1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 16v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha carries less risk than the 1.2 16v: 23/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (moderate risk). The 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha has no documented serious faults; the 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha reliable?
Naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with a timing belt, which Hyundai and Kia fitted as the 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 in the Getz, the Rio II, the Elantra XD and the Cerato I. Buying guides describe it as reliable and durable (250,000-350,000 km with maintenance), with oil consumption and leaks, coils and the throttle, and valve train wear as typical complaints.[1][2][3]
See the 3 of the 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha faultsIs the 1.2 16v reliable?
The 1.2 16v (D4F) and its 8-valve predecessor, the D7F, are simple naturally aspirated engines, used for over two decades as the entry-level option in Renault and Dacia cars, with a reputation for reliability: the reliability pages consulted document no catastrophic failures and no oil consumption. The most-cited problems are ignition coils and sensors and, on higher-mileage cars, the head gasket.[4][5][6][7]
See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha | 1.2 16v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 82–112 hp | 60–76 hp |
| Production | 2000–2011[8][9][10][11] | 2001–2020[12][13][14][15] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 23Low risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 3 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 0 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Medium severity | High severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | ||
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | 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
Other comparisons
With the 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW B58
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW M54
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW N13
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW N20
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 / 1.2 Turbo (GEM)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs MZR gasolina
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M111
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M112 / M113
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M264/M254
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M260
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M271
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M272/M273
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M270/M274
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 THP
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 8v
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Rover K-Series
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 12V
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
With the 1.2 16v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 16v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 16v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.2 Turbo (GEM)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.2 16v vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 16v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 16v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 16v vs M111
- 1.2 16v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 16v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 16v vs M260
- 1.2 16v vs M271
- 1.2 16v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 16v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 8v
- 1.2 16v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 16v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Hyundai Getz: typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 9 November 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Kia Cerato I с пробегом: неудачные механические коробки и шумные, но надёжные моторыKolesa.ru · Motoring press · published 28 February 2019 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
- Hyundai Getz: Autokatalog mit Zuverlässigkeit und SchwachstellenPKW.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Maxi-fiche fiabilité : la Renault Twingo 2Caradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Hyundai Alpha engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- Hyundai Getz 1. Generation (2002-2005): ModellvariantenADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Kia Rio JB (2005-2009): ModellvariantenADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Hyundai Elantra 1. Generation (XD): 1.6 GLS und SchwachstellenADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Moteur D RenaultWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai Getz 2002-2010 (fiabilité, témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault KangooFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia LoganFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia SanderoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Hyundai Getz ab 2002: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Hyundai Elantra XD с пробегом: под хруст гранат и стук клапановKolesa.ru · Motoring press · published 1 November 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language