2.0/2.2 D-4D vs 2.5 TDI R5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.5 TDI R5 carries less risk than the 2.0/2.2 D-4D: 45/100 (moderate risk) versus 77/100 (very high risk). The 2.0/2.2 D-4D has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Warped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D»; the 2.5 TDI R5 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Plasma coating flaking off the cylinders».

Risk index

2.0/2.2 D-4D

Very high risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

2.5 TDI R5

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 5 October 202618 sources How we work

Is the 2.0/2.2 D-4D reliable?

No: the 2.0/2.2 D-4D family is among the most problematic Toyota diesels. The 2.2 block (2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV D-CAT) has a large number of cases of warped cylinder head gaskets and oil consumption or dilution in the Avensis, RAV4, Auris, Corolla Verso and Verso; the EGR valve and injectors fail frequently across the whole family, and the D-CAT filter clogs up if the car is not driven regularly on open roads.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the 2.0/2.2 D-4D faults

Is the 2.5 TDI R5 reliable?

The 2.5 TDI R5 in the T5 and the Touareg has a poor reputation: camshaft wear, pump injectors and cylinder coating. The later series were more reliable. It is not Audi's V6 TDI.^[5][6][7]

See the 5 of the 2.5 TDI R5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0/2.2 D-4D and 2.5 TDI R5
Item	2.0/2.2 D-4D	2.5 TDI R5
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	2,461 cm³
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	116–177 hp	88–174 hp
Production	2005–2018^{[8][9][10][11][12]}	2003–2011^[13][14][15]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	77Very high risk	45Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	5
Of high or critical severity	1	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Warped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D Medium severity: EGR valve clogged with soot Medium severity: Injector wear and failure	Critical severity: Plasma coating flaking off the cylinders High severity: Camshaft and hydraulic tappet wear Medium severity: Leaks and play in the unit injectors
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 D-4D (1AD-FTV, 116-126 hp, 2005-2018)^[1][16]	2.5 TDI 130 and 174 hp with DPF (BNZ, BPC, 2006-2009)^[5] 2.5 TDI common rail Crafter (88 to 163 hp, 2006-2011)^[15]
AvoidVersions to avoid	2.2 D-4D (2AD-FTV, 136-150 hp, 2005-2015)^{[1][2][3][4][16][17][18]} 2.2 D-4D D-CAT (2AD-FHV, 174-177 hp, 2005-2015)^[2][16][17]	2.5 TDI 130 and 174 hp (AXD, AXE, 2003-2006)^[5]

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

2.0/2.2 D-4D

See the 9 models with the 2.0/2.2 D-4D

2.5 TDI R5

Other comparisons

With the 2.0/2.2 D-4D

With the 2.5 TDI R5

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Toyota Avensis (2003-2009) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Avensis (2008-2018) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota RAV4 (2006-2012) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota RAV4 (2013-2019) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
VW T5 4Motion Gebrauchtwagen-TestAuto Bild · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Kaufberatung gebrauchter VW T5 (2003-2015)Promobil · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Ratgeber Technik: Fehler VW T5Auto Bild · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Toyota AD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota AvensisWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota AvensisWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Toyota AurisWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota VersoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
VW T5Wikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
VW Touareg IWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Volkswagen CrafterWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Toyota Auris (2007-2012) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Corolla Verso : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Verso : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French