1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power vs 1.6 THP: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power carries less risk than the 1.6 THP: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 64/100 (high risk). The 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion)»; 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 VC-Turbo e-Power

Moderate risk · 3 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 29 October 202614 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power reliable?

There is still little reliability data: the three-cylinder 1.5 VC-Turbo only generates electricity and no mechanical faults are known in Europe. The documented weak points are in the e-Power electronics: battery campaigns and isolated cases of immobilisation.^[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 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.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 5 of the 1.6 THP faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power and 1.6 THP
Item	1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power	1.6 THP
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,497 cm³	1,598 cm³
Timing	—	Chain
Power	190–213 hp	120–270 hp
Production	since 2022^{[8][9][10][11]}	2006–2018^[4][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	36Moderate risk	64High risk
Documented faults	4	5
Of high or critical severity	3	2
Worst severity	High severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion) High severity: Fuel line that slips out of its clip and may leak Medium severity: e-Power warning and limited mode due to incorrect state-of-charge reading	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	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 190 hp (Qashqai J12, since 2022)^[1][2][3] 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 204 hp (X-Trail T33, front-wheel drive, since 2022)^[1][8] 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power e-4ORCE 213 hp (X-Trail T33, all-wheel drive, since 2022)^[8][10]	1.6 VTi 120 / 1.6 16v (EP6/EP6C, N12/N16, naturally aspirated)^[7] 1.6 THP medium output (EP6DT/EP6DTS/EP6CDT, N14/N18; 140-190 hp)^[5][6][14] 1.6 THP high performance (EP6CDXD/EP6FDTR/EP6CDTR, John Cooper Works N14/N18; 200-270 hp)^[5][6][7]
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 VC-Turbo e-Power

1.6 THP

See the 16 models with the 1.6 THP

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

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.

Fiabilidad y averías del Nissan Qashqai 3 (2021)fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
Nissan Qashqai: richiamo per la batteria del sistema ibridoalVolante · Motoring press · published 4 August 2026 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Italian
Nissanowski SUV z usterką systemu zarządzania akumulatoremAutokatalog.pl · Motoring press · published 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
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
Nissan X-Trail - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
Nissan KR engine - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
Nissan X-Trail (T33) - Wikipedia (versión alemana)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
Nissan z novim Qashqaijem uvaja e-Power v EvropiRTV Slovenija · General press · published 19 February 2021 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026