1.6 THP vs Rover K-Series: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the Rover K-Series carries less risk than the 1.6 THP: 46/100 (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 Rover K-Series has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Head gasket failure».
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 Rover K-Series reliable?
The Rover K-Series has one very well-known fault: the head gasket, which according to Diariomotor can fail at under 100,000 km and which technical sources link to a small cooling circuit and a badly placed thermostat. The usual repair uses the multi-layer (MLS) gasket developed for the Freelander; the other two documented faults (sunken liners and coolant leaks) are related to that same circuit.[5][6][7][8]
See the 3 of the Rover K-Series faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.6 THP | Rover K-Series |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,598 cm³ | — |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 120–270 hp | 60–160 hp |
| Production | 2006–2018[1][9][10] | 1990–2005[6][11] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 64High risk | 46Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 3 |
| Of high or critical severity | 2 | 2 |
| 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 BMW B38 / B37
- 1.6 THP vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.6 THP vs BMW B58
- 1.6 THP vs BMW M54
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N13
- 1.6 THP vs BMW N20
- 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 1.2 8v 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 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 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 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 M260
- 1.6 THP vs M271
- 1.6 THP vs M272/M273
- 1.6 THP vs M270/M274
- 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 1.6 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 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 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 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 1.2 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 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 2.0 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 MPI/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
With the Rover K-Series
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 PureTech
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 PureTech
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 TCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- Rover K-Series vs 1.3 TCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- Rover K-Series vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- Rover K-Series vs BMW B38 / B37
- Rover K-Series vs BMW B48 / B38
- Rover K-Series vs BMW B58
- Rover K-Series vs BMW M54
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N13
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N20
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N43/N46
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N52 / N53
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N54/N55
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N62 / N63
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 8v Fire
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 T-Jet
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- Rover K-Series vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- Rover K-Series vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- Rover K-Series vs Honda IMA híbrido
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 T-GDI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- Rover K-Series vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs MZR gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs Skyactiv-G
- Rover K-Series vs M111
- Rover K-Series vs M112 / M113
- Rover K-Series vs M264/M254
- Rover K-Series vs M260
- Rover K-Series vs M271
- Rover K-Series vs M272/M273
- Rover K-Series vs M270/M274
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- Rover K-Series vs MIVEC gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 DIG-T
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- Rover K-Series vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- Rover K-Series vs 0.9 TCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 16v
- Rover K-Series vs E-Tech Híbrido
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 Hybrid
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.8 Hybrid
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- Rover K-Series vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs Drive-E gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 MPI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 12V
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.8 T 20v
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 FSI
- Rover K-Series vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
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
- Guía de compra del MG TF de segunda manoDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 7 November 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
- MG TF (2002)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
- Choosing the correct K Series Head Gasket KitDMGRS · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026
- Cooling and heating (K-Series: ZR, ZS, ZT, MGF, TF)MGOC Spares · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026
- Peugeot 308Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Peugeot RCZWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Rover K-series engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
- BMW Recalls Fuel Pumps. Mini Does NotMotoringFile · Motoring press · published 27 October 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026
- MG ZR ZS ZT & Modern Engine & FuelMGOC Spares · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026
- MGF & TF Headgasket Repair KitsMGOC Spares · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026