1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 16v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 16v carries less risk than the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC: 36/100 versus 48/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «i-SHIFT automated gearbox actuator failure»; the 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC reliable?
A family of naturally aspirated Honda petrol engines with a timing chain (no belt to replace). The L-series blocks (1.2 and 1.3/1.4, sold as the "1.4") and the R-series (1.8) have a reputation for robustness. The documented weak point is not the engine block but the i-SHIFT automated gearbox of the Jazz II and Civic VIII, along with the clutch and flywheel, which wear out sooner than expected.[1][2][3][4]
See the 5 of the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC faultsIs the 1.2 16v reliable?
The 1.2 16v (D4F) and its 8-valve predecessor, the D7F, are simple naturally aspirated engines, used for over two decades as the entry-level option in Renault and Dacia cars, with a reputation for reliability: the reliability pages consulted document no catastrophic failures and no oil consumption. The most-cited problems are ignition coils and sensors and, on higher-mileage cars, the head gasket.[5][6][7][8]
See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC | 1.2 16v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 83–143 hp | 60–76 hp |
| Production | 2001–2020[1][2][9] | 2001–2020[10][11][12][13] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 48Moderate risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 2 | 1 |
| Worst severity | High severity | High severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | ||
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | None | |
| 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
Other comparisons
With the 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW B58
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW M54
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N13
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N20
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M111
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M264/M254
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M260
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M271
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M272/M273
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs M270/M274
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 1.2 16v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 16v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 16v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 16v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 16v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 16v vs M111
- 1.2 16v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 16v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 16v vs M260
- 1.2 16v vs M271
- 1.2 16v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 16v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 16v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 16v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Honda R engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Maxi-fiche fiabilité : la Renault Twingo 2Caradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Moteur D RenaultWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Honda Civic (seventh generation)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 3 (2015-2020)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Honda InsightWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault KangooFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia LoganFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia SanderoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French