When deciding what vehicle is right for you, the fuel-type will likely be one of the main considerations.
If you’re wondering whether diesel is the right choice for you, there are a few things it’s worth knowing about so that you can be confident you’re making the right decision.
In this article, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the pros and cons of buying a diesel car in 2020.
Are diesels cheaper to run than petrol?
If you frequently use the motorway and have a high annual mileage, for example, over 20,000, a diesel will cost you less in fuel than a petrol car.
Whilst petrol is cheaper per litre than diesel, diesel engines are more fuel efficient, using 15-20% less fuel than petrol engines.
Is a diesel better if I do longer journeys?
Every driver should purchase the car best suited to their individual requirements. In most cases, currently, this means diesel for high-mileage drivers, and petrol for low-mileage drivers.
For short journeys and city drives, think petrol or electric/hybrid. For long distances and motorway commutes, think diesel.
Do lots of family trips? Check out our tips for long car journeys with kids, provided by four marvellous mum bloggers.
How much is tax on a diesel car?
In terms of road tax, diesel cars from before April 2017 qualify for a lower tax band than petrol engine cars.
However, for newer diesels, tax is typically higher than petrol. From 1st April 2018, new diesel cars are taxed at a higher rate, as part of the government’s push to make it less attractive to drive a car that emits high levels of NOx (nitrogen oxide).
However, this increase is often included in price of the car itself, and after the first year, the standard £145 annual tax rate applies.
Other tax costs that are being introduced for diesel cars include:
- Charges to drive in city centres
- Parking surcharges
- Higher road and company car tax
- Increased parking permit prices
What are the emissions like on a diesel?
New diesel cars are cleaner than ever. However, as all fossil fuel-powered cars do, they emit a mixture of CO2, NOx (nitrous oxide) and particulates. It is the NOx and particulates that affect local air quality, whereas CO2 causes global warming, which could have extreme consequences for our planet and our species if we don’t change our behaviour. If you’re concerned about air quality and climate breakdown, it might be time to learn more about electric cars.
Are diesel engines louder?
Yes, diesel engines are generally noisier than other fuel-types due to the way they work, creating sudden increases in pressure. But modern diesel engines work by injecting the fuel in a series of smaller pulses, which dampens the amount of rattle you’ll hear, making them much quieter than they used to be.
Are diesel cars better for towing?
Yes, they are. A diesel produces more torque than an equivalent petrol engine, meaning it will pull strongly without being revved as hard as a petrol vehicle would.
How does diesel compare in different sized cars?
Similar to towing, the increased torque production compared to a petrol engine means it’s more suitable for larger vehicles; less effort is required to get the vehicle going.
Is it better to get a new or used diesel?
Newer diesel vehicles are more environmentally-friendly – since September 2018, all new cars must pass a strict emissions test carried out under real driving conditions before being sold.
Cars made after 2015 are also built to Euro 6 standards; many diesel cars now also have diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction systems which reduce emissions.
We also have a large selection of used and nearly new diesel cars aged 1 year or less available to browse on our site.
When will diesel cars be banned?
By 2040, all new cars in the UK will be “effectively zero emission” with pressure on the government to bring this deadline forward to 2032, with a ban on all sales of new petrol and diesel cars.
What are Clean Air Zones?
Clean Air Zones have been implemented in support of the release of UK Government’s highly-publicised clean air strategy; they are areas in which local authorities are trying to reduce emissions and improve air quality. There are two types of Clean Air Zones:
- Charging zones require drivers whose vehicles don’t meet the required environmental standard (i.e. vehicles older than 2015) to pay a fee.
- Non-charging zones don’t require fees, but they can include measures such as traffic flow management and retrofitting certain vehicles.
You can find a vehicle’s Euro emissions standard here.
Think diesel is right for you? Browse all diesel vehicles we have in stock now.
