Diesel Cars Still Sold, But Do They Make Sense?
Fuel price gaps are reshaping the case for diesel cars. Autocar's test of a new Skoda Octavia diesel estate shows the 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG Sportline returning 60.1mpg, against 54.3mpg for the 1.5 TSI e-Tec petrol sibling. Yet with diesel at about 199 pence per litre versus 173.98 pence for petrol, the running costs over 10,000 miles come out nearly identical, at £1,505 for diesel and £1,457 for petrol. The article also points to a shift in perception: diesel engines are increasingly seen as less reliable, and fewer diesel cars are being built as company car demand changes. For automotive professionals, this is a clear signal that buyer decisions now depend on fuel pricing and public trust, not just efficiency figures. Worth watching how manufacturers plan their line-ups.
Key points
- What happened Autocar tested a new Skoda Octavia diesel estate and asked whether diesel cars still make sense as fuel prices rise.
- The key detail The diesel does 60.1mpg against 54.3mpg for the petrol. Diesel costs about 199p per litre versus 173.98p for petrol.
- Why it matters Over 10,000 miles both cost about the same to run, £1,505 diesel and £1,457 petrol. Diesel is also seen as less reliable now.