Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 16v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the Skyactiv-G carries less risk than the 1.2 16v: 25/100 versus 36/100 (both moderate risk). The Skyactiv-G has no documented serious faults; the 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the Skyactiv-G reliable?
The Skyactiv-G is a naturally aspirated petrol engine that the German specialist press consistently describes as reliable, with no documented pattern of serious engine faults in any Mazda model reviewed. Its weak point, shared with almost any direct-injection petrol engine, is carbon build-up in the intake; in addition, 2017-2020 units had recalls for software and for the fuel pump, since fixed by the manufacturer.[1][2][3][4]
See the 5 of the Skyactiv-G faultsIs 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.[5][6][7][8]
See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | Skyactiv-G | 1.2 16v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 75–187 hp | 60–76 hp |
| Production | since 2011[1][9] | 2001–2020[10][11][12][13] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 25Moderate risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 0 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Medium severity | High 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 Skyactiv-G
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 PureTech
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 PureTech
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 TCe
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.3 TCe
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- Skyactiv-G vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW B38 / B37
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW B48 / B38
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW B58
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW M54
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW N13
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW N20
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW N43/N46
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW N52 / N53
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW N54/N55
- Skyactiv-G vs BMW N62 / N63
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 8v Fire
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4 T-Jet
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- Skyactiv-G vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- Skyactiv-G vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- Skyactiv-G vs Honda IMA híbrido
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 T-GDI
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- Skyactiv-G vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- Skyactiv-G vs MZR gasolina
- Skyactiv-G vs M111
- Skyactiv-G vs M112 / M113
- Skyactiv-G vs M264/M254
- Skyactiv-G vs M260
- Skyactiv-G vs M271
- Skyactiv-G vs M272/M273
- Skyactiv-G vs M270/M274
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- Skyactiv-G vs MIVEC gasolina
- Skyactiv-G vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.6 DIG-T
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4 Turbo
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- Skyactiv-G vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.6 THP
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- Skyactiv-G vs 0.9 TCe
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- Skyactiv-G vs E-Tech Híbrido
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- Skyactiv-G vs Rover K-Series
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 VVT-i
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 Turbo
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.5 Hybrid
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.8 Hybrid
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- Skyactiv-G vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- Skyactiv-G vs Drive-E gasolina
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.0 MPI
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.2 12V
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- Skyactiv-G vs 1.8 T 20v
- Skyactiv-G vs 2.0 FSI
- Skyactiv-G vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
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 1.0 / 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 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 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 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 1.3, 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 1.0 MPI
- 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
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- SkyactivWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Mazda 3 (BM/BN, 2013-2019) – Erfahrungen & ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Mazda 6 (GJ, III) – Erfahrungen & ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Mazda CX-5 II (KF) – Erfahrungen & ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- List of Mazda enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- 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
- Mazda 2 (DJ) – Erfahrungen & ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Mazda 3 IV (BP) – Erfahrungen & ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · 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