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MotorFiable

TDV6 / SDV6 vs 2.5 TDI R5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.5 TDI R5 carries less risk than the TDV6 / SDV6: 45/100 versus 46/100 (both moderate risk). The TDV6 / SDV6 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Crankshaft breakage and spinning main bearing shells»; the 2.5 TDI R5 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Plasma coating flaking off the cylinders».

Risk index

TDV6 / SDV6

46

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

2.5 TDI R5

45

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

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

11 sourcesHow we work

Is the TDV6 / SDV6 reliable?

The Land Rover and Jaguar TDV6/SDV6 diesel V6 engines, shared with Peugeot and Citroën, have a serious documented fault: crankshaft and main bearing shells on the 3.0, and the belt-driven oil pump on the 2.7. Insist on a service history and weigh up the repair cost before buying.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the TDV6 / SDV6 faults

Is the 2.5 TDI R5 reliable?

The 2.5 TDI R5 in the T5 and the Touareg has a poor reputation: camshaft wear, pump injectors and cylinder coating. The later series were more reliable. It is not Audi's V6 TDI.[4][5][6]

See the 5 of the 2.5 TDI R5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of TDV6 / SDV6 and 2.5 TDI R5
TDV6 / SDV62.5 TDI R5
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement2,720 cm³2,461 cm³
TimingWet belt (belt-in-oil)Timing belt (dry)
Power188–302 hp88–174 hp
Production2004–2018[7]2003–2011[8][9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)46Moderate risk45Moderate risk
Documented faults35
Of high or critical severity22
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Crankshaft breakage and spinning main bearing shells
  2. Critical severity: Broken oil pump housing and timing belt jumping on the 2.7
  3. Medium severity: Turbo and pneumatic actuator failure on the 3.0 TDV6/SDV6
  1. Critical severity: Plasma coating flaking off the cylinders
  2. High severity: Camshaft and hydraulic tappet wear
  3. Medium severity: Leaks and play in the unit injectors
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 2.7 TDV6 (276DT/DT17, 2004-2010)[3][11]
  • 3.0 TDV6/SDV6 (306DT, 2009-2018)[1][2]
  • 2.5 TDI 130 and 174 hp with DPF (BNZ, BPC, 2006-2009)[4]
  • 2.5 TDI common rail Crafter (88 to 163 hp, 2006-2011)[10]
AvoidVersions to avoidNone
  • 2.5 TDI 130 and 174 hp (AXD, AXE, 2003-2006)[4]

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

TDV6 / SDV6

See the 15 models with the TDV6 / SDV6

2.5 TDI R5

Other comparisons

With the TDV6 / SDV6

With the 2.5 TDI R5

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

  1. Land Rover Discovery TDV6 engine failures making headlinesLandyOnline · Other source · published October 2015 · consulted 5 October 2026
  2. Land Rover & Jaguar SDV6/TDV6 Crankshaft RepairJLR Engines · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
  3. Land Rover 2.7 TDV6 Timing Belt Replacement GuideBudget Parts (roverparts.eu) · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026
  4. VW T5 4Motion Gebrauchtwagen-TestAuto Bild · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
  5. Kaufberatung gebrauchter VW T5 (2003-2015)Promobil · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
  6. Ratgeber Technik: Fehler VW T5Auto Bild · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
  7. Ford AJD-V6/PSA DT17 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  8. VW T5Wikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
  9. VW Touareg IWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
  10. Volkswagen CrafterWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
  11. TdV6 Timing BeltLes Richmond Automotive (lrautomotive.com.au) · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026