1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI carries less risk than the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12: 7/100 versus 14/100 (both low risk). The 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI has no documented serious faults; the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Low risk · 0 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 9 October 202623 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI reliable?

MG/SAIC's "1.5" covers two different engines: the naturally aspirated VTi-TECH (106 hp), the entry-level engine in the MG ZS, and the turbocharged T-GDI (162-170 hp), found only in the MG HS and as the petrol engine in its plug-in hybrids. Neither has well-documented engine faults in independent sources yet: the complaints published concern electronics, the automatic gearbox and finish, not the engine block.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 2 of the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 reliable?

The EW10 (2.0) and EW12 (2.2) are naturally aspirated 16-valve petrol engines with a timing belt, which PSA fitted between 1999 and 2010 to the 206, 307, 406, 407, 607, 807, C4, C5 and C8, among others. According to owners there are no frequent internal failures: the most-cited problems are the ignition coils (the only fault also reported by the press), the exhaust and, on the 2.2, oil consumption.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}

See the of the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Item	1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	106–170 hp	135–177 hp
Production	since 2017^{[1][2][15][16][17]}	1999–2010^{[7][9][18][19]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	7Low risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	2	1
Of high or critical severity	0	0
Worst severity	Low severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Low severity: Jerky or harsh automatic gearbox shifts when cold or at low speed (MG HS) Low severity: Electronic warnings and occasional sensor faults (MG HS)	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.5 VTi-TECH naturally aspirated 106 hp (NSE / NSE Plus, from 2017)^[4]	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[7][8][10][11][20][21]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[12][13][22]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 T-GDI turbo 162 hp (GS61H, 2018-2024)^[5][6] 1.5 T-GDI turbo 170 hp (15FDE / 15FKE, from 2024)^[2]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[10][20][22] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[11][13] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[11][12][14][19][23]}
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

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

MG ZS I

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

See the 13 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

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Sources

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

1.MG ZS (crossover)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
2.MG HSWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
3.Essai complet : MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
4.Fiabilité et pannes du MG ZSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
5.Fiabilité et pannes du MG eHSFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
6.MG HS PHEV: guía definitiva de problemas y soluciones del SUV, el híbrido enchufable más vendidoAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 10 November 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
7.PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
8.Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
9.Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
10.Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
11.Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
12.Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
13.Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
14.Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
15.MG HSWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
16.MG HSWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
17.List of General Motors enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
18.Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
19.Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
20.Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
21.Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
22.Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
23.Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French