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Skyactiv-D vs 1.6 CDTI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 CDTI carries less risk than the Skyactiv-D: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 55/100 (high risk). The Skyactiv-D has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations»; the 1.6 CDTI has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner».

Risk index

Skyactiv-D

55

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

1.6 CDTI

36

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

21 sourcesHow we work

Is the Skyactiv-D reliable?

The Skyactiv-D is a modern and generally reliable diesel, but across its three displacements (1.5, 1.8 and 2.2) it shares oil dilution with diesel fuel during diesel particulate filter regenerations, which means you need to watch the oil level and not stretch oil changes, especially on short journeys; the older 2.2s (2012-2014) also accumulate more turbo and carbon build-up cases.[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the Skyactiv-D faults

Is the 1.6 CDTI reliable?

The Opel/Vauxhall 1.6 CDTI (2013-2020, 95-160 hp) has no design fault acknowledged by the manufacturer, but it has built up reports of early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner, two episodes (2016 and 2018) of German investigation into a possible EGR valve shut-off, and AdBlue system faults on its Euro 6 versions.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

See the 3 of the 1.6 CDTI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Skyactiv-D and 1.6 CDTI
Skyactiv-D1.6 CDTI
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement—1,598 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power105–184 hp95–160 hp
Productionsince 2012[1][12][13]2013–2020[5][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)55High risk36Moderate risk
Documented faults43
Of high or critical severity31
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations
  2. High severity: Turbo wear or failure from lack of lubrication
  3. Critical severity: Oil pump chain breakage and camshaft wear
  1. High severity: Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner
  2. Medium severity: Suspected software shut-off of the EGR valve (emissions investigation)
  3. Medium severity: AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versions
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataup to €2,000AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versionsPublished figure[11][15]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175 (SH-VPTS, 2012-2017)[2][16][17]
  • 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175/184 (SH-VPTS, 2017-2021)[3][18]
  • 1.5 Skyactiv-D 105 (S5-DPTS, 2015-2018)[4][19]
  • 1.8 Skyactiv-D 116 (S8-DPTS, 2018-present)[4][20][21]
  • 1.6 CDTI 95 hp (B16DTE/B16DTU, 2014-2018)[9][10]
  • 1.6 CDTI 108-110 hp (B16DTL/B16DTN/B16DTU/D16DTI, 2014-2019)[10]
  • 1.6 CDTI 120-122 hp (B16DTJ/B16DTC, 2014-2018)[6][7][8]
  • 1.6 CDTI Turbo ecoFLEX 134-136 hp (B16DTH, 2013-2020)[6][10]
  • 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI ecoFLEX 150-160 hp (B16DTR/D16DTR, 2015-2019)[9][14]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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

Cars that each one is fitted to

Skyactiv-D

See the 7 models with the Skyactiv-D

1.6 CDTI

See the 7 models with the 1.6 CDTI

Other comparisons

With the Skyactiv-D

With the 1.6 CDTI

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.

  1. SkyActivWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité Mazda 6 (2012-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité Mazda CX-3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. GM Medium Diesel engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Opel, acusada de desconectar la válvula EGR de su modelo Zafira ¿aumentando las emisiones de NOx?Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 19 May 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Opel está de nuevo en el punto de mira por las emisiones con 60.000 coches afectadosMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 16 July 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. La Fiscalía alemana registra las instalaciones de Opel en el marco de una investigación sobre emisionesMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 October 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. Fiabilité Opel Astra 5 (K) - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. Fiabilité Opel Mokka X - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. El aditivo de AdBlue que debes usar para evitar una reparación de 2.000 euros en tu coche diéselAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 1 April 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Mazda CX-5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  13. Mazda3Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  14. Opel Astra KWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  15. Twin dosing en diésel: el fallo que dispara una avería de más de 1.000 euros en el tallerMotor16 · Motoring press · published 22 September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Aviso a todos los propietarios de Mazda CX-5 Dieselkm77 · Motoring press · published 22 May 2013 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  17. Mazda6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  18. Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 II (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  19. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2013-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  20. Fiabilité Mazda CX-30Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  21. Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2019-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French