1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE) vs EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI)

Side-by-side reliability comparison

Higher reliability score
EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI) BUY 82/100
+10 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
BUY EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI) Volkswagen

Specifications

1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE)
EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI)
Brand
Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Verdict
ACCEPTABLE
BUY
Reliability
72
82
Years
2012--2021
2020--present
Displacement
1598 cc
1984 cc
Layout
I4
I4
Type
Diesel
Petrol Turbo
Power
80--120 hp
190--320 hp
Known Issues
5
3
Total Risk Cost
€2,900--€4,800
€0--€0

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."

EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI)

"Fourth-generation EA888 (evo4, from 2020): 350 bar injection, GPF, 245-320 PS in Golf 8 GTI/R, S3 8Y, Leon/Formentor, Octavia RS. Early data only: two US recalls for assembly faults (radiator mounting, engine cover), no engine-internal failure pattern and no high-mileage history yet. Score carries a limited-data caveat until the fleet ages; the plastic thermostat module is the inherited weak point to watch."

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

EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI) 3

● MODERATE
Radiator not secured to intercooler — coolant hose chafes on belt pulley (Golf 8 GTI/R built Feb 2021 to Jul 2022) N/A--N/A N/A--N/A
● MODERATE
Plastic thermostat / water-pump module seepage (inherited EA888 weak point — no Gen 4 failure data yet) N/A--N/A N/A--N/A
○ MINOR
Engine design cover can loosen under hard acceleration — fire risk (2022 Golf GTI/R) N/A--N/A N/A--N/A

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

EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI) 38

Kodiaq NS 2020--2021 A4 B9 2020--2023 Octavia NX 2020--present Golf Mk8 (CD) 2020--present Tarraco KN 2020--present Polo AW 2021--present Polo AW 2020--present Leon KL 2020--present Tiguan AD 2020--2024 Golf Mk8 (CD) 2021--present Octavia NX 2020--present A3 8Y 2021--present Ateca KH7 2020--present A4 B9 2020--2023 Q5 FY 2020--present Q3 F3 2020--present Formentor KM 2020--present A6 C8 2020--present Formentor KM 2020--present Kodiaq NS 2020--2024 Leon Mk4 (KL) 2020--present Tarraco KN2 2020--present Q5 FY 2020--present T-Roc A11 2020--present Karoq NU 2020--present Arteon 3H 2020--present Leon KL 2020--present Arteon 3H 2021--present Ateca KH 2020--present Ateca KH 2020--2020 A3 8Y 2020--present Golf Mk8 (CD) 2021--present T-Roc A11 2020--present A5 2.0 TFSI F5 2016--2024 Coupe A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI F5 2016--2024 Fastback Golf GTI 2.0 TSI 8 2020--2024 Hatchback Golf R 2.0 TSI 8 2020--2024 Hatchback Passat 2.0 TSI B8 2015--2023 Sedan
Full 1.6 TDI EA288 (CLHA/CRKB/CXXB/DCXA/DGDA/DGTE) Report Full EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI) Report