Honda e:HEV / i-MMD vs VR6: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD carries less risk than the VR6: 34/100 (moderate risk) versus 50/100 (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 VR6 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «VR6 timing chain and tensioners».

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

VR6

High risk · 1 serious fault

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

Reviewed on 2 November 202619 sources How 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 VR6 reliable?

Its best-documented faults are the timing chain, with tensioners on the 12-valve versions and stretching on the 3.2 (R32, A3 8P, TT, Cayenne), and, to a lesser extent, the cooling system of the 12-valve versions. The 3.6 FSI comes out of the sources better than the 3.2.^[4][5][6]

See the 2 of the VR6 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda e:HEV / i-MMD and VR6
Item	Honda e:HEV / i-MMD	VR6
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	109–184 hp	140–300 hp
Production	since 2018^[1][7]	1991–2024^[8][9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	34Moderate risk	50High risk
Documented faults	3	2
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	High severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP) High severity: Faulty fuel pump impeller on the 2019-2020 CR-V hybrid (Honda 6FE campaign) Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start	Critical severity: VR6 timing chain and tensioners Medium severity: 12-valve VR6 cooling: water pump, thermostat and plastic pipes
Most expensive documented repair	up 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][11]	2.8 VR6 12V 140-174 hp (AAA, AMY, AES; 1991-2000)^[4][12] 2.9 VR6 12V 190 hp (ABV; 1994-1997)^[4] 2.8 V6 24V 204 hp (AQP, AUE, BDE, AMV, AYL; 1999-2008)^[5][13][14] 3.2 VR6 220-250 hp (BFH, BML, BDB, BMJ, BUB, BHE, BDL, BKK, AZZ, AXZ, CBRA; 2001-2010)^{[5][6][15][16]} 3.6 VR6 FSI 249-300 hp (BLV, BWS, CDVA, CCZB, CNNA, CMTA; 2005-2018)^{[6][17][18][19]}
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

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

VR6

See the 24 models with the VR6

Other comparisons

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

With the VR6

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Sources

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

Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
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
Fiabilité Honda HR-V (2022): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
VW Golf III VR6 (1991-1998)AutoBild · Motoring press · published 1 September 2003 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Golf IV (1J): Schwachstellen und KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Gebrauchtwagen-Kaufberater: Was kann der Porsche Cayenne 9PA?AutoScout24 · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
VR6 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
VR6-MotorWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW EA390Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
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
Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen Golf III (1991-1998)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Seat Leon I: Bekannte Probleme & RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 9 April 2025 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Bora (1J2): Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 14 July 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Golf 4: ProblemeCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Audi TT: ProblemeCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Passat CC: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Probleme mit dem Porsche Cayenne (9PA y 92A)CarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen Passat (2004-2010)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French