1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.6 THP: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI carries less risk than the 1.6 THP: 7/100 (low risk) versus 64/100 (high risk). The 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI has no documented serious faults; the 1.6 THP has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)».

Risk index

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.6 THP

High 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 202618 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 1.6 THP reliable?

The 1.6 THP turbo and its naturally aspirated sibling, the 1.6 VTi, make up the Prince family, developed together with BMW and also used by MINI: they do not have a reputation for reliability. Turbo versions built before 2012 carry a known problem of timing chain stretch, and the whole block shares a water pump described as fragile; the turbo versions add oil consumption and high-pressure fuel pump failures.^{[7][8][9][10]}

See the 5 of the 1.6 THP faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI and 1.6 THP
Item	1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI	1.6 THP
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	1,598 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	106–170 hp	120–270 hp
Production	since 2017^{[1][2][11][12][13]}	2006–2018^[7][14][15]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	7Low risk	64High risk
Documented faults	2	5
Of high or critical severity	0	2
Worst severity	Low severity	Critical 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)	Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012) High severity: Fragile water pump and heat exchanger Medium severity: High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure on the turbo versions
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]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 T-GDI turbo 162 hp (GS61H, 2018-2024)^{[5][6][16][17]} 1.5 T-GDI turbo 170 hp (15FDE / 15FKE, from 2024)^[2]	1.6 VTi 120 / 1.6 16v (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16, naturally aspirated)^[10] 1.6 THP medium output (EP6DT/EP6DTS/EP6CDT, N14/N18; 140-190 hp)^[8][9][18] 1.6 THP high performance (EP6CDXD/EP6FDTR/EP6CDTR, John Cooper Works N14/N18; 200-270 hp)^[8][9][10]
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

1.6 THP

See the 16 models with the 1.6 THP

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

With the 1.6 THP

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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
Prince engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Distribution : les moteurs à problèmesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Moteurs essence qui consomment de l'huileFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Liste des moteurs qui ont des soucis de refroidissementFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published April 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
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
Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 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
BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026