 litre (192 hp; 1990-1995)[19][20]
  • M52B20, 2.0 litre (150 hp; 1994-1999)[10][19]
  • M52B25, 2.5 litre (170 hp; 1995-1999)[10][19]
  • M52B28, 2.8 litre (193 hp; 1995-1999)[10][19][21]
  • M52TUB20, 2.0 litre (150 hp; 1998-2001)[9][19]
  • M52TUB25, 2.5 litre (170 hp; 1998-2000)[9][19]
  • M52TUB28, 2.8 litre (193 hp; 1998-2001)[3][9][19]
None
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

M50 and M52

1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

See the 12 models with the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

Other comparisons

With the M50 and M52

With the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

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. BMW 3 Series E36 320i (M52B20): reliabilityEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  2. BMW M52 reliabilityAutoscore · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  3. BMW M52 Engine: Performance, Reliability, and TuningBMWBlog · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
  4. Suzuki K engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Gebrauchtwagen-Check: Grundsätzlich gut: Der Suzuki Vitara beim TÜVVolksstimme (dpa) · General press · published January 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  6. Suzuki Swift als Gebrauchtwagen: Diese Punkte beanstandet der TÜV häufigT-Online · General press · published October 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Los mecánicos recomiendan el Suzuki Vitara porque no presume de moderno, sino de sencillo y baratoEl Nacional · General press · published September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Test complet Suzuki VitaraFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. BMW M52Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  10. BMW M52Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  11. BMW M50Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  12. BMW M50Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  13. Suzuki motor KWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Suzuki Swift Sport, Vitara y S-Cross: nuevas versiones micro-híbridas de 48VAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 16 December 2019 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Suzuki S-Cross 1.4 Boosterjet Mild Hybrid 2020: precios y datos del nuevo SUVAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 12 March 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Suzuki Vitara : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  17. Suzuki Swift 3 : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  18. Prueba Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Boosterjet 140 CVActualidad Motor · Motoring press · published 16 May 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  19. BMW M50 / M52: problemas conocidosEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  20. Der BMW M50 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  21. BMW Z3 Reliability Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before BuyingEuro Premium Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026