Diesel vs Petrol – what you need to know | Top 10s

Petrol and diesel cars still make up the majority of UK car sales, despite gradually increasing electric car sales in the UK. To help you make the decision between petrol and diesel, I’ve outlined the costs and benefits of each fuel type in my complete video guide.

I compare two Renault Kadjars, one petrol, one diesel, to help analyse the issues involved:

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[stamy]

One of the major factors (if not the most important one) for choosing between diesel and petrol car, is its daily use.
So if you perform frequent short runs from cold, petrol is the only option you should consider. This is due to the fact that DPF, the Diesel Particulate Filter, which is mandatory for diesel cars Euro 5 and above, needs to reach a certain temperature in order to operate efficiently and reduce the soot particles. Yes it does have a regeneration mechanism which helps it to autoclean (not all mechanisms have the same efficiency, the most reliable and efficient one is on Mercedes cars), but still frequent short runs from cold will eventually block the DPF in any car and it is not so cheap to replace. If you do short runs but you also perform at least once per week a good run in the motorway, driving at 2.5-3K rpm for half an hour or more, the DPF can regenerate sufficiently making diesel safe option in that case.
Other than that, all other parameters mentioned in the video are fully valid.

[gbej]

I remember the time government said petrol is and diesel is the way, many were pushed to give up their petrol cars and buy diesel. A few years on and government is saying diesel is and perhaps electric is the way. I’m waiting for when government will say electric is

[AlterSchwedeWieGeil]

I've driven diesels as well as petrol cars.

In terms of sound you have to know (especially with smaller engines) that the Diesel will be quiter when doing high speeds on the since it doesn't revs that high.

If you want to "race the roads" for Fun you should definetly get a petrol. If not you will surely appreciate that the Diesel has Most of its Power available in the lower rev-range because it makes usual accelerations like you do when driving onto the highway or into small spaces at the roundabout, more comfortable.


In some Countries (Germany) Tax in Diesel Cars is way higher than on petrols. But next to better mileage Diesel is also cheaper to buy here.

If you Take care of your Car a Diesel engine will usually live longer. In my Family it is Common to Drive Cars until they die. Our diesels Always reached 250k kilometers (my current Diesel has 380k kilometers on the clock). Our petrol cars all died between 160k and 240k kilometers (even tho a friend of mine is driving a 430k kilometer BMW E39 525i)


Summary:
Think about his thoughts. Sometimes the opposite of what you think is gonna happen unser certain circumstances

[baoyiyang]

i really like that you mentioned the diesel smell on your hand - it takes someone who really owned a diesel to appreciate how bad it is. however when overtaking on motor way, most people would downshift a gear, wouldn't they?

[ARMATUNE]

WOW....Taxation
Petrol £140 (€160) - Diesel £160 (€183)
In Belgium - VW Golf 7 Variant 2016
Petrol €155 (£135) - Diesel €465 (£406)

[JMNTN]

If you have a heavy car or suv i'd buy a diesel, for a light car or sports car a petrol

[KindOfyeah]

yeah but who doesnt downshift before an overtake

Why did you not say anything about maintenance cost and long term ownership cost / mechanical issues/ spare parts price etc?

[mrtsx]

You're such a star!! Really enjoyed watching this video. Great info on the differences between the two fuel options.
Keep up the good work!
A fan from USA.

[dalekenning]

There's one thing you forgot, diesels are more efficient when driving long distances and petrols are more efficient around town so it depends on where you usually drive to (probably how far away your job is from where you live.)

[jimxxx]

hello from greece nice video, keep up the good work!!!

[Lolimaster]

There should a bigger push for hybrid, that tiny e-power really helps to improve mpg/kpg on city usage by as much as 30-40%.

[arnemaeschaelck]

7:08 oh dear, the familiar-sounding Volkswen diesel TDI rattling tho

[mrgreg]

Here in Greece you pay 80€ taxes per year on a 1.4 l diesel and around 260€ on a 1.4 tsi. Besides this, diesel costs 1.1€\per litre and petrol sells for 1.45€\per litre.

[jackthebassman]

Excellent comparison, about time someone did this - well done!

[Ambienfinity]

Very sensible video, Matt. I've never owned a diesel, but there again, most of my driving is schlepping around town.

[runawayronnie]

Great effort - this is one of the better attempts at explaining the differences between the two engines.

The only issue I'd raise with the comparisons is when Matt says the buyer has to calculate the break-even point. ie how much fuel is going to be used to recoup that £2000 difference in list price. Well that's wrong, or at least wrong if you don't plan on keeping the car for ever.

A diesel is worth more when you sell it, so if you keep the car for say three years as most people will, you'll probably receive £1000-£1500 more for the diesel when you sell it. So the price difference to make up in fuel savings is only £500-£1000 and not £2000 as per the video.

I currently have a 0.9TCe petrol Clio and I'm looking for slightly more room - ie looking at a Renault Capture. The petrol Clio worked out a lot cheaper for the tiny annual mileage I do. The best price I can get on a del miles Capture 0.9tce Dynamique from a Renault dealer is £13000. The best price I can get on exactly the same del iles car with a 1.5tdi engine is £13000 !!!! ie exactly the same price. Even if I only do 100 miles a year, the petrol would be by far the more costly car to own.

There are no hard and fast rules on which fuel works out the cheapest but as I say, Matt's video is about the best there is out there right now.

[Vormelon]

My car is powered by the souls of the lost

[harbl]

Very informative and in my opinion impartial. Good job!

[golaoi]

That was a really good punchy video with zero BS. How to do it!