Td5 2.5 vs 2.2 HDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Td5 2.5 carries less risk than the 2.2 HDi: 29/100 versus 48/100 (both moderate risk). The Td5 2.5 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall)»; the 2.2 HDi has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «DPF clogging with additive, especially on the 128-138 hp version».

Risk index

Td5 2.5

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

2.2 HDi

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 2 November 202620 sources How we work

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.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 2 of the Td5 2.5 faults

Is the 2.2 HDi reliable?

This is a diesel derived from the 2.0 HDi that PSA and Ford shared in large saloons and MPVs (407, 607, 807, C5, C6, C8) and that Land Rover and Ford used under their own names (TDCi, TD4, SD4) in the Mondeo IV, the Freelander 2 and the first Evoque. According to fiches-auto it does not suffer chronically from the turbo or dual-mass flywheel problems of smaller HDi engines, but the 128-138 hp version does have a recurring problem of DPF clogging.^[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the 2.2 HDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Td5 2.5 and 2.2 HDi
Item	Td5 2.5	2.2 HDi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	2,495 cm³	2,179 cm³
Timing	Gears	Timing belt (dry)
Power	122–139 hp	128–204 hp
Production	1998–2007^{[9][10][11][12][13]}	2000–2015^{[5][7][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	29Moderate risk	48Moderate risk
Documented faults	2	4
Of high or critical severity	1	3
Worst severity	High severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall) Medium severity: Injector wiring contamination and Td5 control unit failure	High severity: DPF clogging with additive, especially on the 128-138 hp version High severity: Turbo faults, somewhat more frequent on the sequential twin-turbo versions High severity: Piezo injector wear and failure
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	Td5 122 hp, 15P engines (Defender, 2002-2007)^[1][3][4]	2.2 HDi 150-156 (single variable-geometry turbo, 2006-2012)^[17][18]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	Td5 122 hp, 10P engines (Defender, 1998-2002)^[2][3][19] Td5 139 hp (Discovery II, 1998-2004)^[20]	2.2 HDi 128-138 (DW12 TED4, single turbo, 2000-2006)^[8] 2.2 HDi 170-175 twin-turbo (DW12 BTED4, 2005-2010)^[8][15] 2.2 HDi 190-204 twin-turbo (DW12 C, 2010-2015)^[15]
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

Td5 2.5

2.2 HDi

See the 13 models with the 2.2 HDi

Other comparisons

With the Td5 2.5

With the 2.2 HDi

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.

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
PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Ford MondeoWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Land Rover FreelanderWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai, avis et fiabilité des 2,2 HDI 136 chevauxFiches-Auto · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
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
Range Rover EvoqueWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Essai, avis et fiabilité des 2,2 HDI 204 chevauxFiches-Auto · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai Citroën C5 Exclusive + 2.2 HDI 200 TourerActu Automobile · Motoring press · published 2011 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai Peugeot 4007 2.2 HDi DCS 6Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 7 April 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Citroën C-CrosserWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
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