1.4 T-Jet vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI carries less risk than the 1.4 T-Jet: 7/100 (low risk) versus 48/100 (moderate risk). The 1.4 T-Jet has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Premature turbocharger failure or wear»; the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.4 T-Jet

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

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 30 October 202625 sources How we work

Is the 1.4 T-Jet reliable?

Fiat's 1.4 T-Jet/MultiAir powers a large part of the group's turbo petrol range (Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Jeep) from 2007 onwards. Several models have accumulated reports of turbocharger failure, MultiAir/UniAir unit faults and high oil consumption; by contrast, there is no documented pattern of timing belt failure.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 4 of the 1.4 T-Jet faults

Is the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI reliable?

MG/SAIC's "1.5" covers two different engines: the naturally aspirated VTi-TECH (106 hp), the entry-level engine in the MG ZS, and the turbocharged T-GDI (162-170 hp), found only in the MG HS and as the petrol engine in its plug-in hybrids. Neither has well-documented engine faults in independent sources yet: the complaints published concern electronics, the automatic gearbox and finish, not the engine block.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]}

See the 2 of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.4 T-Jet and 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
Item	1.4 T-Jet	1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,368 cm³	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	105–205 hp	106–170 hp
Production	2007–2024^{[13][14][15][16]}	since 2017^{[7][8][17][18][19]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	48Moderate risk	7Low risk
Documented faults	4	2
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	High severity	Low severity
Main faults	High severity: Premature turbocharger failure or wear Medium severity: MultiAir (UniAir) electro-hydraulic unit failure Medium severity: High oil consumption	Low severity: Jerky or harsh automatic gearbox shifts when cold or at low speed (MG HS) Low severity: Electronic warnings and occasional sensor faults (MG HS)
Most expensive documented repair	up to €2,300Premature turbocharger failure or wearPublished figure^[1][2]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.5 VTi-TECH naturally aspirated 106 hp (NSE / NSE Plus, from 2017)^[10]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.4 16v Turbo T-Jet (without MultiAir, 2007-2010)^[6][20][21] 1.4 MultiAir Turbo (2009-2020)^{[1][2][3][4][5][22][23]}	1.5 T-GDI turbo 162 hp (GS61H, 2018-2024)^{[11][12][24][25]} 1.5 T-GDI turbo 170 hp (15FDE / 15FKE, from 2024)^[8]
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

1.4 T-Jet

See the 13 models with the 1.4 T-Jet

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Other comparisons

With the 1.4 T-Jet

With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

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Sources

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

Fiat 500X : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiat 500X : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Alfa Romeo MiTo : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Alfa Romeo MiTo : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Alfa Romeo Giulietta : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiat Tipo : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
MG ZS (crossover)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
MG HSWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Essai complet : MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du MG eHSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
MG HS PHEV: guía definitiva de problemas y soluciones del SUV, el híbrido enchufable más vendidoAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 10 November 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor T-JetWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Fiat FIRE engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
MultiAirWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Motor FIREWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
MG HSWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
MG HSWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
List of General Motors enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiat Bravo (2007-2014) : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiat 500 (2007) : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Jeep Renegade : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Jeep Compass : les plus et les moinsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
MG – Common problems (llamadas a revisión de la UE y del Reino Unido)car-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
MG HS SUV (2019-2024) Exclusive 1.5T-GDI 5d: opinión de propietario (10 jun 2022)Parkers · Owners' forum · published 10 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026