Hello all,

I'm considering buying a 1.2TSI hatchback in a few months. If anyone has one of these perhaps they could tell me their experiences, good or bad, and their fuel economy. Just the basic stuff or anything that's worth knowing about. Thanks:) oh, and is the TSI a reliable engine?

If you're after a new one then, in the UK at least, its no longer possible to factory order a 1.2Tsi Octavia. There are very few left here in stock (if any), so if you want that engine you'll have to wait until Octavia 3 is launched in March/April next year (plus any lead time). It may be different in Poland.

The 1.2Tsi is a great little engine with good economy (my son averages 44mpg (6.5l/100km) overall after 7000 miles (12000km)), great performance and silky smooth delivery. No oil consumption either.

Early 1.2Tsi's had some issues which are the subject of recalls (now called product enhancements), the main being a small batch manufactured with faulty chains/tensioners, and some turbo issues. The recalls fix all these. I'm not aware of any reliabilty issues but then its only been around for about 2 years, less in the Octavia.

There are a few reports of European owners having turbo wastegate failures needing the turbo to be replaced.

Some people (including my son) complain about occasional turbo lag - best you take a test drive and decide for yourself.

Edited 21 April, 201214 yr by xman

I'll be buying one in Poland this autumn. Surprised to hear that it's no longer on sale in the UK. Good news for me though is that there should be some cracking winter offers here in Poland. Thanks for your comments Xman!

Can u not get the 1.4tsi in the Octavia? 1.2 seems a little like putting a mini engine in a truck , it is a big car after all.

David, forget your preconceptions and drive one

I have only covered just over 400 miles in mine, but I am well impressed.

Pulls clean and quick from low revs, builds up speed very briskly and even though my engine is still very tight, I have averaged around the 40 mpg mark, without driving for economy.

I am given to understand they take a while to bed in to give the best mpg figures (from experiance on my last car, at least 8k miles before fuel consumption starts to improve).

I fully expect I won't be far short of 50 mpg once the engine has loosened up.

Overtaking slower traffic doing 50- 55 mph is quickly dealt with.Absolutley fabulous little engine, sure its no vrs, but its plenty capable of effortlessly moving the Octavia along.

Newer cars (mine included) have a new part, so don't need the turbo shim fix, and I believe they are are generally very reliable engine.

Edited 21 April, 201214 yr by Mr Grump

Yes would agree the 1.2 is an excellent engine and does what its suppose to do with good economy. Didnt know about the supply situation though. The only problem is the turbo lag, which has been improved a bit by the er `product enhancement` or recall as I insist on calling it . What car? described the 1.2 engine as the pick of the bunch. My dealership say that most of their Octy sales are this engine.