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MotorFiable

Drive-E gasolina vs 2.3 VR5 (V5): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.3 VR5 (V5) carries less risk than the Drive-E gasolina: 32/100 versus 43/100 (both moderate risk). The Drive-E gasolina has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «High oil consumption that can damage the turbo»; the 2.3 VR5 (V5) has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing chain stretch».

Risk index

Drive-E gasolina

43

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

2.3 VR5 (V5)

32

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

14 sourcesHow we work

Is the Drive-E gasolina reliable?

The Volvo Drive-E petrol engine (2.0-litre 4-cylinder T2-T6/B4-B5 and, since 2018, 1.5-litre 3-cylinder T2-T3/B3) powers almost the entire Volvo range since 2013. Owners mainly document high oil consumption that can damage the turbo, carbon build-up on the intake valves caused by direct injection, and the odd coolant reservoir leak; we have not found Volvo acknowledging these faults with a campaign of its own for the petrol engine.[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the Drive-E gasolina faults

Is the 2.3 VR5 (V5) reliable?

The 2.3-litre VR5 is a naturally aspirated five-cylinder with the timing chain at the rear of the engine. Gebrauchtwagenberater rates it as a buy with no known problems in the Golf IV, but in the Bora it warns that the chain sometimes stretches; AutoHints adds the coils and the plastic coolant parts as points to watch.[4][5][6][7]

See the 3 of the 2.3 VR5 (V5) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Drive-E gasolina and 2.3 VR5 (V5)
Drive-E gasolina2.3 VR5 (V5)
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement—2,324 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power122–320 hp150–170 hp
Productionsince 2013[1][2][3][8][9][10]1997–2006[11][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)43Moderate risk32Moderate risk
Documented faults43
Of high or critical severity11
Worst severityHigh severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: High oil consumption that can damage the turbo
  2. Medium severity: Carbon build-up on injectors and intake valves due to direct injection
  3. Medium severity: Leak from the expansion tank or faulty cap in the cooling system
  1. High severity: Timing chain stretch
  2. Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
  3. Medium severity: Coolant leaks from the hoses and thermostat housing
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 2.0 T2/T3/T4/T5/T6 and B4/B5 mild hybrid 4-cylinder (B4204T, Drive-E, 2013-present)[1][2][3]
  • 1.5 T2/T3 and B3 mild hybrid 3-cylinder (B3154T, Drive-E, since 2018)[9][10][14]
  • 2.3 VR5 10v 150 hp (AGZ; 1997-2001)[5][6]
  • 2.3 VR5 20v 170 hp (AQN, AZX; 2000-2006)[5][7]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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

Cars that each one is fitted to

Drive-E gasolina

See the 10 models with the Drive-E gasolina

2.3 VR5 (V5)

Other comparisons

With the Drive-E gasolina

With the 2.3 VR5 (V5)

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

  1. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo XC60 (2008-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Volvo XC60 II (ab 2017) – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published November 2022 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  3. Volvo V90 – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published January 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  4. VW Golf 4: Typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 September 2026 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  5. VW Bora (1J2) – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 14 July 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  6. Engine 2.3 VR5 (AGZ) 150 HP: Experiences, problems, fuel consumption and used-car buying tipsAutoHints · Technical documentation · published 24 July 2025 · consulted 2 November 2026
  7. Volkswagen 2.3 VR5 20V (AQN): Experiences, problems, fuel consumption and used car buying tipsAutoHints · Technical documentation · published 24 July 2025 · consulted 2 November 2026
  8. Volvo Engine ArchitectureWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo V40Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. Volvo XC40 (seit 2017) – Typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published March 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  11. VR5 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  12. List of discontinued Volkswagen Group petrol enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  13. VR-MotorWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  14. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo V60Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French