It’s no secret that diesel is going out of fashion, leaving many unsure as to whether you should still buy a diesel car. As concerns grow about our impact on the environment, diesel engines (and their emissions) have come under increased scrutiny. A large part of this sentiment can be traced back to the VW emissions cheating scandal in 2015, but regardless of its origin, the trend away from diesel motors is accelerating: in 2019, diesel cars made up just 16% of the total market share.
Why are diesel sales declining?
This decline is being spurred on by regulation, with the UK government imposing a 2030 deadline on the sale of diesel cars and increasing car tax for those purchasing them now. London’s new ultra-low emission zones are also levying heavier congestion charges against diesel vehicles that don’t meet Euro 6 regulations, increasing costs by up to £12.50 per day.
Bearing all of these facts in mind it might seem like the obvious choice is to opt for a petrol, hybrid, or fully electric option. But the true story of diesel is more complicated. Diesel is actually a more efficient fuel than petrol, giving it a greater miles per gallon. Additionally, the new diesel cars being produced to meet Euro 6 regulations utilise impressive after-exhaust and internal filtering technologies to reduce the harmful emissions that are associated with diesel engines. And since the VW scandal, oversight has been greatly increased to ensure that these vehicles are actually removing harmful waste products such as soot and nitrogen oxides from their emissions.
When it comes to deciding whether or not you should still buy a diesel car, the main thing to consider is how far you are likely to drive. For those who regularly make long distance trips and have high annual mileages (over 20,000), the higher MPG that diesel offers can make it a better value option. Despite misleading headlines, most manufacturers are continuing to produce diesel models that are modern, perform incredibly well, and meet increasingly strict laws around pollutants.
Is diesel right for you?
It’s clear that when it comes to diesel engines the situation is not as black and white as it is often made to seem, and there are plenty of pros to match the cons. If you are going to put a lot of miles on your car, diesel might still be the best bet.
The future of diesel engines.
Diesel hasn’t reached the end of the road, but one thing is irrefutable: the future is electric. Diesel cars are not going to disappear overnight, but the move towards electrification is firmly underway and gaining momentum. The cost of electric vehicles continues to fall and charging infrastructure continues to expand and improve. This is causing a slow but steady decline in the residual values of diesel cars. While that value is not currently collapsing, and is unlikely to for some time, if you are thinking about selling your diesel car the evidence suggests that sooner might indeed be better.