The most reliable Porsche engines by the numbers
Porsche's best engines are the ones that justify the badge. From the Mezger flat-six to the 9A1 direct-injection flat-six, these are engines built to be driven hard — though even the 9A1 has rare cases of bore scoring, so the history still matters.
Complete ranking
| Rank | Engine | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9A1/MA1 | 85/100 | BEST |
| 2 | MA3 | 84/100 | BUY |
| 3 | M46 (3.0 M46.30, 3.6 M46.35) | 82/100 | BUY |
| 4 | M64 (993: M64/05, M64/06, M64/21; Turbo M64/60) | 81/100 | BUY |
| 5 | 9A2 B4T (2.0/2.5) | 81/100 | BUY |
9A1/MA1 — 85/100
9A1 DFI Flat-6
Found in: 911, Boxster, Cayman
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Bore scoring and piston seizure (rare) — severity critical, typically appears around N/A
Full 9A1/MA1 reliability report →
MA3 — 84/100
4.0 Flat-6 NA (911 GT3 992, 718 GT4 RS)
Found in: 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, 911
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- No documented engine failure pattern — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
M46 (3.0 M46.30, 3.6 M46.35) — 82/100
3.0/3.6 V6 Twin-Turbo (Porsche M46)
Found in: Cayenne, Macan, Panamera
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Coolant loss: plastic coolant pipes burst, regulator housing or pump leaks — severity high, typically appears around N/A
- Timing-case cover oil leak from broken aluminium bolts — severity high, typically appears around 33.000 km
Full M46 (3.0 M46.30, 3.6 M46.35) reliability report →
M64 (993: M64/05, M64/06, M64/21; Turbo M64/60) — 81/100
M64 3.6 air-cooled Flat-6 (993)
Found in: 911
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Valve-guide wear and clogged secondary-air ports (non-Turbo 993) — severity high, typically appears around N/A
- Oil leaks (case through-bolts, valve covers, rear main seal, chain housings) — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
- Twin-distributor drive belt failure — severity moderate, typically appears around N/A
Full M64 (993: M64/05, M64/06, M64/21; Turbo M64/60) reliability report →
9A2 B4T (2.0/2.5) — 81/100
2.0/2.5 Flat-4 Turbo
Found in: 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Fuel collection pipe screws can shear — fuel leak (recall) — severity high, typically appears around N/A
- Coolant reservoir cap leak / false low-coolant warning — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
- Turbo lag / boost threshold — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
Full 9A2 B4T (2.0/2.5) reliability report →
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →