2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 8v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v carries less risk than the 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 63/100 (high risk). The 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and VVT actuator failure on the 2.3 DISI Turbo»; 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 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo reliable?
Mazda's 2.3 DISI Turbo (L3-VDT, 2005-2013) is powerful but demanding: the timing chain, the turbo and oil sludge are its weak points; only buy one with a good oil service history.[1][2][3]
See the 3 of the 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo 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 | 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo | 1.2 8v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 2,261 cm³ | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 256–263 hp | 54–60 hp |
| Production | 2005–2013[1][7] | 1996–2012[8][9][10][11] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 63High risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 3 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 2 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | High severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | up to €2,200Premature turbocharger wear from poor lubrication on the 2.3 DISI TurboPublished figure[2] | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | 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 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 PureTech
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 PureTech
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 TCe
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.3 TCe
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW B38 / B37
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW B48 / B38
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW B58
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M50 and M52
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW M54
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M60 and M62
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW N13
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW N20
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW N43/N46
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW N52 / N53
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW N54/N55
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs BMW N62 / N63
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs MZR gasolina
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Skyactiv-G
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M111
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M112 / M113
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M264/M254
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M260
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M271
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M272/M273
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M270/M274
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs M276
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs MIVEC gasolina
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 Turbo
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Porsche M96/M97
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 THP
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 0.9 TCe
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8 TCe
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 16v
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Rover K-Series
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 Turbo
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs Drive-E gasolina
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0 MPI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.2 12V
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.8 T 20v
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.0 FSI
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo 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 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 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 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.
- Mazda L engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
- Problemas Mazda CX-7Totalrenting · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
- 2009 Mazda CX-7 engine problemsCarComplaints · Owners' forum · consulted 5 October 2026
- 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
- Mazda CX-7Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
- 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
- Renault Twingo (ab 1993): Schwachstellen laut TÜV-AuswertungAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published February 2002 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German