M271 vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet carries less risk than the M271: 6/100 (low risk) versus 59/100 (high risk). The M271 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets»; the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

M271

High risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202614 sources How we work

Is the M271 reliable?

The M271 is the four-cylinder petrol engine Mercedes-Benz fitted from 2002 to 2015, first with a mechanical supercharger (Kompressor) and, from 2009, with a turbo in the EVO revision. It has one well-documented weak point across the range: the timing chain and the camshaft sprockets can wear prematurely, a problem a specialist source describes as persistent even after the EVO redesign.^[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the M271 faults

Is the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet reliable?

The Suzuki Boosterjet (1.0 K10C and 1.4 K14C/K14D) is a turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine with a timing chain, fitted since 2015 to the Vitara, S-Cross, Swift Sport and Baleno, with a 48 V mild-hybrid variant of the 1.4 since 2020. German TÜV inspection reports and the workshops we consulted rate its reliability as high: no widespread fault with the chain, oil, fuel pump or mild-hybrid system is documented.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

See the 4 of the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M271 and 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
Item	M271	1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,796 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	122–204 hp	110–140 hp
Production	2002–2015^[2][3]	since 2015^{[4][9][10][11]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	59High risk	6Low risk
Documented faults	4	4
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Low severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets Medium severity: Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiring Medium severity: Crankcase ventilation hose under the supercharger: it cracks and lets in false air	Low severity: Timing chain: no documented pattern of failures Low severity: Oil consumption: no documented pattern Low severity: Direct injection and fuel pump: no documented faults or recalls
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.0 Boosterjet 110-112 hp (K10C, three-cylinder, 2015-present)^{[5][6][12][13]} 1.4 Boosterjet 140 hp (K14C, non-hybrid, 2015-2020 in Europe)^[5][6][14] 1.4 Boosterjet Mild Hybrid 129 hp (K14D, 48V SHVS, since 2020)^[10][11]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M271 Kompressor 1.6/1.8 (KE16/KE18)^[1] M271 EVO 1.8 turbo CGI (DE18 LA)^[1]	None
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

M271

See the 7 models with the M271

1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

See the 12 models with the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

Other comparisons

With the M271

With the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

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Sources

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

Mercedes M271: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Mercedes-Benz M271 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes-Benz M 271Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Suzuki K engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Gebrauchtwagen-Check: Grundsätzlich gut: Der Suzuki Vitara beim TÜVVolksstimme (dpa) · General press · published January 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Suzuki Swift als Gebrauchtwagen: Diese Punkte beanstandet der TÜV häufigT-Online · General press · published October 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Los mecánicos recomiendan el Suzuki Vitara porque no presume de moderno, sino de sencillo y baratoEl Nacional · General press · published September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Test complet Suzuki VitaraFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Suzuki motor KWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Suzuki Swift Sport, Vitara y S-Cross: nuevas versiones micro-híbridas de 48VAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 16 December 2019 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Suzuki S-Cross 1.4 Boosterjet Mild Hybrid 2020: precios y datos del nuevo SUVAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 12 March 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Suzuki Vitara : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Suzuki Swift 3 : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Prueba Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Boosterjet 140 CVActualidad Motor · Motoring press · published 16 May 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish