1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power carries less risk than the 1.5 EcoBoost: 36/100 versus 43/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.5 EcoBoost has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)»; the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion)».

Risk index

1.5 EcoBoost

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

Moderate risk · 3 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 202619 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 EcoBoost reliable?

These are two engines with the same name. The four-cylinder (2014-2019: Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max) has documented cases of coolant loss through a microcrack in the block, which can end in a new engine. The three-cylinder Dragon (from 2018) has hardly any mechanical faults cited, but the Kuga has been recalled several times because an injector can crack and cause a fuel leak with a fire risk.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 2 of the 1.5 EcoBoost faults

Is the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power reliable?

There is still little reliability data: the three-cylinder 1.5 VC-Turbo only generates electricity and no mechanical faults are known in Europe. The documented weak points are in the e-Power electronics: battery campaigns and isolated cases of immobilisation.^[5][6][7]

See the 4 of the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 EcoBoost and 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
Item	1.5 EcoBoost	1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,498 cm³	1,497 cm³
Timing	Chain	—
Power	120–200 hp	190–213 hp
Production	since 2014^{[8][9][10][11][12]}	since 2022^{[13][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	43Moderate risk	36Moderate risk
Documented faults	2	4
Of high or critical severity	2	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5) Critical severity: Fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)	High severity: Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion) High severity: Fuel line that slips out of its clip and may leak Medium severity: e-Power warning and limited mode due to incorrect state-of-charge reading
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder 120/150/160/182 hp (Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max, S-Max, Galaxy, 2014-2019)^[1][2] 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon 3-cylinder 120/150/182 hp (Kuga III and Focus IV, from 2018)^{[3][4][17][18]} 1.5 EcoBoost ST 200 hp (Fiesta ST 2018-2023 and Puma ST, code YZJA)^[3][10][19]	1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 190 hp (Qashqai J12, since 2022)^[5][6][7] 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 204 hp (X-Trail T33, front-wheel drive, since 2022)^[5][13] 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power e-4ORCE 213 hp (X-Trail T33, all-wheel drive, since 2022)^[13][15]
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

1.5 EcoBoost

See the 10 models with the 1.5 EcoBoost

1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

Other comparisons

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With the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

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Sources

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

Ford Mondeo V - Auto ReviewANWB · Consumer association · published 2 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Dutch
Ford EcoBoost Probleme und Haltbarkeitgebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Rückruf: Bei diesen Ford-Modellen besteht BrandgefahrADAC · Motoring press · published 2 February 2026 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Rückruf Ford Kuga: Brandgefahr wegen defekter Einspritzventileauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 3 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilidad y averías del Nissan Qashqai 3 (2021)fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
Nissan Qashqai: richiamo per la batteria del sistema ibridoalVolante · Motoring press · published 4 August 2026 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Italian
Nissanowski SUV z usterką systemu zarządzania akumulatoremAutokatalog.pl · Motoring press · published 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
Ford EcoBoost engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Ford EcoBoostWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Every Ford Powered By The 1.5L EcoBoost 'Dragon'SlashGear · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026
Ford Kuga Titanium 1.5 EcoBoost Auto-Start-Stop 150 CV 4x2 (2014-2016): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Ford Kuga MK3 2019-2026 Probleme und Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Nissan X-Trail - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
Nissan KR engine - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
Nissan X-Trail (T33) - Wikipedia (versión alemana)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
Nissan z novim Qashqaijem uvaja e-Power v EvropiRTV Slovenija · General press · published 19 February 2021 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
Trois problèmes avec le Ford Kuga : jauge de carburant, injecteurs et toit panoramique défectueuxcar-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Ford FOCUS 4 2018 (93 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
YZJA engine (Ford 1.5 EcoBoost)Motorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026