1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs Mitsubishi PHEV: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI carries less risk than the Mitsubishi PHEV: 7/100 versus 24/100 (both low risk). The 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI has no documented serious faults; the Mitsubishi PHEV has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery».

Risk index

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

Mitsubishi PHEV

Low risk · 2 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202620 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI reliable?

MG/SAIC's "1.5" covers two different engines: the naturally aspirated VTi-TECH (106 hp), the entry-level engine in the MG ZS, and the turbocharged T-GDI (162-170 hp), found only in the MG HS and as the petrol engine in its plug-in hybrids. Neither has well-documented engine faults in independent sources yet: the complaints published concern electronics, the automatic gearbox and finish, not the engine block.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 2 of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI faults

Is the Mitsubishi PHEV reliable?

Yes, with caveats: the OCU ranks the Outlander PHEV first for reliability among used plug-in hybrids. What is documented are isolated campaigns (spark plugs and software, air flow sensor, fuel hose) and a possible loss of battery capacity, cited by one source and one study without figures. The Eclipse Cross PHEV, which uses the same system, has no documented faults of its own.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

See the 5 of the Mitsubishi PHEV faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI and Mitsubishi PHEV
Item	1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI	Mitsubishi PHEV
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	106–170 hp	163–224 hp
Production	since 2017^{[1][2][12][13][14]}	since 2013^[15][16][17]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	7Low risk	24Low risk
Documented faults	2	5
Of high or critical severity	0	2
Worst severity	Low severity	High severity
Main faults	Low severity: Jerky or harsh automatic gearbox shifts when cold or at low speed (MG HS) Low severity: Electronic warnings and occasional sensor faults (MG HS)	Medium severity: Loss of traction battery (high-voltage) capacity Medium severity: Spark plugs and petrol engine software on the Outlander PHEV (campaign R3033111) High severity: Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.5 VTi-TECH naturally aspirated 106 hp (NSE / NSE Plus, from 2017)^[4]	2.4 Eclipse Cross PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2021-2024)^[10][11]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 T-GDI turbo 162 hp (GS61H, 2018-2024)^{[5][6][18][19]} 1.5 T-GDI turbo 170 hp (15FDE / 15FKE, from 2024)^[2]	2.0 Outlander PHEV (4B11, 12 kWh battery, 2013-2018)^[9][10][20] 2.4 Outlander PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2018-2021)^[7][8][9]
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

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Mitsubishi PHEV

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

With the Mitsubishi PHEV

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Sources

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

MG ZS (crossover)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
MG HSWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Essai complet : MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du MG eHSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
MG HS PHEV: guía definitiva de problemas y soluciones del SUV, el híbrido enchufable más vendidoAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 10 November 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, el híbrido enchufable de segunda mano más fiable según la OCUHíbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 14 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Mitsubishi Outlander (II & III) – Bekannte Probleme und MängelGebrauchtwagenberater (Alemania) · Motoring press · published 2 March 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Baterías de híbrido enchufable: cuándo habrá que sustituirlas (Outlander PHEV)Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 May 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
El Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV sí llegará a Europa, incluida España, en 2021Híbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 18 October 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
MG HSWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
MG HSWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
List of General Motors enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Mitsubishi OutlanderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Mitsubishi 4B1 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
MG – Common problems (llamadas a revisión de la UE y del Reino Unido)car-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
MG HS SUV (2019-2024) Exclusive 1.5T-GDI 5d: opinión de propietario (10 jun 2022)Parkers · Owners' forum · published 10 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2013 – 2014): alerta A12/1947/19 (sensor de caudal de aire)car-recalls.eu (alertas Safety Gate / RAPEX) · Other source · published 13 December 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026