Honda IMA híbrido vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda IMA híbrido carries less risk than the 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT: 21/100 versus 23/100 (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 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

Honda IMA híbrido

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT

Low risk · 0 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 8 October 202619 sources How 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 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT reliable?

The Suzuki 1.2 VVT and 1.2 Dualjet (K12B/K12C/K12M) is a naturally aspirated petrol engine with a timing chain and indirect injection, fitted since 2008 to the Splash, Swift, Ignis and Baleno, with an SHVS mild-hybrid variant since 2016. It is reliable: there is no serious documented fault with the engine block itself; the main points are a clutch that wears out sooner than expected on some cars and two SHVS recalls that have already been resolved.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

See the 5 of the 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda IMA híbrido and 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
Item	Honda IMA híbrido	1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	88–132 hp	82–92 hp
Production	1999–2016^{[2][9][10][11][12]}	since 2008^[4][5]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	21Low risk	23Low risk
Documented faults	3	5
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	High severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Medium severity: High-voltage IMA battery degradation and IMA warning light on High severity: IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006) Medium severity: CR-Z IMA hybrid system software: the car may move when the engine stalls	Medium severity: Clutch: premature wear and clutch cable anchor failure Medium severity: SHVS mild-hybrid system: recalls for the starter generator belt and software Medium severity: Water pump pulley fixing (2013-2014): recall
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No 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][13][14] 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 132 (LEA1, CR-Z with lithium-ion battery, 2013-2016)^[12][15]	1.2 VVT 86-92 hp (K12B, one injector per cylinder, 2008-2013)^[7] 1.2 Dualjet non-hybrid 89-91 hp (K12B/K12C, dual injector, 2013-2020)^[8][16][17] 1.2 Dualjet SHVS mild hybrid 82-90 hp (K12C/K12D, since 2016)^[8]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.3 i-DSI IMA 110 (LDA-MF5 / LDA2, Civic Hybrid VIII, 2006-2011)^[1][18][19] 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 123 (LEA1 / LEA-MF6, CR-Z with NiMH battery, 2010-2012)^[1][12][15]	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

Honda IMA híbrido

1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT

See the 7 models with the 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT

Other comparisons

With the Honda IMA híbrido

With the 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT

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Sources

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

DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
Used Honda Insight Mk2 buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 24 October 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026
Honda Insight (2009 - 2014) used car reviewRAC · Motoring press · published 13 February 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
Suzuki motor KWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Suzuki K engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Suzuki Swift (NZ) – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Suzuki Splash (2008–2014) – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Suzuki Ignis (MF, ab 2016) – Bekannte Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Integrated Motor AssistWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Honda CR-ZWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Used Honda CR-Z buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 31 October 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026
Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Used Honda CR-Z reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 14 August 2016 · consulted 8 October 2026
Suzuki Ignis : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Suzuki Swift 2 : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 22 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German