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

Side-by-side reliability comparison

Higher reliability score
1.9 TDI (ALH/AHF/ASV) 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/AHF/ASV) Volkswagen

Specifications

2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288)
1.9 TDI (ALH/AHF/ASV)
Brand
Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Verdict
BUY
BEST
Reliability
78
92
Years
2008--present
1996--2009
Displacement
1968 cc
1896 cc
Layout
I4
I4
Type
Diesel
Diesel
Power
140--200 hp
90--150 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/AHF/ASV)

"Legendary diesel. 500k+ miles documented. Simple, efficient, nearly unkillable. Belt-driven."

Issues Comparison

2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288) 0

No documented issues.

1.9 TDI (ALH/AHF/ASV) 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 2008--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 Passat B7 (3C) 2010--2014 Alhambra 710/711 2010--2020 Superb 3T 2008--2015 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 Octavia 5E 2014--2020 A3 8V 2014--2020 Leon Mk3 (5F) 2013--2020 Leon 5F 2014--2020 Golf Mk7 (5G) 2013--2019 Transporter T6 2015--2021 Transporter T6 2015--2021 A4 B9 2015--2023 Q5 FY 2017--present A5 F5 2016--2024 A4 B9 2015--2019 Superb 3V 2015--2024 Touran 5T 2015--present Tiguan AD 2016--2024 Ateca KH7 2016--present Passat B8 (3G) 2014--2023 Tarraco KN2 2019--present Arteon 3H 2017--present Tarraco KN 2019--present T-Roc A11 2017--present Ateca KH 2016--present Kodiaq NS 2017--2024 Karoq NU 2017--present Passat B8 (3G) 2014--2023 Tarraco KN2 2019--present Tiguan AD 2016--2024 Superb 3V 2015--2024 Ateca KH7 2016--present Ateca KH 2016--present Kodiaq NS 2017--2024 Arteon 3H 2017--present Macan 95B 2014--2024 Leon KL 2020--present A3 8Y 2020--present Golf Mk8 (CD) 2020--present Q3 F3 2019--present Caddy SB 2020--present Octavia NX 2020--present Leon Mk4 (KL) 2020--present

1.9 TDI (ALH/AHF/ASV) 62

Golf Mk3 (1H) 1996--1997 Ibiza 6K 1996--2002 Ibiza Mk2 (6K) 1996--2002 Felicia 791 1996--2001 Polo 6N 1996--2001 A4 B5 1996--2001 A4 B5 1996--2001 Octavia 1U 1997--2004 Golf Mk4 (1J) 1998--2003 Leon Mk1 (1M) 1999--2006 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 Arosa 6H 2000--2004 Polo 6N 1999--2001 Polo 9N 2001--2009 Fabia 6Y 2003--2007 Cordoba 6K/6L 2002--2009 Ibiza Mk3 (6L) 2002--2008 Leon 1M 2000--2005 Ibiza Mk2 (6K) 1999--2002 Fabia 6Y 2000--2007 A3 8L 2000--2003 Fabia 6Y 2003--2007 Golf Mk4 (1J) 2000--2003 Octavia 1U 2000--2004 Leon Mk1 (1M) 2000--2006 Leon 1M 2000--2005 Ibiza Mk3 (6L) 2002--2008 Polo 9N 2001--2009 Golf Mk4 (1J) 2000--2003 Octavia 1U 2000--2004 Cordoba 6K/6L 1999--2009 Fabia 6Y 2003--2007 Alhambra 7M 1996--2010 Passat B5 (3B) 1996--2005 A4 B6/B7 2001--2006 Superb 3U 2002--2008 Superb 3U 2002--2008 A6 C5 1997--2004 Transporter T5 2003--2009 Leon 1P 2005--2010 Leon Mk2 (1P) 2005--2010 A3 8P 2003--2010 Superb 3T 2008--2010 Golf Mk5 (1K) 2003--2008 Altea 5P 2004--2010 Octavia 1Z 2004--2010 Toledo Mk3 (5P) 2005--2009 Touran 1T 2003--2010 Passat B6 (3C) 2005--2008 Ibiza 6L 2002--2008 Roomster 5J 2006--2010 Fabia 5J 2007--2010 Ibiza Mk3 (6L) 2004--2008 Roomster 5J 2006--2010 Fabia 5J 2007--2010 Fabia 5J 2007--2010 Golf 1.9 TDI MK4 1997--2004 Hatchback
Full 2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288) Report Full 1.9 TDI (ALH/AHF/ASV) Report