Hey folks, what's the real-world difference between the 1.4 and 1.5TSI engines (aside for minimal emissions improvement)?  Is one the pick over the other when paired with a DSG. Better reliability of one over the other?

 

The models I'm looking at are around 2018 which is believe is when the transition happened.

 

I'm currently looking to replace an aging old 5 series but on a budget (it was a good deal a few years back but is getting niggly) and have landed on the Octavia as an option.  I'm currently in the young family with bikes phase so practicality is king but have been spoilt with the bimmer!

The 1.5 has ACT (Active Cyclinder Technology) which will shut down 2 cylinders depending on the driving conditions. Some buyers have reported kangarooing with the manual version but not the DSG version. Both the 1.4 and 1.5 are 150BHP and I think the real world economy to be about the same. Some have had a software fix the for kangarooing and reported a 10% loss in economy. Bear in mind this 1.5 engine is across the VAG range and affected others not just Octavia.

 

Either way the Octavia is big inside given that its based on the golf platform. The rear seat legroom is best in class and the estate has plenty of room.

 

I have the 1.4TSI SEL DSG Estate and loving it.

 

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/technology/engines/petrol

Edited 29 April, 20215 yr by FrankNicklin

As mentioned by @FrankNicklin the 1.5tsi in the Octavia has ACT whereas the 1.4tsi, in the Octavia, does not. However the 1.4tsi when fitted in the Superb did have ACT.

The other major difference is that the 1.5tsi has a variable turbo and I think this was the first application of its type in a mass produced 'cheap' petrol engine.

 

The 1.5tsi disappeared from production for quite a while during WLTP standards introduction which suggests they had some issues meeting emission standards (which would be a high priority following 'Dieselgate'). Similarly it took an inordinate amount of time to issue 'kangaroo' fixing software, again probably due to the difficulties meeting emission and consumption standards.

I found it interesting that the simpler 1.0tsi engine was available throughout the WLTP introduction.

 

It is interesting that here in Australia with our sub-standard Euro 5 standards that the VAG group has chosen to replace the 1.5tsi option with the old 1.4tsi engine attached to an Aisin 8 speed torque converter box on the new Octavia, Karoq and new Golf. Official consumption is notably poorer than the original 1.4tsi with dsg or manual, I don't regard it as an improvement on my current 7 year old Octavia.

 

The 1.5tsi is available in Australia on the Scala in manual and DSG versions and I have been seriously looking at it as the base manual is competitively priced for that sized turbo engine but I have underlying reservations about the engine's complexities and reported driving issues, although I am not sure if the latter would apply to the PPF-less version sold here. 

Might even look at a 1.0tsi manual Polo as that would be up to A$5k cheaper and it will take forever for the new Fabia to introduced here.

My work is making it difficult to arrange the time for test drives.

 

 

Edited 29 April, 20215 yr by Gerrycan

2 hours ago, FrankNicklin said:

The 1.5 has ACT (Active Cyclinder Technology) which will shut down 2 cylinders depending on the driving conditions. Some buyers have reported kangarooing with the manual version but not the DSG version. Both the 1.4 and 1.5 are 150BHP and I think the real world economy to be about the same. Some have had a software fix the for kangarooing and reported a 10% loss in economy. Bear in mind this 1.5 engine is across the VAG range and affected others not just Octavia.

 

Either way the Octavia is big inside given that its based on the golf platform. The rear seat legroom is best in class and the estate has plenty of room.

 

I have the 1.4TSI SEL DSG Estate and loving it.

 

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/technology/engines/petrol

Thanks, this is really helpful... I hadn't fully appriciated the difference, although had seen some talk of the 'kangarooing'.  Do you know if there is a way of identifying an affected engine by build date or is it broader than that?

 

I did actually have a 1.8TSI MkII for a short while, but had some issues with excessive oil burn and running temperature and had the dealer take it back.  Have and a Honda and a Bimmer since then.  This would be a tentative step back into Skoda-land and I'm a bit twitchy given previous experience!

11 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

As mentioned by @FrankNicklin the 1.5tsi in the Octavia has ACT whereas the 1.4tsi, in the Octavia, does not. However the 1.4tsi when fitted in the Superb did have ACT.

The other major difference is that the 1.5tsi has a variable turbo and I think this was the first application of its type in a mass produced 'cheap' engine.

 

The 1.5tsi disappeared from production for quite a while during WLTP standards introduction which suggests they had some issues meeting emission standards (which would be a high priority following 'Dieselgate'). Similarly it took an inordinate amount of time to issue 'kangaroo' fixing software, again probably due to the difficulties meeting emission and consumption standards.

I found it interesting that the simpler 1.0tsi engine was available throughout the WLTP introduction.

 

It is interesting that here in Australia with our sub-standard Euro 5 standards that the VAG group has chosen to replace the 1.5tsi option with the old 1.4tsi engine attached to an Aisin 8 speed torque converter box on the new Octavia, Karoq and new Golf. Official consumption is notably poorer than the original 1.4tsi with dsg or manual, I don't regard it as an improvement on my current 7 year old Octavia.

 

The 1.5tsi is available in Australia on the Scala in manual and DSG versions and I have been seriously looking at it as the base manual is competitively priced for that sized turbo engine but I have underlying reservations about the engine's complexities and reported driving issues, although I am not sure if the latter would apply to the PPF-less version sold here. 

Might even look at a 1.0tsi manual Polo as that would be up to A$5k cheaper and it will take forever for the new Fabia to introduced here.

My work is making it difficult to arrange the time for test drives.

 

 

Thanks, always interesting to hear the experience of those in other regulatory markets... it's sometimes quite revealing.  The more I read the more inclined I am to save some money and find an older 1.4!  I would like to remove complexity from my life, not add it.

3 minutes ago, graphic said:

Thanks, this is really helpful... I hadn't fully appriciated the difference, although had seen some talk of the 'kangarooing'.  Do you know if there is a way of identifying an affected engine by build date or is it broader than that?

 

I did actually have a 1.8TSI MkII for a short while, but had some issues with excessive oil burn and running temperature and had the dealer take it back.  Have and a Honda and a Bimmer since then.  This would be a tentative step back into Skoda-land and I'm a bit twitchy given previous experience!

 

I don't think build date is an issue, it will be whether the car has had the software fix for the kangaooring issue. Only a dealer will be able to tell you that. 

16 minutes ago, FrankNicklin said:

 

I don't think build date is an issue, it will be whether the car has had the software fix for the kangaooring issue. Only a dealer will be able to tell you that. 

Ahh, so this is just a software issue then, not a physical design flaw?  So presumably if buying an 'approved' used car from Skoda, they can verify and reflash the software if necessary?

Yes because the DSG version was less prone to the kangarooing than the manual version, same engine, different gearbox.

30 minutes ago, graphic said:

Thanks, always interesting to hear the experience of those in other regulatory markets... it's sometimes quite revealing.  The more I read the more inclined I am to save some money and find an older 1.4!  I would like to remove complexity from my life, not add it.

Earlier 1.4TSI were 140PS not 150PS, my 2015 1.4TSI is 140PS.

6 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Earlier 1.4TSI were 140PS not 150PS, my 2015 1.4TSI is 140PS.

 

OP is looking at a later model, but an interesting point. When the 1.5TSI was introduced I expected more power, certainly another 20bhp if not more. Couldn't see the point of introducing a new engine with a bigger capacity but with the same power as its 1.4TSI counterpart. When Honda introduced their 1.5 litre engine in produces a little over 180bhp. I was interested in this as I already had a 1.6 diesel Civic but wanted to move to a petrol with an auto box. Test drove the manual 1.5 Honda and it went like stink. They launch the auto version with a crappy CVT box on it hence my move to Skoda.

 

I would have been tempted with the 1.5 had the power been more than the 1.4.

Edited 29 April, 20215 yr by FrankNicklin

I’ve recently bought a March 18 reg 1.4 TSI SE L DSG (what a mouthful!) on what I took to be a general consensus on here and other forums that it was the better engine/gearbox combination.  Have to say so far I’m delighted with it, the performance at least as good as my previous car, a manual 2ltr turbo diesel Volvo, and the mpg is noticeably better.

2 minutes ago, Baxlin said:

I’ve recently bought a March 18 reg 1.4 TSI SE L DSG (what a mouthful!) on what I took to be a general consensus on here and other forums that it was the better engine/gearbox combination.  Have to say so far I’m delighted with it, the performance at least as good as my previous car, a manual 2ltr turbo diesel Volvo, and the mpg is noticeably better.

Thanks, good to hear!  I think I might steer clear of the 1.5 as there are plenty of 1.4's around.

1 hour ago, Gerrycan said:

As mentioned by @FrankNicklin the 1.5tsi in the Octavia has ACT whereas the 1.4tsi, in the Octavia, does not. However the 1.4tsi when fitted in the Superb did have ACT.

The other major difference is that the 1.5tsi has a variable turbo and I think this was the first application of its type in a mass produced 'cheap' petrol engine.

 

The 1.5tsi disappeared from production for quite a while during WLTP standards introduction which suggests they had some issues meeting emission standards (which would be a high priority following 'Dieselgate'). Similarly it took an inordinate amount of time to issue 'kangaroo' fixing software, again probably due to the difficulties meeting emission and consumption standards.

I found it interesting that the simpler 1.0tsi engine was available throughout the WLTP introduction.

 

It is interesting that here in Australia with our sub-standard Euro 5 standards that the VAG group has chosen to replace the 1.5tsi option with the old 1.4tsi engine attached to an Aisin 8 speed torque converter box on the new Octavia, Karoq and new Golf. Official consumption is notably poorer than the original 1.4tsi with dsg or manual, I don't regard it as an improvement on my current 7 year old Octavia.

 

The 1.5tsi is available in Australia on the Scala in manual and DSG versions and I have been seriously looking at it as the base manual is competitively priced for that sized turbo engine but I have underlying reservations about the engine's complexities and reported driving issues, although I am not sure if the latter would apply to the PPF-less version sold here. 

Might even look at a 1.0tsi manual Polo as that would be up to A$5k cheaper and it will take forever for the new Fabia to introduced here.

My work is making it difficult to arrange the time for test drives.

 

 

VW North America is also using the 1.4 instead of the 1.5, which is interesting.

8 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

VW North America is also using the 1.4 instead of the 1.5, which is interesting.

It seems to me that there is very little advantage to having the 1.5, if anything a greater risk.  I think I will take the saving and opt for a low mile, slightly older, 1.4.