Should you buy a diesel car in 2024?
Diesel-powered cars still make a great choice for some drivers, despite a bad press in recent years. We explain the pros and cons of buying a diesel model.
- Is it still worth buying a diesel car?
- Why diesel cars no longer popular
- Find out when diesels car sales will be banned
Just a decade ago, diesel was the fuel of choice for many drivers and most fleet users. Efficient, powerful and more refined than ever, cars that sipped from the black pump were extremely popular, both new and used, and traditionally held their value far better than petrol versions.
Diesels also used to enjoy lower road tax than petrol cars, but they’ve been pushed out of fashion by a succession of tax increases, parking surcharges and city centre low-emission zones that penalise older, more-polluting models.
Why are diesel cars less popular now?
In recent times, the tide has turned. Despite diesel cars’ ability to consume less fuel than petrol engines and generally emit less CO2, the higher cost of fuel and revelations surrounding other harmful emissions led to a sudden and dramatic fall from grace. Then came the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal of 2015, where it turned out that emissions weren’t always as they appeared.
However, diesel cars can still be the best option for some drivers – especially those who do lots of long journeys, and especially following the Prime Minister’s announcement that the ban on petrol and diesel new car sales will be pushed back to 2035.
Should I consider buying a diesel car?
First of all, look at your annual mileage. Diesel cars still remain cheaper to run than petrol cars for most people who cover over 15,000 miles a year, thanks to excellent fuel economy and efficiency.
Diesel engines also have a lot more torque and their pulling power is ideal for towing, while in larger vehicles such as SUVs and pick-ups, diesel remains by far the best choice.
Modern diesels meeting Euro 6 emission limits are exempt from London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), and other clean air zones, so if you are in the market for a bigger vehicle, a diesel engine is often still the best way to go.
Furthermore, even when sales of new petrol and diesel car sales are banned in the mid-2030s, hybrid models will still be allowed and there are no plans to withdraw fossil fuels of any kind from the forecourts.
Should I buy an older diesel car?
Historically, older diesel cars made sense second-hand as they were cheap to run and easy to maintain, but this is no longer the case. Most pre-2015 diesels don’t comply with ULEZ or clean air zones and those from the late 2000s onwards are much more complex than the early diesels.
Not all diesel cars fall foul of low emission zones, though, and you can reduce the risk of being hit with inner-city charges by buying a newer diesel car that complies with the latest emissions regulations, called Euro 6.
Every car registered since September 2015 is required to meet the Euro 6 standard.
Should I buy a new or a used diesel car?
All brand-new diesels comply with the Euro 6 regulations and there are no plans to charge owners for driving in city centres in the next few years, so a new diesel can still make a lot of sense.
Those that only meet the previous, Euro 4 or 5 emissions standards are subject to charges in London and some other cities and will only make sense if you don’t really do much urban driving – but even then, their time is probably limited. They’re only really logical if they’re very cheap and you’re running a car on an extremely tight budget.
When buying a used car, you should check which standard it meets – it’ll be written on the V5C registration document.
Will diesel cars continue to depreciate strongly?
In the late 2010s, diesel car values started to fall steeply and today they hold their value less than petrol cars, with the stigma of Dieselgate and the fact that only post-2015 examples are Euro 6-compliant really hampering used values.
But this may well change with the move to delay the ban on petrol and diesel sales to 2035, as the barriers to ownership are fewer, while a smaller uptake of new diesels means older diesel cars will no longer be quite so undesirable.
Also, as diesel cars become cheaper, they offer better value for money, even with extra taxes and charges, which is likely to lure some buyers back.
Larger vehicles will generally hold their value better in diesel form, as petrol versions can be expensive to run. There are plenty of people who tow caravans for example, or need a utility vehicle for work, meaning diesel SUVs and estates are still sought-after.
When will diesel cars be banned?
The government has announced that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2035 – five years later than it first suggested.
This means that diesel cars – both new and those that are already in existence – will have a future in the UK for the next few years at least. Even once the ban comes in, hybrid models will still be allowed. There are also no plans at present to ban the sale of fossil fuels.
In addition, there are no existing plans to ban petrol or diesel cars from the roads entirely, so second-hand sales should be allowed to continue. However, London's mayor has proposed banning diesels from driving in the capital, starting with the centre in 2025. Other cities may follow suit.
I’m a low mileage driver – should I buy a diesel car?
No, it’s not really a good idea unless you need a large diesel for towing. Otherwise, if you drive fewer than 12,000 miles per year, a petrol car is a much better option, especially if you’re looking for a small or medium-sized motor.
Petrol cars traditionally have a lower price than diesel cars (certainly when new) and require less specialist maintenance. For example, diesels can suffer from diesel particulate filter blockage if not driven long distances, leading to expensive repair bills.
Realistically, you’ll also need to drive more than 12,000 miles a year for the lower fuel costs of a diesel car to outweigh the higher purchase price.
I’m a high-mileage driver. Should I buy a diesel?
Yes, it should certainly be an option. Diesel still makes a lot of sense for long-distance or business users and if you travel more than 15,000 miles a year, then the additional cost of a diesel car will be outweighed by the savings you make from its fuel economy. The larger the car, the more likely this will be.
Buy a newer diesel car that meets the Euro 6 emissions regulations and you shouldn’t even be penalised for entering cities – while on the open road, the emissions are often quite low.
In economy terms, diesel engines are usually more efficient than petrols. In heavy cars, that difference adds up to greater savings as the extra pulling power of diesel means that they don’t need to work as hard. It’s not uncommon for an SUV with a diesel engine to offer twice the fuel economy of the petrol equivalent, for example.
Should I buy a diesel car for towing?
The vast majority of drivers who tow regularly still favour diesel – and for a good reason.
Just as diesel engines are more efficient in heavy vehicles, they are also the best choice for towing. Their substantial torque makes them far more effective at dragging a heavy caravan or trailer away from a standstill, or up a hill.
In all cases, the main rule is to think carefully about what you need before choosing which car to buy. There are still many valid reasons why you should buy a diesel car if it’s the right thing for you.
