1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs VR6: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG carries less risk than the VR6: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 50/100 (high risk). The 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Stretched timing chain or worn tensioner and guides»; the VR6 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «VR6 timing chain and tensioners».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG reliable?
The petrol QG engines in the Almera N16 and the Primera P12 are simple chain-driven units with no documented catastrophic faults, but the 1.8 often uses oil, and the timing chain and position sensors have recalls and technical notices. Keep an eye on the oil level and on timing chain noise.[1][2][3][4]
See the 3 of the 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG faultsIs 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.[5][6][7]
See the 2 of the VR6 faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG | VR6 |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | — |
| Timing | Chain | Chain |
| Power | 90–116 hp | 140–300 hp |
| Production | 1998–2009[2][3][8] | 1991–2024[9][10][11] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 36Moderate risk | 50High risk |
| Documented faults | 3 | 2 |
| Of high or critical severity | 1 | 1 |
| Worst severity | High severity | Critical severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | None |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about |
| |
| 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
Other comparisons
With the 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW B58
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M50 and M52
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW M54
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M60 and M62
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW N13
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW N20
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs MZR gasolina
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M111
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M112 / M113
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M264/M254
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M260
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M271
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M272/M273
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M270/M274
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs M276
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 THP
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 16v
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 8v
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Rover K-Series
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.2 12V
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
With the VR6
- VR6 vs 1.2 PureTech
- VR6 vs 1.0 PureTech
- VR6 vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- VR6 vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- VR6 vs 1.2 TCe
- VR6 vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- VR6 vs 1.3 TCe
- VR6 vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- VR6 vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- VR6 vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- VR6 vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- VR6 vs BMW B38 / B37
- VR6 vs BMW B48 / B38
- VR6 vs BMW B58
- VR6 vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- VR6 vs M50 and M52
- VR6 vs BMW M54
- VR6 vs M60 and M62
- VR6 vs BMW N13
- VR6 vs BMW N20
- VR6 vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- VR6 vs BMW N43/N46
- VR6 vs BMW N52 / N53
- VR6 vs BMW N54/N55
- VR6 vs BMW N62 / N63
- VR6 vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- VR6 vs 1.4 T-Jet
- VR6 vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- VR6 vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- VR6 vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- VR6 vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- VR6 vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- VR6 vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- VR6 vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- VR6 vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- VR6 vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- VR6 vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- VR6 vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- VR6 vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- VR6 vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- VR6 vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- VR6 vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- VR6 vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- VR6 vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- VR6 vs Honda IMA híbrido
- VR6 vs 1.0 T-GDI
- VR6 vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- VR6 vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- VR6 vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- VR6 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- VR6 vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- VR6 vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- VR6 vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- VR6 vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- VR6 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- VR6 vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- VR6 vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- VR6 vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- VR6 vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- VR6 vs MZR gasolina
- VR6 vs Skyactiv-G
- VR6 vs M111
- VR6 vs M112 / M113
- VR6 vs M264/M254
- VR6 vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- VR6 vs M260
- VR6 vs M271
- VR6 vs M272/M273
- VR6 vs M270/M274
- VR6 vs M276
- VR6 vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- VR6 vs MIVEC gasolina
- VR6 vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- VR6 vs 1.6 DIG-T
- VR6 vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- VR6 vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- VR6 vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- VR6 vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- VR6 vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- VR6 vs 1.4 Turbo
- VR6 vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- VR6 vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- VR6 vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- VR6 vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- VR6 vs Porsche M96/M97
- VR6 vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- VR6 vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- VR6 vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- VR6 vs 1.6 THP
- VR6 vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- VR6 vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- VR6 vs 0.9 TCe
- VR6 vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- VR6 vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- VR6 vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- VR6 vs 1.8 TCe
- VR6 vs 1.2 16v
- VR6 vs 1.2 8v
- VR6 vs E-Tech Híbrido
- VR6 vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- VR6 vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- VR6 vs Rover K-Series
- VR6 vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- VR6 vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- VR6 vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- VR6 vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- VR6 vs 1.0 VVT-i
- VR6 vs 1.2 Turbo
- VR6 vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- VR6 vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- VR6 vs 1.5 Hybrid
- VR6 vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- VR6 vs 1.8 Hybrid
- VR6 vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- VR6 vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- VR6 vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- VR6 vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- VR6 vs Drive-E gasolina
- VR6 vs 1.0 MPI
- VR6 vs 1.2 12V
- VR6 vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- VR6 vs 1.8 T 20v
- VR6 vs 2.0 FSI
- VR6 vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- VR6 vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- VR6 vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- VR6 vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Fiabilité et pannes du Nissan Primera (2002-2008)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Erratic engine running on Nissan petrol enginesAutobiz (febi ProTip) · Technical documentation · published October 2023 · consulted 2 November 2026
- Nissan Almera Tino: zakup wysokiego ryzykaAuto Świat · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
- Nissan Almera: posible rotura del tornillo del piñón trasero del árbol de levas, tensor de cadena (DVSA R/2004/089)car-recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA, Reino Unido) · Other source · published 3 August 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026
- 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
- Nissan QG engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- 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 Nissan Almera 2000-2005 (90 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Nissan Primera: engine may stall (DVSA R/2003/170)car-recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA, Reino Unido) · Other source · published 3 August 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes du Nissan Tino (2000-2006)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- 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