1.2 16v vs 1.0 MPI: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.0 MPI carries less risk than the 1.2 16v: 19/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (moderate risk). The 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss»; the 1.0 MPI has no documented serious faults.
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.2 16v reliable?
The 1.2 16v (D4F) and its 8-valve predecessor, the D7F, are simple naturally aspirated engines, used for over two decades as the entry-level option in Renault and Dacia cars, with a reputation for reliability: the reliability pages consulted document no catastrophic failures and no oil consumption. The most-cited problems are ignition coils and sensors and, on higher-mileage cars, the head gasket.[1][2][3][4]
See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faultsIs the 1.0 MPI reliable?
The 1.0 MPI is a simple, low-powered (60-75 hp) naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine with no serious or systemic faults documented. Its most frequently cited issues are above-normal oil consumption -- especially in the Seat Ibiza V -- and, more occasionally, a cooling system fault with the engine light and vibrations. The timing belt has no fixed replacement interval and shows no failure pattern.[5][6][7][8]
See the 4 of the 1.0 MPI faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 16v | 1.0 MPI |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,149 cm³ | 999 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 60–76 hp | 60–75 hp |
| Production | 2001–2020[9][10][11][12] | since 2011[13][14][15][16] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 36Moderate risk | 19Low risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 4 |
| Of high or critical severity | 1 | 0 |
| Worst severity | High severity | Medium severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | ||
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | None | None |
| 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 1.2 16v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 16v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 16v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 16v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 16v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 16v vs M111
- 1.2 16v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 16v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 16v vs M260
- 1.2 16v vs M271
- 1.2 16v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 16v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 16v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 1.0 MPI
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.0 MPI vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW B58
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW M54
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW N13
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW N20
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.0 MPI vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.0 MPI vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.0 MPI vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.0 MPI vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.0 MPI vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.0 MPI vs MZR gasolina
- 1.0 MPI vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.0 MPI vs M111
- 1.0 MPI vs M112 / M113
- 1.0 MPI vs M264/M254
- 1.0 MPI vs M260
- 1.0 MPI vs M271
- 1.0 MPI vs M272/M273
- 1.0 MPI vs M270/M274
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.0 MPI vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.0 MPI vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.0 MPI vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 THP
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.0 MPI vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.0 MPI vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.0 MPI vs Rover K-Series
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.0 MPI vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.0 MPI vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.2 12V
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.0 MPI vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.0 MPI vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.0 MPI 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.
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Maxi-fiche fiabilité : la Renault Twingo 2Caradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Volkswagen UpFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Seat Ibiza (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Skoda CitigoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- VW Up: Beliebtes Stadtauto im GebrauchtwagencheckGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 22 March 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Moteur D RenaultWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- VW EA211Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Škoda FabiaWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- VW Polo VWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- VW Polo VIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault KangooFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia LoganFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia SanderoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Seat MiiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Skoda Fabia 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French