1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE) vs 1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR)

Side-by-side reliability comparison

Higher reliability score
1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR) BEST 89/100
+17 points over 1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE)
0 / 100
ACCEPTABLE 1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE) Volkswagen
0 / 100
BEST 1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR) Volkswagen

Specifications

1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE)
1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR)
Brand
Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Verdict
ACCEPTABLE
BEST
Reliability
72
89
Years
2012--2021
1991--2006
Displacement
1598 cc
1896 cc
Layout
I4
I4
Type
Diesel
Diesel
Power
80--120 hp
75--110 hp
Known Issues
5
8
Total Risk Cost
€2,900--€4,800
€1,571--€4,540

Character

1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE)

"MQB-era 1.6 TDI. Robust bottom end and turbo; the pain is the emissions kit. Engines built to September 2014 can overheat when the switchable water pump control slide fails (VW TPI 2041955); EGR cooler, DPF and AdBlue sensors suffer on short trips. A motorway commuter car, not a city car."

1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR)

"The rotary-pump TDI that built the legend. Simple VP37 injection, 500,000 km examples are documented. Weak spots are wear items: injection-pump seals, VTG turbo vanes, EGR soot and the dual-mass flywheel. Keep the timing belt on schedule - it is an interference engine."

Issues Comparison

1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE) 5

▲ HIGH
Switchable water pump control slide failure - overheating (built to Sep 2014) €700--€1,200 N/A--100,000 km
▲ HIGH
Timing belt - interference engine, 210,000 km interval €700--€1,100 210,000 km--210,000 km
● MODERATE
AdBlue (SCR) sensor, heater and pump failures €1,500--€2,500 120,000 km--N/A
● MODERATE
DPF clogging and oil dilution on short trips N/A--N/A N/A--N/A
● MODERATE
EGR cooler and valve sooting, sticking or leaking N/A--N/A N/A--N/A

1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR) 8

▲ HIGH
Timing belt - interference engine, 60,000-120,000 km interval by variant N/A--N/A 60,000 km--120,000 km
▲ HIGH
Timing belt replacement — interference engine €250--€500 60,000 km--90,000 km
● MODERATE
VP37 injection pump seals and electronics wear €70--€420 N/A--N/A
● MODERATE
Dual-mass flywheel wear €235--€580 160,000 km--N/A
● MODERATE
VTG turbo vanes and actuator sticking (AFN/ALH/ASV) €80--€520 N/A--N/A
○ MINOR
EGR valve sooting and intake clogging €36--€120 130,000 km--160,000 km
○ MINOR
Turbo wear at very high mileage €500--€1,200 200,000 km--∞
○ MINOR
Injection pump wear (very high mileage) €400--€1,200 250,000 km--∞

Models

1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE) 22

Yeti 5L 2009--2018 Rapid NH 2012--2019 Toledo Mk4 (KG) 2015--2019 A3 8V 2012--2020 Leon Mk3 (5F) 2012--2018 Golf Mk7 (5G) 2012--2019 Octavia 5E 2013--2020 Leon 5F 2013--2020 Leon Mk3 (5F) 2012--2020 Superb 3V 2015--2019 Passat B8 (3G) 2014--2019 T-Roc A11 2017--2020 Karoq NU 2017--2020 Tiguan AD 2016--2020 Kodiaq NS 2017--2020 Ateca KH 2016--2020 Arona KJ7 2017--2021 Scala NW 2019--2020 Touran 5T 2015--2020 Ateca KH7 2016--2020 Ibiza Mk5 (KJ) 2017--2021 Ibiza Mk5 (KJ) 2017--2021

1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR) 16

Golf Mk3 (1H) 1996--1997 Ibiza 6K 1996--2002 Ibiza Mk2 (6K) 1996--2002 A4 B5 1996--2001 A4 B5 1996--2001 Octavia 1U 1997--2004 Octavia 1U 1996--2004 Leon 1M 1999--2005 Leon Mk1 (1M) 1999--2006 Golf Mk4 (1J) 1997--2003 Toledo Mk2 (1M) 1999--2004 A3 8L 1996--2003 Ibiza Mk2 (6K) 1999--2002 Passat B5 (3B) 1996--2005 Golf 1.9 TDI MK4 1997--2004 Hatchback Polo 1.9 TDI 9N 2001--2009 Hatchback
Full 1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE) Report Full 1.9 TDI VE (1Z/AHU/AFN/ALH/ASV/AHF/AGR) Report