In terms of face value, diesel cars seem to carry several advantages over their petrol counterparts.
Compared to conventional petrol engines, they typically offer more fuel efficiency and more torque for easier maneuverability and greater towing capacity.
While their towing capacity and fuel efficiency continue to be a popular choice among buyers of their larger SUVs and UTs, sales of diesel passenger cars – sedans, hatches, wagons, people movers, coupes and convertibles – have declined significantly over the past decade.
Ten years ago, Alfa offered 21 brands of diesel-powered sedans, including premium brands like Romeo and Jaguar and mainstream brands like Ford and Mazda. Even just five years ago, there were still 14 brands selling diesel sedans in Australia.
In 2022, though, there is currently only one option available.
This is consistent with the massive decline in sales of diesel passenger cars. From January to May this year, only 3824 diesel-powered passenger cars were sold.
During the same period in 2012, a total of 18,700 diesel-powered passenger cars were sold. This represents a fall of just over 80 percent.
While there are many reasons for this drop-off, the key is the emergence of more affordable and often more efficient hybrid vehicles, as well as the advent of more battery-electric vehicles.
Hybrid vehicles offered by Toyota, for example, are available at minimal cost compared to a conventional petrol engine, yet generally offer better refinement, comparable efficiency, and no additional maintenance costs for similar diesel engines, all with improved fuel economy and lower emissions. .
Recently, the price of diesel in Bowser has also risen, and since the black pump is no longer significantly cheaper than petrol, battery-powered vehicles are able to recharge a fraction of the cost of refilling a diesel car.
Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person. Here is what is currently available.
Sedan
A decade ago, European Marxists favored diesel-powered sedans because oil-burners were extremely popular on the continent. Lots of people have made their way here, including diesel-powered Alfa Romeo, Audi and Mercedes-Benz sedans.
In today’s market, however, BMW is the latest brand, where the 530d model is the only diesel sedan currently available to order in the new car market in Australia.
Powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, the 530d produces 195kW of power and 620Nm of torque, driving the car at a speed of 0-100 km / h in 5.7 seconds. Combined cycle fuel costs are listed at less than 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers, with prices starting at $ 125,400 before alternatives and road costs.
BMW also offered the same engine in the recently relocated G11 7 series, sold here as the 730d. Consistent with its larger size and larger weight, the 730d offers a slightly worse fuel economy of 5.7 liters per 100 km, with efficiency dampened at 6.1 seconds acceleration for a 0-100 km / h sprint.
Other recently discontinued options include the Genesis G80 2.2D, which was offered for a short time in 2021, as well as the Audi A8 50 TDI quattro, a direct competitor to the 730d listed above.
Diesel coupe and convertible have died in Australia with one diesel sedan left.
The last diesel-powered coupe sold here was the Mercedes-Benz E220d in 2020, while the diesel-powered convertible – except for the SUV with removable roof – died in 2016 with the deaths of the diesel Audi A3 and A5 and BMW 4 series.
Wagon
Wagons have generally been a special option compared to sedans in the Australian market and there are more diesel powered examples.
Although Skoda and Volkswagen traditionally offer diesel versions of their mid-size wagons, Audi is now the only Volkswagen Group brand that offers a diesel wagon. Two, actually: A4 allroad and A6 allroad.
The A4 Allroad 40 TDI Quattro is a smaller (and cheaper) alternative, and is available with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 140kW of power and 400Nm of torque, claimed to be 0-100 km / h. 7.3 seconds.
Combined fuel economy sits at 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers and the model costs from $ 75,200 before on-road costs and options.
The larger A6 Allroad 45 TDI Quattro packs an 183kW six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces a significant 600Nm of torque, allowing the car to complete a 0-100 km / h sprint in 6.5 seconds.
In the combined cycle the fuel economy is reasonable at 6.6 liters per 100 km and the cost starts from খরচ 116,400 before road costs and alternatives.
People are movers
More than any other class of car described here, People Movers have the highest availability of diesel engines. This is partly due to the many options in this class that have been adapted from humble van-based sources, but also because the significant torque produced at low RPM makes diesel particularly suitable for carrying a large number of passengers.
Germany and Korea are the main players here. From the German side, Mercedes-Benz offers a range of diesel engines with its V-Class People Mover, and related camping focus Marco Polo and cheap Vito Toura models.
The Vito Tourer and V220d feature a 120kW / 380Nm 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder, while the more powerful V-Class variants are the 140kW / 440Nm V250d and 147kW / 500Nm V300.
Prices for the Vito Toure range from $ 70,336 to $ 121,199 for the Marco Polo Horizon model, all on-road before costs.
Volkswagen also offers a variety of options at multiple price points, including a smaller caddy range as well as a larger T6.1 multivan and a wide range of related variants, including Caravel and California Beach. The Cady models are offered with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel option, which produces 90kW of power and 320Nm of torque.
Meanwhile, the multivan-based variants are available in TDI340 camouflage, a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that produces 110kW of power and 340Nm of torque, as well as the more powerful TDI450 variant, producing 146kW of power and 450Nm of torque.
Prices for the Cady Range start at $ 48,140 before the on-road cost, while the diesel T6.1 model starts at $ 63,090 before the on-road.
Hyundai and Kia offer diesel options in their Staria and Carnival People Movers, respectively.
Hyundai offers the Space-Edge Staria with a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel that produces 130kW of power and 430Nm of torque, while the Carnival is available with the same engine, but in a more powerful state of the melody that allows it to produce 148kW. Power and 440Nm of torque.
Carnival is the front-wheel drive, and Staria is the all-wheel drive.
The Staria Diesel model is available from আগে 51,500 before on-road, while the carnival is available from $ 53,690 before on-road cost.