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1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo vs Honda IMA híbrido: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo carries less risk than the Honda IMA híbrido: 18/100 versus 21/100 (both low risk). The 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo has no documented serious faults; 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

1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo

18

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

Honda IMA híbrido

21

Low risk · 1 serious fault

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

19 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo reliable?

The FireFly turbo 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 show no systemic fault in open sources; there are only isolated cases of jerking with replacement of the MultiAir block on the 1.0 and one engine failure on a 1.3. The evidence is thin and is not a guarantee of reliability.[1][2][3]

See the 2 of the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo 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 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo and Honda IMA híbrido
1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly TurboHonda IMA híbrido
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,332 cm³—
TimingChainChain
Power100–180 hp88–132 hp
Productionsince 2018[7]1999–2016[5][8][9][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)18Low risk21Low risk
Documented faults23
Of high or critical severity01
Worst severityMedium severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: Oil consumption and premature turbo wear on the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4
  2. Medium severity: Jerking and MultiAir block failures on the 1.0 T3
  1. Medium severity: High-voltage IMA battery degradation and IMA warning light on
  2. High severity: IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)
  3. Medium severity: CR-Z IMA hybrid system software: the car may move when the engine stalls
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.3 GSE T4 Turbo 150-180 hp (FireFly, since 2018)[1][12]
  • 1.3 GSE T4 Turbo plug-in hybrid 4xe (130-180 hp from the petrol engine, since 2021)[13][14]
  • 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)[11][17]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.0 GSE T3 Turbo 100-120 hp (FireFly, since 2018)[1][2]
  • 1.3 i-DSI IMA 110 (LDA-MF5 / LDA2, Civic Hybrid VIII, 2006-2011)[4][18][19]
  • 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 123 (LEA1 / LEA-MF6, CR-Z with NiMH battery, 2010-2012)[4][11][17]
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

1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo

Honda IMA híbrido

Other comparisons

With the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo

With the Honda IMA híbrido

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. Fiabilité Jeep: témoignages de propriétairesfiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité Fiat: témoignages de propriétairesfiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
  3. Broken chain in Firefly 1.0 engineFiat Forum · Owners' forum · consulted 30 October 2026
  4. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
  5. Used Honda Insight Mk2 buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 24 October 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026
  6. Honda Insight (2009 - 2014) used car reviewRAC · Motoring press · published 13 February 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
  7. Fiat Global Small EngineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
  8. Integrated Motor AssistWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  9. Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  10. Honda CR-ZWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  11. Used Honda CR-Z buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 31 October 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026
  12. Problemas Jeep CompassTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Jeep Renegade Problemecarwiki.de · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
  14. Jeep Renegade 4xe plug-in hybrid reliability and safetyDriving Electric · Motoring press · consulted 29 October 2026
  15. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  16. Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  17. Used Honda CR-Z reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 14 August 2016 · consulted 8 October 2026
  18. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  19. Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 22 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German