Which is better, petrol or diesel?
Neither one is better than the other as such, and each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages. What’s right for you will depend on how many miles you drive and where you tend to drive them.
Some cars are traditionally diesel such as 4x4s – diesels tend to be better at low torque meaning you can tow more efficiently and be quicker off the mark. Most other car models are available in both petrol or diesel options.
Diesel cars are usually the better option if you drive more than 12,000 miles mainly on motorways. By law, diesel cars need a ‘diesel particulate filter’ or DPF – this is to catch all the emission nasties in diesel. The DPF is self-cleaning but in order for it to do so, your car needs to be run for longish periods at high speeds. If the filter doesn’t get cleared and becomes blocked, it can be very expensive to repair.
Diesel cars are more fuel efficient but as a general rule diesel fuel is slightly more expensive, although this has fluctuated in recent months as diesel has been seen to fall below the cost of petrol. Considering the cost of diesel, the number of miles and fuel efficiency, you could recoup about £1,000 in a year or so with your diesel car. But if you drive less than 12,000 miles a year then it’ll take you far longer to make any savings. Petrol cars on the other hand are good for pootling around town and if you’re going to be driving less than 12,000 miles a year.