Diesel cars are no longer the de facto choice for drivers looking for cheap running costs. A diesel engine is still more economical than a petrol engine in terms of fuel consumption, but that is where the list of advantages comes to an end. The once mighty diesel car has slowly and methodically been pushed out of fashion by a succession of tax increases, parking surcharges and city centre low-emission zones, and the announcement that sales of brand new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in has well and truly put the frugal fuel savers on the ropes.
A succession of negative headlines surrounding diesel cars has seen the number of new models sold in the UK shrink substantially since news of the 'Dieselgate' scandal first emerged in This downward spiral has been exacerbated by the introduction of strict government measures designed to limit the amount of exhaust emissions polluting the air in the UK's city centres.
The capital's ULEZ scheme is set to be followed by a succession of new clean air zones CAZ being set up in city centres around the country in , which will also mainly target diesel cars producing dangerously high levels of exhaust emissions.
With this in mind, you'd be forgiven for steering clear of diesel altogether when you choose your next car. Many drivers are doing just that and new diesel car sales have fallen dramatically over the past few years.
To counter this latest hurdle, the latest diesel cars have been developed to produce fewer emissions and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard that the ULEZ and CAZ require, so the risk of being caught out by additional fees for driving a diesel car have been dramatically reduced for now. Virtually every brand new car sold since September has had to comply with the Euro 6 limits. Diesel taxes and surcharges have cut demand for diesel cars, but they remain cheaper to run than petrol cars for most high-mileage drivers thanks to excellent fuel economy.
Diesel pulling power is also ideal for large vehicles and towing. It's also important to note that it's not just diesel cars that have their doomsday clocks counting down. Petrol cars will also begin to meet tougher and tougher restrictions as the electric car market progresses, so if you really are intent on sticking with fossil fuels for the time being, and provided you aren't intending to make regular trips into major city centres, a diesel powered car is still capable of making you some pretty substantial savings.
You can reduce the risk of being hit with inner-city diesel charges by buying a newer diesel car that complies with the latest emissions regulations, called Euro 6. These vehicles are not subject to charges in London's ultra-low emission zone ULEZ , nor the clean-air zone which has been in place in Birmingham since 1 June Every car registered since September is required to meet the Euro 6 standard, although there are several examples of diesel cars that met this standard prior to it becoming a requirement.
All diesel Mazda CX-5 models have met the standard since for example, so they should be exempt from inner city charges, based on current information. Cars that meet future emissions regulations called RDE2 or Real Driving Emissions Step 2 , or Euro 6d will be exempt from the recent road tax increases.
Further into the future, London plans to introduce a zero-emission zone in This is expected to ban petrol and diesel cars from the very centre of the city, and gradually expand until it covers all of the capital in Oxford plans a zero emissions zone from , which would ban diesel and petrol cars from parts of the city centre.
All brand new cars comply with the latest Euro 6 regulations. As mentioned above, there are no plans to charge owners of these vehicles for driving in city centres in the next few years. Diesel cars that only meet the previous, Euro 5 emissions standard or even earlier standards , are subject to emissions charges in London.
Other cities may also charge these cars for driving within central clean air zones. When you're buying a used car, it's worth checking which standard it meets. Some manufacturers only complied at the last minute - selling Euro 5 cars right up to September , when Euro 6 became mandatory. Like many retailers, BuyaCar often publishes the Euro standard of each used car in the technical information that accompanies many listings. It's worth asking for this to be double-checked when you come to make a purchase to ensure that your car is compliant.
Diesel car values began falling faster than those of petrol cars in , according to the car valuation firm cap hpi. That trend appears to be accelerating, with some nearly-new diesel cars selling for less than their petrol equivalents, despite costing more when new. A diet of constant low-speed urban motoring will clog a DPF filter, and the manufacturer's suggested regimen for unclogging them may not always work, leaving you with an expensive repair bill.
Electric cars are now entering the mainstream, and their rise is only going to accelerate as rules are introduced to limit the kind of vehicles allowed into major cities. However, with plenty of models now capable of covering more than miles between charges, this is becoming less of an issue. So, which electric cars should you consider? Here, we count down our favourites and tell you the ones to avoid.
And, remember, if any of them take your fancy, check out our What Car? New Car Buying to see how much we could save you. On paper, Tesla's all-electric family SUV seems to be the dream all-rounder, combining the luxury of a Range Rover Sport with the green credentials of an electric car. In practice, its low running costs and practical interior are hard to fault, and even entry-level versions aren't short on pace, but parts of its interior do feel a little cheap given the price.
If you're looking for a small electric car to primarily use in the city, the Mii Electric should definitely be on your shortlist. It might not have the range to match larger electric cars, but that means costs are kept sensible, and we reckon miles on a full charge should still be enough for most buyers.
The EQC is a brilliant choice if you want to maximise the peace and quiet offered by going electric: it really is incredibly hushed on the move.
But while it's generally comfortable on motorways, it doesn't ride as well as the very best rivals and its range is someway off the Jaguar I-Pace 's. Plug-in hybrids can reduce fuel consumption to an absolute minimum, but which models are the best all-rounders and which should you avoid? Both of these cars show that large SUVs don't have to be expensive to run. What Car? Should I buy a diesel car? Everything you need to know. View all new car reviews.
Car deals. View all deals. Read more — What does the petrol and diesel ban mean for me? Why has the Government turned against diesels? You might also find our guides to the best diesel SUVs , best diesel motorway cars and best diesel family cars useful as well.
The UK is falling out of love with diesel for various reasons. The DPF is an important part of most diesel engines, as well as the most likely culprit when problems arise. A blocked DPF is expensive to clean and even more expensive to replace. The issue is often signified by black smoke coming out of the exhaust when a car moves off or starts up. Diesel-engined cars were promoted by successive UK Governments for more than a decade because they have, on average, lower CO2 emissions and better official fuel economy than their petrol counterparts.
Drivers were incentivised by the lower road tax and company car tax that applied to diesels in the past. But now the Government needs to deal with rising levels of air pollution in UK cities. If you want to have one eye on the future, then take a look at our guides to the best electric cars and best hybrid cars.
The nitrogen oxides NOx produced by diesel engines are one cause of air pollution. The future of diesel cars is yet to be known, but the market share of diesels has dropped catastrophically in the last two years. When you take into account the falling residual values for diesel cars, drivers are opting for new diesels less and less. Saying that, though, there are some great deals on new and used diesel cars. Modern diesel engines, those meeting Euro 6 emissions regulations and later models, are impressively clean.
But the older, dirtier engines will likely be banned in stages. We forecast that diesel will continue as a relatively small part of the mix for many years to come but will continue to clean up its act. Yes, some will.
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