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1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo vs 1.6 THP: 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 1.6 THP: 18/100 (low risk) versus 64/100 (high risk). The 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo has no documented serious faults; the 1.6 THP has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)».

Risk index

1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo

18

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.6 THP

64

High risk · 2 serious faults

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

14 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 1.6 THP reliable?

The 1.6 THP turbo and its naturally aspirated sibling, the 1.6 VTi, make up the Prince family, developed together with BMW and also used by MINI: they do not have a reputation for reliability. Turbo versions built before 2012 carry a known problem of timing chain stretch, and the whole block shares a water pump described as fragile; the turbo versions add oil consumption and high-pressure fuel pump failures.[4][5][6][7]

See the 5 of the 1.6 THP faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo and 1.6 THP
1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo1.6 THP
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,332 cm³1,598 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power100–180 hp120–270 hp
Productionsince 2018[8]2006–2018[4][9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)18Low risk64High risk
Documented faults25
Of high or critical severity02
Worst severityMedium severityCritical 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. Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)
  2. High severity: Fragile water pump and heat exchanger
  3. Medium severity: High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versions
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][11]
  • 1.3 GSE T4 Turbo plug-in hybrid 4xe (130-180 hp from the petrol engine, since 2021)[12][13]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.0 GSE T3 Turbo 100-120 hp (FireFly, since 2018)[1][2]
  • 1.6 VTi 120 / 1.6 16v (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16, naturally aspirated)[7]
  • 1.6 THP medium output (EP6DT/EP6DTS/EP6CDT, N14/N18; 140-190 hp)[5][6][14]
  • 1.6 THP high performance (EP6CDXD/EP6FDTR/EP6CDTR, John Cooper Works N14/N18; 200-270 hp)[5][6][7]
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

1.6 THP

See the 16 models with the 1.6 THP

Other comparisons

With the 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo

With the 1.6 THP

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. Prince engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Distribution : les moteurs à problèmesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Moteurs essence qui consomment de l'huileFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Liste des moteurs qui ont des soucis de refroidissementFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Fiat Global Small EngineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
  9. Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  11. Problemas Jeep CompassTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Jeep Renegade Problemecarwiki.de · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
  13. Jeep Renegade 4xe plug-in hybrid reliability and safetyDriving Electric · Motoring press · consulted 29 October 2026
  14. BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026