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Honda e:HEV / i-MMD vs 1.4/1.6 VTi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD carries less risk than the 1.4/1.6 VTi: 34/100 (moderate risk) versus 52/100 (high risk). The Honda e:HEV / i-MMD has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)»; the 1.4/1.6 VTi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Fragile water pump (and expansion tank or heat exchanger, depending on displacement)».

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

34

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.4/1.6 VTi

52

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

9 sourcesHow we work

Is the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD reliable?

The Honda e:HEV hybrid system (formerly i-MMD) has no serious, widespread faults documented in the sources consulted. The most cited issue is the 12 V battery going flat when the car stands unused and, on the 2.0, a recall for the high-pressure fuel pump.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD faults

Is the 1.4/1.6 VTi reliable?

The 1.4 VTi and 1.6 VTi are the naturally aspirated versions of the Prince family, developed by PSA together with BMW and also used by MINI. They do not have a reputation for particular reliability: fiches-auto.fr documents frequent oil consumption in both displacements and a fragile water pump, later inherited by the turbocharged 1.6 THP; according to a German garage, the timing chain can also wear in any version, although the most reported cases are on the turbo engine.[4][5][6]

See the 3 of the 1.4/1.6 VTi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda e:HEV / i-MMD and 1.4/1.6 VTi
Honda e:HEV / i-MMD1.4/1.6 VTi
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power109–184 hp90–121 hp
Productionsince 2018[1][7]2006–2015[8]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)34Moderate risk52High risk
Documented faults33
Of high or critical severity22
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)
  2. High severity: Faulty fuel pump impeller on the 2019-2020 CR-V hybrid (Honda 6FE campaign)
  3. Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start
  1. High severity: Fragile water pump (and expansion tank or heat exchanger, depending on displacement)
  2. Critical severity: Wear of the timing chain and tensioner
  3. Medium severity: Oil consumption on the 1.4 and 1.6 VTi versions
Most expensive documented repairup to €25012 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to startPublished figure[1]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • e:HEV 1.5 (LEB-H5) 109-131 hp system output (Jazz IV, HR-V III)[1][7]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • i-MMD 2.0 184 hp system output (CR-V V hybrid)[1][2]
  • e:HEV 2.0 184 hp system output (Civic XI)[2][9]
  • 1.4 16v / VTi (EP3, N12; 90-98 hp)[4][6]
  • 1.6 16v / VTi (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16; 118-121 hp)[4][5][6]
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

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

1.4/1.6 VTi

See the 10 models with the 1.4/1.6 VTi

Other comparisons

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

With the 1.4/1.6 VTi

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. Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Honda recalls 1.3 million cars: fuel pump fire risk (KBA 14559R)Car-Recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 17 March 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026
  3. Fiabilité Honda HR-V (2022): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  4. Moteurs essence qui consomment de l'huileFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Liste des moteurs qui ont des soucis de refroidissementFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Tickende Zeitbombe: So zuverlässig ist der Prince-Motor von PSA und BMWGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Prince engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Guide d'achat Honda Civic (nueva campaña 6YP, 4.740 híbridos en Francia)L'argus · Motoring press · published 7 January 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French