M270/M274 vs VR6: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the M270/M274 carries less risk than the VR6: 43/100 (moderate risk) versus 50/100 (high risk). The M270/M274 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Camshaft breakage due to a defective weld (2015 units)»; the VR6 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «VR6 timing chain and tensioners».

Risk index

M270/M274

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

VR6

High risk · 1 serious fault

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

Reviewed on 2 November 202618 sources How we work

Is the M270/M274 reliable?

The M270 (transverse, front-wheel drive) and the M274 (longitudinal, rear-wheel drive) are the family of turbocharged, direct-injection 4-cylinder engines that Mercedes-Benz has fitted since 2011 in 1.6 and 2.0 litres. They are generally solid engines —the timing chain no longer gives trouble— but with documented faults: camshaft breakage caused by a defective weld (2015) and, on the M274, oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster into the connector.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the M270/M274 faults

Is the VR6 reliable?

Its best-documented faults are the timing chain, with tensioners on the 12-valve versions and stretching on the 3.2 (R32, A3 8P, TT, Cayenne), and, to a lesser extent, the cooling system of the 12-valve versions. The 3.6 FSI comes out of the sources better than the 3.2.^[4][5][6]

See the 2 of the VR6 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M270/M274 and VR6
Item	M270/M274	VR6
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,991 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	102–245 hp	140–300 hp
Production	since 2011^[1][7]	1991–2024^[8][9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	43Moderate risk	50High risk
Documented faults	5	2
Of high or critical severity	1	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Camshaft breakage due to a defective weld (2015 units) Medium severity: Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster into the electrical connector (M274) Medium severity: Coolant leaks: thermostat and expansion tank	Critical severity: VR6 timing chain and tensioners Medium severity: 12-valve VR6 cooling: water pump, thermostat and plastic pipes
Most expensive documented repair	up to €500NOx sensor failure (code P2200) on the M274Published figure^[2]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M270 1.6 turbo 102-156 hp^[3] M270 2.0 turbo 156-218 hp^[3] M274 2.0 turbo 156-245 hp^[2][3]	2.8 VR6 12V 140-174 hp (AAA, AMY, AES; 1991-2000)^[4][11] 2.9 VR6 12V 190 hp (ABV; 1994-1997)^[4] 2.8 V6 24V 204 hp (AQP, AUE, BDE, AMV, AYL; 1999-2008)^[5][12][13] 3.2 VR6 220-250 hp (BFH, BML, BDB, BMJ, BUB, BHE, BDL, BKK, AZZ, AXZ, CBRA; 2001-2010)^{[5][6][14][15]} 3.6 VR6 FSI 249-300 hp (BLV, BWS, CDVA, CCZB, CNNA, CMTA; 2005-2018)^{[6][16][17][18]}
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

M270/M274

See the 10 models with the M270/M274

VR6

See the 26 models with the VR6

Other comparisons

With the M270/M274

With the VR6

Compare other engines

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Second engine

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Sources

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

Mercedes-Benz M270 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes M274: Typische Probleme & HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Mercedes M270: Typische Probleme & HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
VW Golf III VR6 (1991-1998)AutoBild · Motoring press · published 1 September 2003 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Golf IV (1J): Schwachstellen und KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Gebrauchtwagen-Kaufberater: Was kann der Porsche Cayenne 9PA?AutoScout24 · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Mercedes-Benz Clase A (2012): información técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
VR6 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
VR6-MotorWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW EA390Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen Golf III (1991-1998)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Seat Leon I: Bekannte Probleme & RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 9 April 2025 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Bora (1J2): Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 14 July 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Golf 4: ProblemeCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Audi TT: ProblemeCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
VW Passat CC: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Probleme mit dem Porsche Cayenne (9PA y 92A)CarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen Passat (2004-2010)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French