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Honda e:HEV / i-MMD vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD carries less risk than the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power: 25/100 versus 36/100 (both moderate risk). The Honda e:HEV / i-MMD has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)»; the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion)».

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

25

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

36

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

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

11 sourcesHow we work

Is the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD reliable?

The Honda e:HEV hybrid system (formerly i-MMD) has no serious, widespread faults documented in the sources consulted. The most cited issue is the 12 V battery going flat when the car stands unused and, on the 2.0, a recall for the high-pressure fuel pump.[1][2]

See the 2 of the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD faults

Is the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power reliable?

There is still little reliability data: the three-cylinder 1.5 VC-Turbo only generates electricity and no mechanical faults are known in Europe. The documented weak points are in the e-Power electronics: battery campaigns and isolated cases of immobilisation.[3][4][5]

See the 4 of the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda e:HEV / i-MMD and 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
Honda e:HEV / i-MMD1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement—1,497 cm³
TimingChain—
Power109–184 hp190–213 hp
Productionsince 2018[1][6]since 2022[7][8][9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)25Moderate risk36Moderate risk
Documented faults24
Of high or critical severity13
Worst severityHigh severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)
  2. Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start
  1. High severity: Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion)
  2. High severity: Fuel line that slips out of its clip and may leak
  3. Medium severity: e-Power warning and limited mode due to incorrect state-of-charge reading
Most expensive documented repairup to €25012 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to startPublished figure[1]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • e:HEV 1.5 (LEB-H5) 109-131 hp system output (Jazz IV, HR-V III)[1][6]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • i-MMD 2.0 184 hp system output (CR-V V hybrid)[1][2]
  • e:HEV 2.0 184 hp system output (Civic XI)[2][11]
  • 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 190 hp (Qashqai J12, since 2022)[3][4][5]
  • 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 204 hp (X-Trail T33, front-wheel drive, since 2022)[3][7]
  • 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power e-4ORCE 213 hp (X-Trail T33, all-wheel drive, since 2022)[7][9]
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

Other comparisons

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

With the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

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Sources

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

  1. Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Honda recalls 1.3 million cars: fuel pump fire risk (KBA 14559R)Car-Recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 17 March 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026
  3. Fiabilidad y averías del Nissan Qashqai 3 (2021)fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
  4. Nissan Qashqai: richiamo per la batteria del sistema ibridoalVolante · Motoring press · published 4 August 2026 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Italian
  5. Nissanowski SUV z usterką systemu zarządzania akumulatoremAutokatalog.pl · Motoring press · published 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
  6. Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Nissan X-Trail - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
  8. Nissan KR engine - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
  9. Nissan X-Trail (T33) - Wikipedia (versión alemana)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
  10. Nissan z novim Qashqaijem uvaja e-Power v EvropiRTV Slovenija · General press · published 19 February 2021 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
  11. Guide d'achat Honda Civic (nueva campaña 6YP, 4.740 híbridos en Francia)L'argus · Motoring press · published 7 January 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French