2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288) vs 1.9 TDI (ALH)

Side-by-side reliability comparison

Higher reliability score
1.9 TDI (ALH) BEST 92/100
+14 points over 2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288)
0 / 100
BUY 2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288) Volkswagen
0 / 100
BEST 1.9 TDI (ALH) Volkswagen

Specifications

2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288)
1.9 TDI (ALH)
Brand
Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Verdict
BUY
BEST
Reliability
78
92
Years
2008--present
1996--2006
Displacement
1968 cc
1896 cc
Layout
I4
I4
Type
Diesel
Diesel
Power
140--200 hp
90 hp
Known Issues
0
3
Total Risk Cost
€0--€0
€1,150--€2,900

Character

2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288)

"Common rail successor. Smoother, more refined. Dieselgate affected EA189 but engine is reliable. EA288 is current."

1.9 TDI (ALH)

"The legendary ALH. 500k+ miles documented. Simple mechanical injection. Nearly unkillable. Belt-driven."

Issues Comparison

2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288) 0

No documented issues.

1.9 TDI (ALH) 3

▲ HIGH
Timing belt replacement — interference engine €250--€500 60,000 km--90,000 km
○ MINOR
Injection pump wear (very high mileage) €400--€1,200 250,000 km--∞
○ MINOR
Turbo wear at very high mileage €500--€1,200 200,000 km--∞

Models

2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288) 78

Transporter T5 2009--2015 Transporter T5 2009--2015 Exeo 3R 2009--2013 A4 B8 2008--2015 Q5 8R 2008--2017 A5 8T 2008--2016 Tiguan 5N 2007--2016 A3 8P 2008--2012 Golf Mk6 (5K) 2009--2012 Yeti 5L 2009--2018 Golf Mk6 (5K) 2009--2012 Passat B7 (3C) 2010--2014 Octavia 1Z 2008--2013 Superb 3T 2008--2015 Transporter T6 2015--2019 Alhambra 710/711 2010--2020 Yeti 5L 2009--2018 Q3 8U 2011--2018 Yeti 5L 2011--2018 Superb 3T 2008--2015 Alhambra 710/711 2010--2020 Passat B7 (3C) 2010--2014 Q3 8U 2012--2018 Caddy 2K 2010--2015 Ibiza Mk4 (6J) 2009--2012 A4 B8 2011--2015 A6 C7 2011--2018 Exeo 3R 2009--2013 Tiguan 5N 2008--2016 Octavia 5E 2013--2020 Leon Mk3 (5F) 2012--2020 Leon 5F 2013--2020 A3 8V 2012--2020 Golf Mk7 (5G) 2012--2019 Q7 4M 2015--present Alhambra 710/711 2015--2020 Passat B8 (3G) 2014--2019 Tiguan AD 2016--2020 TT 8S 2015--2018 Leon Mk3 (5F) 2013--2020 Leon 5F 2014--2020 Octavia 5E 2014--2020 A3 8V 2014--2020 Golf Mk7 (5G) 2013--2019 Transporter T6 2015--2021 Transporter T6 2015--2021 Q5 FY 2017--present A5 F5 2016--2024 A4 B9 2015--2023 A4 B9 2015--2019 Superb 3V 2015--2024 Tiguan AD 2016--2024 Ateca KH7 2016--present Touran 5T 2015--present Passat B8 (3G) 2014--2023 Karoq NU 2017--present T-Roc A11 2017--present Ateca KH 2016--present Arteon 3H 2017--present Tarraco KN 2019--present Tarraco KN2 2019--present Kodiaq NS 2017--2024 Passat B8 (3G) 2014--2023 Ateca KH7 2016--present Arteon 3H 2017--present Tarraco KN2 2019--present Tiguan AD 2016--2024 Ateca KH 2016--present Kodiaq NS 2017--2024 Superb 3V 2015--2024 Macan 95B 2014--2024 Q3 F3 2019--present Octavia NX 2020--present Golf Mk8 (CD) 2020--present Leon Mk4 (KL) 2020--present Caddy SB 2020--present Leon KL 2020--present A3 8Y 2020--present

1.9 TDI (ALH) 2

Golf 1.9 TDI MK4 1997--2004 Hatchback Polo 1.9 TDI 9N 2001--2009 Hatchback
Full 2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288) Report Full 1.9 TDI (ALH) Report