1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.2 8v: 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 8v: 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 8v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged cylinder head gasket (coolant loss and overheating)».
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 8v reliable?
The 1.2 8v (D7F) is a simple naturally aspirated engine of 54 to 60 hp, with a timing belt, which Renault fitted from 1996 to the Twingo, Clio II and Kangoo. No catastrophic failures are documented; what owner reviews mention most often are the sensors, the cylinder head gasket, the coil packs and the occasional oil drip.[4][5][6]
See the 5 of the 1.2 8v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha | 1.2 8v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 82–112 hp | 54–60 hp |
| Production | 2000–2011[7][8][9][10] | 1996–2012[11][12][13][14] |
| 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 | None | |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | ||
| 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 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 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 M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M50 and M52
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs BMW M54
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs M60 and M62
- 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 N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 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 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 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 Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 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 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- 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 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 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 M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 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 M276
- 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 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 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 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- 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 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 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 16v
- 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 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 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 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 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
- 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha vs VR6
With the 1.2 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 8v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 8v vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 8v vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.2 8v vs M50 and M52
- 1.2 8v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 8v vs M60 and M62
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 8v vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.2 8v vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.2 8v vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 8v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.2 8v vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.2 8v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 8v vs M111
- 1.2 8v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 8v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 8v vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.2 8v vs M260
- 1.2 8v vs M271
- 1.2 8v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 8v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 8v vs M276
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 8v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 8v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.2 8v vs VR6
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 Renault Clio 2 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 1993-2006 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 2 (2007-2014) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 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 (Renault)Wikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault Twingo IWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai Getz 2002-2010 (fiabilité, témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 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
- Used Hyundai Accent review: 2000-2012CarsGuide · Motoring press · published 26 April 2013 · consulted 2 November 2026
- Used Hyundai Excel review: 1994-2000CarsGuide · Motoring press · published 13 February 2013 · consulted 2 November 2026
- Renault Twingo (ab 1993): Schwachstellen laut TÜV-AuswertungAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published February 2002 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German