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Honda IMA híbrido vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI carries less risk than the Honda IMA híbrido: 7/100 versus 21/100 (both low risk). The Honda IMA híbrido has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)»; the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

Honda IMA híbrido

21

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

7

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

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

23 sourcesHow we work

Is the Honda IMA híbrido reliable?

Honda's IMA hybrid system (Insight II, Jazz Hybrid, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid) has a good reputation for reliability in the British press, and its documented weak point is the ageing of the high-voltage battery, which turns on the IMA warning light. There were also two one-off campaigns: the DC/DC converter on the 2006 Civic Hybrid and the CR-Z software.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the Honda IMA híbrido faults

Is the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI reliable?

MG/SAIC's "1.5" covers two different engines: the naturally aspirated VTi-TECH (106 hp), the entry-level engine in the MG ZS, and the turbocharged T-GDI (162-170 hp), found only in the MG HS and as the petrol engine in its plug-in hybrids. Neither has well-documented engine faults in independent sources yet: the complaints published concern electronics, the automatic gearbox and finish, not the engine block.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

See the 2 of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda IMA híbrido and 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
Honda IMA híbrido1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power88–132 hp106–170 hp
Production1999–2016[2][10][11][12][13]since 2017[4][5][14][15][16]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)21Low risk7Low risk
Documented faults32
Of high or critical severity10
Worst severityHigh severityLow severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: High-voltage IMA battery degradation and IMA warning light on
  2. High severity: IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)
  3. Medium severity: CR-Z IMA hybrid system software: the car may move when the engine stalls
  1. Low severity: Jerky or harsh automatic gearbox shifts when cold or at low speed (MG HS)
  2. Low severity: Electronic warnings and occasional sensor faults (MG HS)
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.3 i-VTEC IMA 98 (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Insight II, 2009-2014)[2][3]
  • 1.3 i-VTEC IMA (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Jazz Hybrid, 2011-2015)[2][17][18]
  • 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 132 (LEA1, CR-Z with lithium-ion battery, 2013-2016)[13][19]
  • 1.5 VTi-TECH naturally aspirated 106 hp (NSE / NSE Plus, from 2017)[7]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.3 i-DSI IMA 110 (LDA-MF5 / LDA2, Civic Hybrid VIII, 2006-2011)[1][20][21]
  • 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 123 (LEA1 / LEA-MF6, CR-Z with NiMH battery, 2010-2012)[1][13][19]
  • 1.5 T-GDI turbo 162 hp (GS61H, 2018-2024)[8][9][22][23]
  • 1.5 T-GDI turbo 170 hp (15FDE / 15FKE, from 2024)[5]
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 IMA híbrido

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Other comparisons

With the Honda IMA híbrido

With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

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. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
  2. Used Honda Insight Mk2 buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 24 October 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026
  3. Honda Insight (2009 - 2014) used car reviewRAC · Motoring press · published 13 February 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
  4. MG ZS (crossover)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. MG HSWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Essai complet : MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Fiabilité et pannes du MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Fiabilité et pannes du MG eHSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. MG HS PHEV: guía definitiva de problemas y soluciones del SUV, el híbrido enchufable más vendidoAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 10 November 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Integrated Motor AssistWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  11. Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  12. Honda CR-ZWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  13. Used Honda CR-Z buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 31 October 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026
  14. MG HSWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  15. MG HSWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  16. List of General Motors enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  17. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  18. Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  19. Used Honda CR-Z reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 14 August 2016 · consulted 8 October 2026
  20. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  21. Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 22 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  22. MG – Common problems (llamadas a revisión de la UE y del Reino Unido)car-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  23. MG HS SUV (2019-2024) Exclusive 1.5T-GDI 5d: opinión de propietario (10 jun 2022)Parkers · Owners' forum · published 10 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026