1.2 16v vs 2.0 FSI: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 2.0 FSI carries less risk than the 1.2 16v: 32/100 versus 36/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss»; the 2.0 FSI has no documented serious faults.
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is 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.[1][2][3][4]
See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faultsIs the 2.0 FSI reliable?
The 2.0 FSI is the naturally aspirated version with which the Volkswagen Group introduced petrol direct injection in a two-litre engine, before moving on to the turbocharged 2.0 TSI. Two faults recur across several models: carbon build-up on the intake valves, inherent to direct injection, and ignition coil failure, documented from 5,000 km in one case. Gebrauchtwagenberater.de nevertheless counts it among the most reliable petrol engines in the Audi A4 B7.[5][6][7][8]
See the 2 of the 2.0 FSI faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 16v | 2.0 FSI |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,149 cm³ | 1,984 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Chain |
| Power | 60–76 hp | 150 hp |
| Production | 2001–2020[9][10][11][12] | 2003–2009[13][14][15] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 36Moderate risk | 32Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 2 |
| Of high or critical severity | 1 | 0 |
| Worst severity | High severity | Medium severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | 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 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 Skyactiv-G
- 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 VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 2.0 FSI
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 PureTech
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 PureTech
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 TCe
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.3 TCe
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 2.0 FSI vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW B38 / B37
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW B48 / B38
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW B58
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW M54
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW N13
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW N20
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW N43/N46
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW N52 / N53
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW N54/N55
- 2.0 FSI vs BMW N62 / N63
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 2.0 FSI vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 2.0 FSI vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 2.0 FSI vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 2.0 FSI vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 2.0 FSI vs MZR gasolina
- 2.0 FSI vs Skyactiv-G
- 2.0 FSI vs M111
- 2.0 FSI vs M112 / M113
- 2.0 FSI vs M264/M254
- 2.0 FSI vs M260
- 2.0 FSI vs M271
- 2.0 FSI vs M272/M273
- 2.0 FSI vs M270/M274
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 2.0 FSI vs MIVEC gasolina
- 2.0 FSI vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4 Turbo
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 2.0 FSI vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.6 THP
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 2.0 FSI vs 0.9 TCe
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 2.0 FSI vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 2.0 FSI vs Rover K-Series
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 Turbo
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 2.0 FSI vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 2.0 FSI vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 2.0 FSI vs Drive-E gasolina
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.0 MPI
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.2 12V
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 2.0 FSI vs 1.8 T 20v
- 2.0 FSI 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.
- 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
- Audi A3 8P: Typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- VW Passat B6 – Bekannte Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Audi A4 B7 (8E) – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité Volkswagen Golf V - pannes moteur, boîte, électronique...Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- 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
- Volkswagen Golf Mk5Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Volkswagen TouranWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- VW Passat B6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · 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
- Fiabilité Volkswagen Passat - pannes moteur, boîte, électronique...Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French