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1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC vs Skyactiv-D: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC carries less risk than the Skyactiv-D: 54/100 versus 55/100 (both high risk). The 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbocharger failure»; the Skyactiv-D has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations».

Risk index

1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC

54

High risk · 3 serious faults

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

19 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC reliable?

The i-DTEC is Honda's diesel family from 2008, with two four-cylinder blocks: the 2.2 (Accord, CR-V) and, from 2013, the 1.6 (Civic, CR-V, HR-V). It uses a timing chain instead of a belt and common-rail injection. The basic architecture has a good reputation for longevity, but the emissions system (DPF and EGR) and the turbocharger account for most of the faults documented by owners themselves.[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC 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 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC and Skyactiv-D
1.6 / 2.2 i-DTECSkyactiv-D
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power120–180 hp105–184 hp
Production2008–2020[1][9][10]since 2012[5][11][12]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)54High risk55High risk
Documented faults54
Of high or critical severity33
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Turbocharger failure
  2. Critical severity: Timing chain wear or breakage at high mileage
  3. Critical severity: Diesel injector wear or failure
  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 versionsNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.6 i-DTEC 120 (N16A1, single turbo, from 2013)[2][13]
  • 1.6 i-DTEC 160 (N16A4, twin turbo, CR-V)[3]
  • 2.2 i-DTEC 180 Type S (N22B2, from 2010)[1]
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175 (SH-VPTS, 2012-2017)[6][14][15]
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175/184 (SH-VPTS, 2017-2021)[7][16]
  • 1.5 Skyactiv-D 105 (S5-DPTS, 2015-2018)[8][17]
  • 1.8 Skyactiv-D 116 (S8-DPTS, 2018-present)[8][18][19]
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

1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC

Skyactiv-D

See the 7 models with the Skyactiv-D

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC

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. Honda N engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité et pannes Honda CR-V (2012-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité et pannes Honda CR-V (2007-2013)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  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. Honda HR-VWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Avis et fiabilité Honda Accord (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. Mazda CX-5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  12. Mazda3Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  13. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2017-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  14. Aviso a todos los propietarios de Mazda CX-5 Dieselkm77 · Motoring press · published 22 May 2013 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Mazda6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  16. Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 II (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  17. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2013-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  18. Fiabilité Mazda CX-30Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  19. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2019-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French