1.6 THP vs 1.2 8v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v carries less risk than the 1.6 THP: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 64/100 (high risk). The 1.6 THP has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)»; the 1.2 8v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged cylinder head gasket (coolant loss and overheating)».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
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.[1][2][3][4]
See the 5 of the 1.6 THP faultsIs the 1.2 8v reliable?
The 1.2 8v (D7F) is a simple naturally aspirated engine of 54 to 60 hp, with a timing belt, which Renault fitted from 1996 to the Twingo, Clio II and Kangoo. No catastrophic failures are documented; what owner reviews mention most often are the sensors, the cylinder head gasket, the coil packs and the occasional oil drip.[5][6][7]
See the 5 of the 1.2 8v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.6 THP | 1.2 8v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,598 cm³ | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 120–270 hp | 54–60 hp |
| Production | 2006–2018[1][8][9] | 1996–2012[10][11][12][13] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 64High risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 2 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | High 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 1.6 THP
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.6 THP vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.6 THP vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.6 THP vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.6 THP vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.6 THP vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.6 THP vs BMW B58
- 1.6 THP vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.6 THP vs M50 and M52
- 1.6 THP vs BMW M54
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N13
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N20
- 1.6 THP vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.6 THP vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.6 THP vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.6 THP vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.6 THP vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.6 THP vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.6 THP vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.6 THP vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.6 THP vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.6 THP vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.6 THP vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.6 THP vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.6 THP vs MZR gasolina
- 1.6 THP vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.6 THP vs M111
- 1.6 THP vs M112 / M113
- 1.6 THP vs M264/M254
- 1.6 THP vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.6 THP vs M260
- 1.6 THP vs M271
- 1.6 THP vs M272/M273
- 1.6 THP vs M270/M274
- 1.6 THP vs M276
- 1.6 THP vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.6 THP vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.6 THP vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.6 THP vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.6 THP vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.6 THP vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.6 THP vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.6 THP vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.6 THP vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.6 THP vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 16v
- 1.6 THP vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.6 THP vs Rover K-Series
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.6 THP vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.6 THP vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.6 THP vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.6 THP vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.6 THP vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.6 THP vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.6 THP vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.6 THP vs 1.2 12V
- 1.6 THP vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.6 THP vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.6 THP vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.6 THP vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.6 THP vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.6 THP vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.6 THP vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.6 THP vs VR6
With the 1.2 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 8v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 8v vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 8v vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.2 8v vs M50 and M52
- 1.2 8v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 8v vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.2 8v vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.2 8v vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 8v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.2 8v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 8v vs M111
- 1.2 8v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 8v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 8v vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.2 8v vs M260
- 1.2 8v vs M271
- 1.2 8v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 8v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 8v vs M276
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 8v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 8v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.2 8v vs VR6
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- 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
- Fiabilité Renault Clio 2 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 1993-2006 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 2 (2007-2014) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Moteur D (Renault)Wikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault Twingo IWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026
- Renault Twingo (ab 1993): Schwachstellen laut TÜV-AuswertungAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published February 2002 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German