The most reliable Honda engines by the numbers
Honda's reliability reputation is earned at the engine level. The VTEC naturally aspirated engines, the D-series, and the hybrid i-MMD powertrain all demonstrate what happens when an engine manufacturer prioritises durability over peak specifications.
Complete ranking
| Rank | Engine | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B-Series | 88/100 | BEST |
| 2 | L15A/B | 88/100 | BEST |
| 3 | D-Series | 86/100 | BEST |
| 4 | e:HEV 2.0 | 85/100 | BEST |
| 5 | R20A | 85/100 | BEST |
| 6 | i-DCD / e:HEV 1.5 | 85/100 | BEST |
| 7 | F20C | 85/100 | BEST |
| 8 | L12 | 84/100 | BUY |
| 9 | K20Z4 | 82/100 | BUY |
| 10 | K20C1 | 82/100 | BUY |
| 11 | H22A | 78/100 | BUY |
| 12 | L15B (post-2019) | 78/100 | BUY |
B-Series — 88/100
B16A/B18C VTEC
Found in: Accord, Civic
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Timing belt (interference) — severity high, typically appears around 80.000 km
Full B-Series reliability report →
L15A/B — 88/100
1.5L VTEC I4
Found in: Civic, HR-V, Jazz
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full L15A/B reliability report →
D-Series — 86/100
D14/D15/D16
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Timing belt (interference) — severity high, typically appears around 80.000 km
Full D-Series reliability report →
e:HEV 2.0 — 85/100
2.0L Hybrid I4
Found in: Accord 2.0 e:HEV, CR-V 2.0 e:HEV, Civic 2.0 e:HEV, HR-V 1.5 e:HEV, Jazz 1.5 e:HEV
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Hybrid battery capacity fade (long-term) — severity minor, typically appears around 150.000 km
Full e:HEV 2.0 reliability report →
R20A — 85/100
2.0L i-VTEC I4
Found in: Accord, Accord 2.0 i-VTEC, CR-V, City 1.5 i-VTEC, Civic, FR-V, HR-V 1.5 VVT-i, Jazz 1.3 i-VTEC
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- VTEC solenoid / oil pressure switch — severity minor, typically appears around 80.000 km
Full R20A reliability report →
i-DCD / e:HEV 1.5 — 85/100
1.5L Hybrid I4
Found in: CR-Z, HR-V, Jazz
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full i-DCD / e:HEV 1.5 reliability report →
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →