Recently there has been a lot of press about electric and the benefits of going green but before the electric revolution the favourite of governments and drivers alike was diesel. The UK government has banned the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 so we are seeing a shift in the market towards electric models, however there are still a number of exciting diesel models available to purchase and lease for the next nine years.
There’s a number of reasons that you might decide that diesel is still the choice for you, from superior fuel economy compared to petrol and cheaper purchase or lease prices than electric models.
To help you decide whether diesel is the right choice for your next car we’ve taken a look at what the benefits of a diesel car could be for you.
Diesel cars have very good fuel economy, so if you’re someone who drives long distances regularly or has a high annual mileage then diesel would be a good choice as you’ll be filing up less, saving yourself money.
Typically, diesel vehicles have better overtaking power and towing abilities because of the greater torque they’re able to achieve. So if you’re likely to be towing frequently then diesel could be the best choice for you.
Diesel cars have lower CO2 emissions than their petrol counterpart. We’ll explore the other emissions a bit further below.
There are a number of other factors you'll need to take into consideration when looking if whether a diesel vehicle is the right choice for your next car.
Diesel vehicles are typically more expensive than their petrol counterparts, whether you are paying upfront or looking to lease.
Servicing and maintenance can also be slightly more expensive if you opt for diesel as there are additional components like the diesel particulate filter. If you are leasing then you might want to look at adding a maintenance package to the agreement.
If your driving is mainly city based then diesel will not be the right choice for you. This is because constant, low-speed urban driving will clog the diesel particulate filter which can leave you with a large bill if the manufacturer’s guidelines to unclog it do not work.
With a lot of cities introducing low emission and clean air zones, you might want to see what the plans are for your local area and whether there are any being introduced in the towns and cities you frequently drive in as some include higher tariffs for a diesel vehicle entering these areas.
Some local authorities have also put a diesel surcharge in place on their resident parking permit scheme.
We’ve compared the pros and cons of diesel, petrol, electric and hybrid vehicles here if you would like further information to help you decide on which is the right choice for you.
One of the biggest concerns that drivers have with diesel is the environmental impact that they have. Although today’s diesel models are much cleaner than earlier diesel cars their emissions are still an area of concern.
While diesel cars produce less CO2 than their petrol counterparts they emit more of other pollutants like nitrogen oxide.
Diesel cars are now fitted with a diesel particulate filter which cuts down the harmful emissions being released into the air. As mentioned above this is something you will need to bear in mind when deciding if diesel is the right choice for you, as your driving habits can influence how effective this is.
Most diesel cars also have technology that converts most of the nitrogen oxide into nitrogen and water, both of which are harmless, before reaching the exhaust.
Car companies have been working hard to reduce the environmental impact and diesel cars are now cleaner than they have ever been before, and many now comply with Euro 6 emission standards.
The amount of road tax you pay is dependent on what type of engine your vehicle has and diesel cars tend to be slightly more expensive, especially if they are not RDE2 compliant.
If you are leasing you will not need to worry about taxing the vehicle as this is covered by the leasing company. Please note that if the tax for your vehicle increases from the amount charged at the first registration during the lease then you may be required to pay the difference.
If you are in a company car then you will have to pay company car tax, which in part is based on the CO2 emissions a vehicle has. So diesel might be the smarter choice over petrol if you're in a company car.
We’ve got a separate guide on CO2 emissions and why they should be an important consideration for your next car as it impacts more than just your road tax.
If you are thinking about the right fuel type for you then you might also want to take a look at our guide to electric cars and our one on hybrids to see whether one of these might be better suited for you.
Click here to head back to our guide’s homepage if you want to find out more information about leasing or other aspects of car ownership. If you want to compare diesel with your other fuel options then you might find this guide useful.
If you’d rather speak to someone about the right fuel type for you or have any other questions then you can speak to one of our Leasing Consultants on 0330 221 0000.
Check out one of our helpful guides or our explaination of leasing to get all your questions answered.
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