EcoBoost 1.6 vs Dragon 1.5 I3 (EcoBoost / Ti-VCT)
Side-by-side reliability comparison
Specifications
Character
EcoBoost 1.6
"Ford's first four-cylinder EcoBoost (2010-2017): 1.6 litres, direct injection, turbo, timing belt. Fitted to the Focus III, C-Max II, Kuga II, Fiesta ST and ST200, Mondeo, S-Max, Galaxy, Transit Connect and, as the B4164T, to Volvo T3/T4 models. Strong and lively, but very sensitive to coolant loss: with too little coolant the cylinder head can overheat and crack, leak oil under pressure and, in rare cases, start an engine-bay fire. Ford recalled engines built 2010-2014 worldwide (845 cars in Greece) to fit a coolant level sensor. Check the recall was done, watch the coolant level and change the timing belt on time."
Dragon 1.5 I3 (EcoBoost / Ti-VCT)
"Ford's 1.5 three-cylinder "Dragon" (2018 on): turbocharged in the Fiesta ST and Puma ST (200 hp), Focus Mk4 (150-182 hp) and Kuga Mk3 (120-150 hp), non-turbo in the EcoSport. Timing chain, port and direct injection, cylinder deactivation. German guides rate it a buy. Two recalls matter: high-pressure fuel injectors that can crack and leak fuel (Kuga built Nov 2018 - May 2024, final repair still pending) and a cracked oil-separator housing. Check that both recalls are done."