Gasoline vs Diesel: Should I buy a diesel car in 2022? | carplus (2023)

Every car enthusiast who plans to buy a vehicle inevitably faces the question: "Which engine is better: gasoline or diesel?". The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, as vehicles of all types have their pros and cons.

To make an informed decision, it's crucial to understand all the factors that affect fuel, from regular fuel consumption to overall vehicle performance. In this guide, we've covered all the key factors to consider when deciding between gasoline and diesel.

Difference Between Gasoline and Diesel Cars

There are significant differences between gasoline and diesel vehicles to accommodate different needs. Only by carefully considering all these differences can you ensure that the car you buy is a perfect fit for your lifestyle and goals.

Below is a list of the most important points, the importance of which you should not underestimate:

purchase price

When you buy a diesel car, you typically pay a higher amount than for the gasoline counterpart.

Here are some examples:

• As of November 2020, a basic petrol BMW 1 Series, the 118i SE, cost £24,965 in the UK. A diesel car of equal status, the 116d SE, sold from £26,485.
• In 2021, a 1.5-litre diesel Ford Focus Titanium TDCi cost £680 more than an equally powerful 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.
• In the same year, a Volvo V40 Momentum D2 diesel engine cost £1,860 more than the T2 petrol model.

Diesel cars tend to be more expensive because their engines often require additional hardware compared to gasoline vehicles. One such add-on is an AdBlue-based Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, which aims to make harmful emissions neutral.

emissions

When deciding whether to go with a gasoline or diesel engine, there are two main types of emissions to consider: CO2 and NOx (nitrogen oxides). In general, diesel engines have a lower percentage of CO2 emissions than gasoline engines. However, keep in mind that the smaller the engine, the lower the CO2 emissions. This means that a manufacturer's gasoline engine can emit less carbon dioxide than a diesel vehicle.

However, if you compare larger engine sizes, you'll find that with gasoline and diesel cars of similar power, the latter typically have lower CO2 emissions.

NOx emissions negatively affect air quality and can cause serious respiratory diseases. Diesel vehicles are responsible for a higher proportion of NOx and soot-like particle emissions compared to gasoline vehicles. That is why the aforementioned AdBlue solution was invented to neutralize the harmful effect.

In terms of spending, the level of CO2 emissions determines the tax rates for benefits in kind (BIK) and vehicle excise duties (VED). As for NOx, it is becoming a key factor to take into account when paying for access to urban areas marked asClean air zones, as well as plugins likeLondon toxicity charge.

running costs

While unleaded gasoline tends to be cheaper per liter than diesel, cars with the latter are known to be more fuel efficient. Therefore, diesel-powered cars are a more economical and friendly option in terms of fuel costs in the long run.

Another factor that diesel vehicle owners need to consider, in addition to fuel costs and taxes, is the need for a regular supply of AdBlue. Although a 5-liter bottle of this liquid is usually around €5 at gas stations and should be enough3,000 milesIt is a recurring theme that must be taken into account.

Here are some average fuel economy values ​​tested on 135 diesel engines and 169 gasoline engines:

These numbers show that diesel vehicles outperform gasoline vehicles in terms of fuel economy in any given environment.

However, aComparisonThe cost of ownership of a Nissan Qashqai Tekna over three years has shown the following results:

So if you drive around 10,000 miles a year in a previous-generation Nissan Qashqai, a gas-powered car is a cheaper option. However, if you plan to drive longer distances, the diesel model turns out to be more economical.

However, it cannot be said that one fuel is cheaper than the other in all situations. The running costs depend on the use of the car, the year of issue and several other factors.

Therefore, when buying a car, you need to have a clear plan of what purposes it will serve and how much it will be used.

Safe

When it comes to insurance costs, the size of the engine and the market value of the car affect the price more than the type of fuel used.

However, a major factor associated with diesel cars is the higher repair and replacement costs. This often means that owners of such vehicles are likely to pay more for insurance, as shown in the image below:

Tax

The amount of road tax you pay for a petrol and diesel car depends on when it was first registered. Even if the vehicle is resold, you keep the original tax rate.

The existing tax systems in the UK are as follows:

• Before April 2017:This system uses official CO2 emissions as the basis for tax rates. Vehicles that do not emit more than 100 g/km of CO2 are exempt from vehicle tax. Diesel and hybrid cars registered during this period are subject to low tax rates or are tax free due to lower CO2 emissions.
• After April 1, 2017:Owners of cars registered during this period only made the first payment based on CO2 emissions. After that they are subject to a flat rate of £155 per year (£145 for hybrid cars). The only cars that are exempt from road tax under this system are zero emission vehicles.
• After April 1, 2018:If a diesel car does not meet the Euro 6d standard, it is subject to a higher tax rate in the first year.
• After January 1, 2021:At this point, Euro 6d became mandatory for all new cars sold in the UK, meaning owners of diesel cars registered after this date will not pay higher taxes for the first year of ownership.

As you can see, you may pay more road tax with an older diesel vehicle.

Drive

There are some differences between driving gasoline and diesel cars. The latter, for example, have more torque than their gasoline engines, which means more pulling power.

So if you own a trailer or camper and need to tow it regularly, a diesel vehicle is a safe bet. However, be prepared because diesel cars are quite noisy.

On the other hand, gasoline cars require more gear changes when overtaking. However, there are gasoline engines that have entered the market recently and offer many similar advantages to diesel engines, but with fewer disadvantages.

Vehicles like this are designed to deliver more power while consuming less fuel. Examples of car brands using such gasoline engines are Ford's 1.0-litre "EcoBoost" and Nissan's 1.3-litre "DIG-T".

distance

As mentioned above, diesel cars have higher fuel efficiency than gasoline cars. In addition, a liter of diesel has about 15% more energy than a liter of gasoline. A diesel car typically requires fewer refueling stops on long journeys, while its engine's efficiency is 20% higher than a gasoline car. This gives diesel cars a significant advantage for long-distance travel.

performance

If you intend to use your vehicle for slow trips around the city, opting for a gasoline car is almost always the right decision. Not only will it be cheaper, but it will also be more reliable than a diesel car, as the latter would require regular high-speed driving for its systems to work properly.

What are the pros and cons of gasoline?

If you live in an urban environment and do not make long trips, it is worth considering getting a gasoline one. Here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of such vehicles:

Advantages

The advantages of a gasoline car are:

1. Lower price.Petrol is around 2p a liter cheaper than diesel. You may only save €1 per 50 liters of filling, but in the long run you will notice the difference.
2. Rather for short trips.If you want to buy a car that will help you with everyday tasks, such as taking your children to school or shopping, a gasoline car is the ultimate solution.
3. Less local air pollution.Gasoline vehicles produce fewer particulate emissions that contribute to local pollution problems.
4. Low noise level.When you drive a car that runs on gasoline, you will feel less vibration and hear less noise than with a diesel vehicle.
5. Cheaper maintenance.Cars that use gasoline tend to be cheaper to maintain than diesel cars, both with paperwork and auto service, unless you've put a lot of miles on the vehicle.
6. Good cold tolerance.The freezing point of gasoline is-60 C, so the tank cannot freeze even in the coldest UK winter.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages you may face in a gasoline car include:

1. Less fuel consumption.Although gasoline car owners pay less per liter of fuel, their vehicles consume more.
2. Higher CO2 emissions.The proportion of carbon dioxide emitted by gasoline cars is significantly higher than that of diesel vehicles. Because CO2 is linked to climate change and other environmental issues, these engines are not the greenest option and can also lead to higher taxes.

What are the pros and cons of diesel?

Now that you have learned the main advantages and disadvantages of gasoline vehicles, let's take a closer look at diesel cars. These are its main advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

Some of the advantages of diesel vehicles are:

1. Ideal for long trips.If you're taking long car trips, choose diesel engines over gasoline, as they offer more power at lower speeds.
2. With better fuel consumption.Diesel cars offer their owners better mpg than gasoline cars because their fuel contains more energy per liter.
3. Less CO2 emissions.Diesel-powered cars emit less carbon dioxide than comparable gasoline-powered cars.
4. viola by.Diesel cars are ideal for towing; keep that in mind if you have to do this task frequently.

Disadvantages

Despite all the advantages of diesel fuel and the cars that use it, there are also some disadvantages that you should consider before buying such a vehicle:

1. Higher acquisition costs.In most cases, diesel cars cost more than their gasoline equivalents.
2. It can lead to poor air quality.Older diesel vehicles emit iNOx gases, which can cause poor air quality in built-up areas.
3. Low resistance to frost.Diesel tends to gel in cold weather.
4. Expensive maintenance.If a repair is needed, repairing a diesel vehicle is likely to cost more due to advanced filters and emission control systems.

What does the future hold for diesel cars?

The UK government plans to use zero emission vans and cars by 2035. This program stipulates that by 2030 all new diesel and petrol cars will be sold. Although the proposed changes are still several years away, the near-term future of diesel cars looks hazy.

Will diesel cars be banned?

Although the deadline for banning the sale of gasoline and diesel cars has already been set, there have been no official plans to ban the use or resale of used cars. However, the government's plan to minimize harmful environmental impacts requires local governments to take the following measures:

• Change road design at congestion points
• Promote the use of public transport and invest in low-emission buses
• Encourage people to buy electric vehicles

If these measures are not successful, the authorities can introduce local restrictions. However, if the emission values ​​drop to the point of legal compliance and there is no longer a risk that the legal limit values ​​will be exceeded, the restrictions should be relaxed.

Are electric and hybrid cars the future?

According to theSociety of Automobile Manufacturers and Dealers(SMMT), diesel vehicle registrations fell 60% in 2020. Gasoline vehicle registrations fell 47.5% and battery electric vehicle sales increased 161%.
Also as part ofTen point plan for a green industrial revolutionReleased in late 2020, the government took the lead in equipping England's motorways and major A-roads with around 6,000 powerful charging points.
The UK government is also promised the following:

• The goal is to introduce a new low emission regulation system in 2024.
• Invest £582m in matching grants to reduce sticker prices for zero emission vehicles until at least 2022/23.
• Make zero emission cars cheap with vehicle tax rates until at least March 2025.

Therefore, it is safe to say that electric and hybrid cars will experience an even bigger boom than today.

hybrid vehicles

Hybrid vehicles have two engines and use multiple sources of energy: petroleum products and electricity. The powertrains work together to send power to the wheels through a complex gearbox.

The electric motor often supports the combustion engine in difficult situations, such as on steep slopes and when overtaking. It reduces the speed of the main engine, stops its wear and reduces fuel consumption.
Hybrid cars can last longer without refueling and consequently have lower running costs. However, its purchase price is higher due to its complex mechanism.

electric cars

As the name suggests, electric vehicles use an electric motor with a battery as a power source instead of an internal combustion engine. Its design is simpler than gasoline or diesel engines as it has fewer moving parts and requires less maintenance. These vehicles are environmentally friendly, almost silent, have high torque from low revs and offer a high level of road safety. Its disadvantages include a limited power reserve, a high price, sensitivity to low temperatures, and a relatively small number of charging points.

Should I buy a diesel or gasoline car?

So which car fuel option is better in the gasoline vs diesel pair? Which engine is more reliable? The answer depends on the requirements you have for your vehicle and the priorities you set: performance or efficiency, low or high resistance to icing, better long-haul or short-haul performance.
Or perhaps, after weighing all the pros and cons of diesel-petrol, you find that you need to consider a more modern option to suit your needs, e.g.electric car. Regardless, after reading this guide you will have the knowledge you need to make an informed and informed decision.