Efficiency
The fact we hear a lot, is that diesel is a more economical fuel than petrol. If you’re driving a diesel around town on short journeys, then you won’t see the benefits and petrol will be better. Diesel is better for long driving (motorways) but overall, diesel-powered vehicles do have better MPG than petrol versions. Over a combined cycle of urban, motorway and mixed driving, the diesel engined vehicle will produce a higher MPG.
Cost
It is fair to say that diesel cars technically cost less to run than petrol cars, due to fuel economy. However, this is only true over long distances.
Most diesel vehicles shouldn’t be more expensive to tax than petrol cars now as they’re mostly RDE2 compliant (and must be by Jan 2021) which means they’re in the same tax bracket which is based on CO2 emissions (and diesel cars generally have lower CO2 emissions than petrol vehicles). This also only affects the first-year VED, not subsequent years
Is it worth buying a diesel car in 2021?
Updated vehicle taxes mean that diesel is looking less and less appealing., but if you’re a high mileage driver, the use of a diesel engined vehicle outweighs the costs compared to a petrol due to fuel efficiency on a longer runs or motorway trips.
Is diesel or petrol better for the environment?
New evidence is showing that the fumes produced by combusting diesel on older vehicles are even more harmful to the surrounding environment than petrol. With the recent introduction of fuel additive systems such as adblu, which significantly reduces the harmful emissions, and evidence from recent GreenNCAP reports, new diesels may not be as polluting as older models.
Will diesel cars be banned?
The sense that it may not be worth buying a diesel car is compounded for many consumers by the fact that the UK government have committed to banning the sale of new diesel (and petrol for that matter) vehicles in 2030.
This is a way off yet, but it means that they will start to be phased out gradually over the next 15 years.
Petrol Vs. Diesel: The Pro’s and Con’s
So, let’s break it down:
Advantages Of Diesel Cars
- You will generally pay up to 15-20% less for fuel overall, if you factor in mileage
- A good driving experience, including safer / quicker overtaking and better towing, due to low down torque
Disadvantages Of Diesel Cars
- -A noisier engine
- -You could lose money on emissions charges in some cities (not many but still worth noting)
Advantages Of Petrol Cars
- A quieter driving-experience
- Cheaper fuel, so less to pay at the pump
- Fewer dangerous gases emitted
Disadvantages Of Petrol Cars
- You may have to change gears more often to get the full power of the engine
- Shorter range on longer journeys compares to an diesel with an equivalent fuel tank size.
Petrol/Diesel Alternatives
If all this is sounded a bit much-for-muchness, you wouldn’t be alone. More and more consumers are turning to the increasingly affordable alternatives to both petrol and diesel.
Hybrid
Standard hybrids are vehicles that combine a normal combustion engine with an electric engine that is charged by the movement of your car. No need to plug in and no range anxiety.
Read more in our full guide to hybrids.
Electric
The real road to the future, electric vehicles are getting faster, driving further, and becoming more affordable. Despite government grants and tax breaks, they still might be out of the price range of many – but this won’t necessarily be the case when leasing.
Check out our electric leasing page to find out the kind of deal you could get yourself that could see you saving money on fuel and helping the planet.
Whatever type of vehicle you decide is right for you, give one of our account managers a call and we will help you in any way we can.
