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2.0 and 2.2 VCDi vs Skyactiv-D: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi carries less risk than the Skyactiv-D: 43/100 (moderate risk) versus 55/100 (high risk). The 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Sump cover fire risk from DPF fault (2011–2015 Captiva diesel)»; the Skyactiv-D has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations».

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 VCDi

43

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

Skyactiv-D

55

High risk · 3 serious faults

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

22 sourcesHow we work

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi reliable?

Chevrolet's 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi diesels (Lacetti, Captiva, Cruze and Orlando) stand out for owner complaints about the particulate filter, with injectors that, according to a German guide, fail early, and for a 2015 recall over fire risk from the sump cover on 2011–2015 Captiva diesels. There is no reliable data on costs or mileage.[1][2][3][4]

See the 3 of the 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi faults

Is the Skyactiv-D reliable?

The Skyactiv-D is a modern and generally reliable diesel, but across its three displacements (1.5, 1.8 and 2.2) it shares oil dilution with diesel fuel during diesel particulate filter regenerations, which means you need to watch the oil level and not stretch oil changes, especially on short journeys; the older 2.2s (2012-2014) also accumulate more turbo and carbon build-up cases.[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the Skyactiv-D faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi and Skyactiv-D
2.0 and 2.2 VCDiSkyactiv-D
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power121–184 hp105–184 hp
Production2006–2015[9][10][11][12][13]since 2012[5][14][15]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)43Moderate risk55High risk
Documented faults34
Of high or critical severity13
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Sump cover fire risk from DPF fault (2011–2015 Captiva diesel)
  2. Medium severity: Blocked DPF and failed regenerations
  3. Medium severity: Injectors failing early from soot build-up
  1. High severity: Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations
  2. High severity: Turbo wear or failure from lack of lubrication
  3. Critical severity: Oil pump chain breakage and camshaft wear
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 2.0 VCDi 121–150 hp (VM Motori licence; Z20S in the Captiva, 2006–2011)[1][3][16]
  • 2.0 VCDi 130–163 hp (Z20D1, 2011–2014)[1][2]
  • 2.2 VCDi 163–184 hp (Z22D1 / A22DM, Captiva, 2011–2015)[3][4]
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175 (SH-VPTS, 2012-2017)[6][17][18]
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175/184 (SH-VPTS, 2017-2021)[7][19]
  • 1.5 Skyactiv-D 105 (S5-DPTS, 2015-2018)[8][20]
  • 1.8 Skyactiv-D 116 (S8-DPTS, 2018-present)[8][21][22]
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

2.0 and 2.2 VCDi

Skyactiv-D

See the 7 models with the Skyactiv-D

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi

With the Skyactiv-D

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

  1. Fiabilité Chevrolet Cruze (2009-2015): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 31 October 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité Chevrolet Orlando (2010-2015): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 31 October 2026 · in French
  3. Chevrolet Captiva (2006-2015): Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 31 October 2026 · in German
  4. Chevrolet Captiva (2011-2015): alerta A12/1063/15 (filtro de partículas y cubrecárter)Car-Recalls.eu (reproduce Safety Gate) · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026
  5. SkyActivWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Fiabilité Mazda 6 (2012-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Fiabilité Mazda CX-3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Chevrolet CaptivaWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026 · in German
  10. Chevrolet LacettiWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026 · in German
  11. Allgemeine Daten zum Chevrolet Captiva 2.0 D LT 4WD (7-Sitzer) (09/06 - 01/10)ADAC · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026 · in German
  12. Allgemeine Daten zum Chevrolet Captiva 2.2 D LT 2WD (05/11 - 04/13)ADAC · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026 · in German
  13. Allgemeine Daten zum Chevrolet Orlando 2.0TD S/S LTZ (10/12 - 08/14)ADAC · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026 · in German
  14. Mazda CX-5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  15. Mazda3Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  16. Chevrolet Cruze (J300, 2008-2016): Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 31 October 2026 · in German
  17. Aviso a todos los propietarios de Mazda CX-5 Dieselkm77 · Motoring press · published 22 May 2013 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  18. Mazda6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  19. Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 II (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  20. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2013-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  21. Fiabilité Mazda CX-30Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  22. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2019-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French