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1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet carries less risk than the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI: 6/100 versus 7/100 (both low risk). The 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI has no documented serious faults; the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

7

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Risk index

1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

6

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

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

22 sourcesHow 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 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet reliable?

The Suzuki Boosterjet (1.0 K10C and 1.4 K14C/K14D) is a turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine with a timing chain, fitted since 2015 to the Vitara, S-Cross, Swift Sport and Baleno, with a 48 V mild-hybrid variant of the 1.4 since 2020. German TÜV inspection reports and the workshops we consulted rate its reliability as high: no widespread fault with the chain, oil, fuel pump or mild-hybrid system is documented.[7][8][9][10][11]

See the 4 of the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI and 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power106–170 hp110–140 hp
Productionsince 2017[1][2][12][13][14]since 2015[7][15][16][17]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)7Low risk6Low risk
Documented faults24
Of high or critical severity00
Worst severityLow severityLow severity
Main faults
  1. Low severity: Jerky or harsh automatic gearbox shifts when cold or at low speed (MG HS)
  2. Low severity: Electronic warnings and occasional sensor faults (MG HS)
  1. Low severity: Timing chain: no documented pattern of failures
  2. Low severity: Oil consumption: no documented pattern
  3. Low severity: Direct injection and fuel pump: no documented faults or recalls
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.5 VTi-TECH naturally aspirated 106 hp (NSE / NSE Plus, from 2017)[4]
  • 1.0 Boosterjet 110-112 hp (K10C, three-cylinder, 2015-present)[8][9][18][19]
  • 1.4 Boosterjet 140 hp (K14C, non-hybrid, 2015-2020 in Europe)[8][9][20]
  • 1.4 Boosterjet Mild Hybrid 129 hp (K14D, 48V SHVS, since 2020)[16][17]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.5 T-GDI turbo 162 hp (GS61H, 2018-2024)[5][6][21][22]
  • 1.5 T-GDI turbo 170 hp (15FDE / 15FKE, from 2024)[2]
None
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

1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

See the 12 models with the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI

With the 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

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. Suzuki K engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  8. Gebrauchtwagen-Check: Grundsätzlich gut: Der Suzuki Vitara beim TÜVVolksstimme (dpa) · General press · published January 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  9. Suzuki Swift als Gebrauchtwagen: Diese Punkte beanstandet der TÜV häufigT-Online · General press · published October 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  10. Los mecánicos recomiendan el Suzuki Vitara porque no presume de moderno, sino de sencillo y baratoEl Nacional · General press · published September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Test complet Suzuki VitaraFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  12. MG HSWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  13. MG HSWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  14. List of General Motors enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  15. Suzuki motor KWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Suzuki Swift Sport, Vitara y S-Cross: nuevas versiones micro-híbridas de 48VAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 16 December 2019 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  17. Suzuki S-Cross 1.4 Boosterjet Mild Hybrid 2020: precios y datos del nuevo SUVAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 12 March 2020 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  18. Suzuki Vitara : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  19. Suzuki Swift 3 : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  20. Prueba Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Boosterjet 140 CVActualidad Motor · Motoring press · published 16 May 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  21. MG – Common problems (llamadas a revisión de la UE y del Reino Unido)car-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  22. MG HS SUV (2019-2024) Exclusive 1.5T-GDI 5d: opinión de propietario (10 jun 2022)Parkers · Owners' forum · published 10 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026