At face value, diesel cars seem to offer some benefits over their petrol counterparts.
Compared to conventional gasoline engines, they typically offer greater fuel efficiency and more torque for easier steering and greater traction.
While their towing capacity and fuel efficiency continue to make them popular choices among buyers of SUVs and larger trucks, sales of diesel passenger cars – sedan, hatch, wagon, are for riders, coupes and convertibles – have fallen dramatically over the past decade.
Ten years ago, 21 brands offered diesel-powered sedans, including premium brands like Alfa Romeo and Jaguar and entry-level brands like Ford and Mazda. Even just five years ago, there were 14 brands selling diesel sedans in Australia.
However, in 2022, there is currently only one option.
This is commensurate with a widespread decline in diesel passenger car sales. From January to May this year, only 3,624 diesel passenger cars were sold.
During the same period in 2012, a total of 18,700 diesel passenger cars were sold. That represents a drop of just over 80%.
While there are several reasons for this decline, the bottom line is the emergence of more affordable and often more efficient hybrid vehicles, as well as the emergence of more battery-powered vehicles.
For example, hybrid vehicles offered by Toyota are available at a minimal additional cost compared to conventional gasoline engines, but often offer better innovation, comparable performance and no maintenance costs. any extras that a similar diesel engine requires, all with better fuel economy and lower emissions.
Recently, the price of diesel at supply stores has also increased, and with the black pump no longer significantly cheaper than gasoline, battery-powered vehicles can be recharged for as little as one year. fraction of the cost of fueling a diesel vehicle.
However, some manufacturers persist with diesel engines in their passenger cars. Here’s what’s currently available.
sedans
A decade ago, European brands all favored diesel-powered sedans because diesel engines were so common on the continent. Many have arrived here, including diesel-powered Alfa Romeo, Audi and Mercedes-Benz sedans.
However, in today’s market, BMW is the last standing brand, with 530days is the only diesel sedan available to order in the Australian New Car Market.
Powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, the 530d produces 195kW of power and 620Nm of torque, propelling the car from 0-100 km/h in a swift 5.7 seconds. Combined cycle fuel consumption is listed as low of 5.5 liters per 100km, with prices starting at $125,400 before options and on-road transportation costs.
BMW also offers the same engine for the recently replaced G11 7 Series, which is sold here as 730days. Comparable to its larger size and greater weight, the 730d offers slightly worse fuel economy of 5.7 liters per 100km combined, with a slight drop in performance during the 6.1-second sprint for the sprint. 0-100 km/h.
Other options that have been discontinued recently include Genesis G80 2.2Doffered for a short time in 2021, as well as Audi A8 50 TDI quattroa direct competitor to the 730d listed above.
While a diesel sedan remains, diesel coupes and convertibles are dead in Australia.
The last diesel-powered coupe on sale here is Mercedes-Benz E220d in 2020, while diesel-powered convertibles – excluding SUVs with removable roofs – died out in 2016 with the advent of diesel Audi A3 and A5 and BMW 4 Series.
Wagons
Horse-drawn carriages are generally a more niche option than sedans in the Australian market, and diesel-powered examples are even more so.
While Skoda and Volkswagen have traditionally offered diesel versions of their mid-size wagons, Audi is currently the only Volkswagen Group brand to offer a diesel-powered wagon. Two, in fact: A4 allroad and A6 allroad.
The A4 allroad 40 TDI quattro is the smaller (and cheaper) option and is available with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 140kW of power and 400Nm of torque, with a 0-100km/h time. h is declared as 7.3 seconds.
Combined fuel economy sits at 4.9 liters per 100km, and the model starts at $75,200 before costs and on-road options.
The larger A6 allroad 45 TDI quattro is powered by a 183kW turbo-diesel six-cylinder that produces a remarkable 600Nm of torque, allowing the car to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.5. second.
Fuel economy remains reasonable at 6.6 liters per 100km on the combined cycle, and prices start from $116,400 before on-road costs and options.
Human motivation
More than any other type of automobile described here, the most likely available passenger engine is the diesel engine. This is partly due to the fact that many options in this class are adapted from humble van-based origins, but also due to the fact that the considerable torque generated at low rpm makes the engine diesel is especially suitable for carrying a large number of passengers.
Germany and South Korea are the most important players here. On the German side, Mercedes-Benz provides V-Class People moving and camping related focus Marco Polo and cheaper Vito Tourer models with a variety of diesel engines.
There’s a 120kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel available in the Vito Tourer and V220d, while more powerful V-Class variants include the 140kW/440Nm V250d and 147kW/500Nm V300d.
Prices range from $70,336 for the Vito Tourer to $121,199 for the Marco Polo Horizon model, all without including on-road shipping.
Volkswagen also offers a wide range of options at various price points, expanding the range of smaller as well as larger flying Caddys. T6.1 Multivan and related variations, including Caravelle and California Beach. Caddie models are offered with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel option, producing 90kW of power and 320Nm of torque.
Meanwhile, Multivan-based variants are available in TDI340 guise, featuring a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel making 110kW and 340Nm of torque, as well as a more powerful TDI450 variant that produces power 146kW and 450Nm of torque.
The Caddy range is priced from $48,140 before on-road costs, while T6.1 diesel models start at $63,090 before on-road.
Hyundai and Kia offer diesel engine options in Staria and Carnival respective movers.
Hyundai offers the space-age Staria with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine that produces 130kW of power and 430Nm of torque, while the Carnival has the same engine available, but in a more intensely tuned state for allowing it to produce 148kW of power and 440Nm of torque.
Carnival is the front wheel, while Staria is all gear.
Staria diesel models are available from $51,500 before on-road, while the Carnival is available from $53,690 before on-road costs.
