The most reliable Nissan engines by the numbers
Nissan's most reliable engines come from the pre-alliance era and specific modern standouts. The VQ V6, the HR series, and proven naturally aspirated units represent Nissan engineering at its best — before cost-cutting diluted the lineup.
Complete ranking
| Rank | Engine | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VQ37VHR | 82/100 | BUY |
| 2 | HR16DE | 80/100 | BUY |
| 3 | VR38DETT | 78/100 | BUY |
| 4 | 1.5 dCi (K9K) | 78/100 | BUY |
| 5 | MR20DE/DD | 78/100 | BUY |
| 6 | MR20DE | 78/100 | BUY |
VQ37VHR — 82/100
3.7L NA V6
Found in: 370Z 3.7 V6
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full VQ37VHR reliability report →
HR16DE — 80/100
1.6L NA I4
Found in: Almera, Almera Tino, Juke, Micra, NV200, Note, Primera, Qashqai
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full HR16DE reliability report →
VR38DETT — 78/100
VR38DETT 3.8 V6 Twin-Turbo
Found in: GT-R
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- GR6 transmission (not engine) — severity high, typically appears around 40.000 km
Full VR38DETT reliability report →
1.5 dCi (K9K) — 78/100
1.5L Diesel I4
Found in: Almera, Primera
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full 1.5 dCi (K9K) reliability report →
MR20DE/DD — 78/100
2.0L NA I4
Found in: 350Z, 370Z, Almera Tino, Juke, Koleos, Latitude, Murano, Primera
No significant reliability issues reported.
Full MR20DE/DD reliability report →
MR20DE — 78/100
2.0L NA I4
Found in: Juke 1.6 DIG-T, Pathfinder 2.5 dCi, X-Trail 2.0 dCi
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- CVT transmission overheating (separate from engine) — severity high, typically appears around 80.000 km
- Timing chain + oil consumption — severity moderate, typically appears around 80.000 km
Full MR20DE reliability report →
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →