1.2 8v vs 1.8 T 20v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.8 T 20v carries less risk than the 1.2 8v: 32/100 versus 36/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.2 8v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged cylinder head gasket (coolant loss and overheating)»; the 1.8 T 20v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Turbo wear and oil consumption».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is 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.[1][2][3]
See the 5 of the 1.2 8v faultsIs the 1.8 T 20v reliable?
With up-to-date maintenance, the 20-valve 1.8T has a reputation as a powerful, durable engine for its time, but owner reports document recurring faults: ignition coils (especially on 2001 to 2003 units), water pump and air mass meter, and less often the turbo -sometimes linked to growing oil consumption- and the timing chain tensioner.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
See the 5 of the 1.8 T 20v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 8v | 1.8 T 20v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,149 cm³ | 1,781 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 54–60 hp | 150–225 hp |
| Production | 1996–2012[10][11][12][13] | 1996–2006[14][15][16][17] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 36Moderate risk | 32Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 1 | 1 |
| Worst severity | High 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 1.2 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 1.6 THP
- 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 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
With the 1.8 T 20v
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.8 T 20v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW B58
- 1.8 T 20v vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.8 T 20v vs M50 and M52
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW M54
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW N13
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW N20
- 1.8 T 20v vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.8 T 20v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.8 T 20v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.8 T 20v vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.8 T 20v vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.8 T 20v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.8 T 20v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.8 T 20v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.8 T 20v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.8 T 20v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.8 T 20v vs M111
- 1.8 T 20v vs M112 / M113
- 1.8 T 20v vs M264/M254
- 1.8 T 20v vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.8 T 20v vs M260
- 1.8 T 20v vs M271
- 1.8 T 20v vs M272/M273
- 1.8 T 20v vs M270/M274
- 1.8 T 20v vs M276
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.8 T 20v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.8 T 20v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.8 T 20v vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.8 T 20v vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.8 T 20v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.8 T 20v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 16v
- 1.8 T 20v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.8 T 20v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.8 T 20v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.8 T 20v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.8 T 20v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.8 T 20v vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.8 T 20v vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.8 T 20v vs VR6
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- 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
- Fiabilité et pannes Volkswagen Golf IVFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes Volkswagen PassatFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes Audi A3Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes Audi TTFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes Seat LeónFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Seat Leon Mk1: Probleme, Schwachstellen, ErfahrungenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- List of Volkswagen Group petrol enginesWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Audi TTWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- SEAT LeónWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- SEAT ToledoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Renault Twingo (ab 1993): Schwachstellen laut TÜV-AuswertungAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published February 2002 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German