2.2 TD4 / SD4 vs Td5 2.5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Td5 2.5 carries less risk than the 2.2 TD4 / SD4: 29/100 versus 32/100 (both moderate risk). The 2.2 TD4 / SD4 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Coolant leak from the EGR valve cooler»; the Td5 2.5 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall)».

Risk index

2.2 TD4 / SD4

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

Td5 2.5

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 2 November 202618 sources How we work

Is the 2.2 TD4 / SD4 reliable?

This is the 2.2-litre diesel of the Freelander 2, the first Evoque, the 2014-2015 Discovery Sport and the Jaguar XF 2.2D. The sources consulted do not describe it as a problematic engine, but they point to three things: the EGR cooler, the DPF in urban use, and replacing the belt along with the water pump.^[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the 2.2 TD4 / SD4 faults

Is the Td5 2.5 reliable?

The Td5 is the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder diesel fitted to the Defender from 1998 to 2007 (and to the Discovery II). Land Rover Hub considers it the best diesel the Defender ever had and as reliable as the Tdi; the documented issues are the flywheel recall on the first Td5s and contamination of the injector wiring.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 2 of the Td5 2.5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.2 TD4 / SD4 and Td5 2.5
Item	2.2 TD4 / SD4	Td5 2.5
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	2,179 cm³	2,495 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Gears
Power	150–200 hp	122–139 hp
Production	2006–2015^{[8][9][10][11]}	1998–2007^{[12][13][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	32Moderate risk	29Moderate risk
Documented faults	3	2
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: Coolant leak from the EGR valve cooler Critical severity: Timing belt failure and water pump failure Medium severity: Diesel particulate filter (DPF) clogged by urban use	High severity: Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall) Medium severity: Injector wiring contamination and Td5 control unit failure
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	Td5 122 hp, 15P engines (Defender, 2002-2007)^[4][6][7]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.2 TD4 / eD4 150-160 hp^[1][3][11] 2.2 SD4 190-200 hp^[2]	Td5 122 hp, 10P engines (Defender, 1998-2002)^[5][6][17] Td5 139 hp (Discovery II, 1998-2004)^[18]
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

2.2 TD4 / SD4

Td5 2.5

Other comparisons

With the 2.2 TD4 / SD4

With the Td5 2.5

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.

Land Rover Freelander Mk2 common problems 2006-2015Haynes · Technical documentation · published December 2022 · consulted 5 October 2026
Test / Avis Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2.2 SD4 190 ch (2011-2018)Fiches-auto · Owners' forum · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Problemas Land Rover Freelander 2Totalrenting · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Defender Engines ratedLand Rover Hub (Land Rover Monthly) · Motoring press · published 1 January 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026
How to buy a Land Rover 90, 110 & Defender (1983-2016)Haynes Manuals UK · Technical documentation · published January 2017 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender review: common repair issues (AA Mechanic)The AA · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover FreelanderWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Land Rover Discovery SportWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Jaguar XF (X250)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
How to fit a timing belt on a Land Rover Freelander 2Professional Motor Mechanic (PMM) · Motoring press · published 22 January 2018 · consulted 5 October 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Land Rover Defender Buying GuideHeritage Parts Centre · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Discovery: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026