SIX BRILLIANT DIESEL CARS TO BUY NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN – AND ONE TO AVOID

It’s hard to believe that diesel was once the future of low-carbon motoring, but ever since the word started being followed by “gate” in 2015 its stock has plummeted. Sales too.

At their peak in 2015, diesels accounted for almost half the new cars sold in the UK. By 2023, however, that figure had crashed to only 8 per cent – and it continues to fall, with experts predicting a market share as low as 3 per cent by 2028.

No surprise, then, that diesel-engined cars are a scarce sight in showrooms these days. But that isn’t to say they have vanished completely. Indeed, some of the diesels left are some of the best that buyers have ever been offered.

That’s because the diesel engine’s traditional appeal of greater fuel efficiency than petrol alternatives and the surge of low-rev torque makes them suited to larger, heavier cars; vehicles such as SUVs.

The extra pulling power also makes them excellent for towing, which is why diesel engines are still the preferred option among caravanners.

So don’t be so quick to ditch diesel. Other drivers may think you’ve gone mad – but buying a diesel car in 2025, before they’ve all gone, may just turn out to be a savvy move. These are the best cars to consider in various classes.

The best family hatchback with diesel power

Skoda Octavia

We have long praised Skoda’s fourth-generation Octavia for its cossetting ride and classy interior. Thanks to a mid-life primp, the vehicle is better than ever, with smart looks that belie the vast interior and a boot that will swallow almost anything you care to throw at it.

On the road, it’s smooth and comfortable, and equipped with the stalwart 148bhp 2.0-litre engine that’s found in almost every Volkswagen Group vehicle of the past couple of decades, it offers plenty of grunt along with exceptional frugality. There’s also a 115bhp version if you want an even more parsimonious option – but we’d avoid it given it gets rather breathless when faced with anything more taxing than normal driving conditions.

Price: from £29,935

Our preferred version: Octavia 2.0 TDI 150 SE L DSG, £35,385

Also consider: Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf

The best diesel saloon car

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Where most manufacturers stopped bothering to develop their diesels, Mercedes ploughed on, giving its oil burner a mild hybrid system to make it even more frugal. The result is truly astonishing; a car that can casually achieve 70mpg-odd on a long run. Indeed, it’s good enough to make you lament the fact this technology has become such a dead end.

The C220d isn’t a hair shirt, either; avoid the entry-level version, though, as it feels a bit cheap in places. With the right specification, however, this is a beautiful place to be; it’s roomy, too, besting its executive saloon car rivals for interior space.

Price: from £46,570

Our preferred version: C220d AMG Line Premium Saloon, £50,070

Also consider: BMW 3-Series, Audi A5

The diesel estate of choice

Skoda Superb

It’s an obvious choice, but there’s a reason the Superb so frequently features in these sorts of articles: it’s bloomin’ brilliant. Vast, useful, clever, well thought out, exceedingly comfortable, smartly finished and good to look at, the Superb estate simply nails it.

And, a word to the wise, it’s at its best when equipped with the diesel engine. True, the petrol models are quieter and smoother – but they’re also more anaemic at lower engine speeds, precisely where the diesel is providing the sort of punch you need to haul the Superb when it’s chock-full of family and their associated detritus.

The Superb isn’t going to excite you – but it will carry you, and whatever large items you may need to move, in utter comfort. And that’s really what you want from a car like this.

Price: from £37,510

Our preferred version: Superb 2.0 TDI 150 SE L DSG Estate, £40,525

Also consider: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The best diesel family SUV

Volkswagen Tiguan

After featuring in a brace of Skodas, the Volkswagen Group 2.0-litre turbodiesel makes another appearance – here, it’s beneath the bonnet of a car I described as “about as exciting as wallpaper paste”. So why is it here?

Dull though it may be, there’s no doubting the Tiguan’s popularity. There is good reason for that: the blend of space, versatility, comfort and quality make the Tiguan a family SUV that will fit into your life seamlessly. Not a car that will inspire joy, but one that will facilitate it, guiding you and your loved ones from dance class to theme park, to National Trust property, to family holiday without fuss.

You might be tempted to opt for a petrol engine, but don’t. Hauling the Tiguan’s considerable weight, the petrol versions feel strained; the diesel option is far more palatable, and its easy-going nature blends ideally with the rest of the car’s laid-back feel.

Price: from £38,950

Our preferred version: Tiguan 2.0 TDI 150 Life DSG, £38,950

Also consider: Skoda Kodiaq, Citroën C5 Aircross

The best diesel SUV with a touch of class

BMW X5

For large SUVs, diesel is still the fuel of choice. Petrol options are increasingly available, but usually, they need to be big and powerful to haul such cars – and that makes them horrifyingly thirsty.

So choose your X5 with a six-cylinder diesel and yomp about the place feeling like a king. This is undoubtedly one of the better of these chunky SUVs to drive, while it’s also beautifully built. There’s a ton of space and, as you might expect, the X5 is luxuriously appointed.

Price: from £70,685

Our preferred version: X5 xDrive30d M Sport, £74,740

Also consider: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE

The diesel seven-seater for bigger families

Ford Grand Tourneo Connect

A van with windows? Why not? If you need to transport seven people in comfort, a vehicle such as this is the most sensible way to do it. But the big surprise with the Tourneo Connect is how un-van-like it is to drive, with a smooth, finessed quality to the way it rides bumps, a quiet diesel engine and even surprisingly sharp handling.

It’s based heavily on the Volkswagen Caddy, but it’s cheaper to buy like for like. That means it has Volkswagen’s infamously poor touchscreen system – but it’s less jarring in the Ford because there are relatively few functions.

The two rear rows of seats are pleasingly flexible, folding and sliding every which way to suit your needs. So while it won’t win any prizes for glamour, the Grand Tourneo Connect is a family car par excellence.

Price: from £35,020

Our preferred version: Grand Tourneo Connect 2.0 EcoBlue 122 Titanium Auto, £35,020

Also consider: Volkswagen Caddy

And the diesel model to avoid

Citroën Berlingo

Not so long ago, the Berlingo was one of the smartest buys on the British market; few cars offered such space and versatility for the price. But Citroën took the fateful decision to ditch the petrol and diesel versions a few years ago, leaving only the electric models in showrooms.

Realising its mistake, it reintroduced a diesel in the hope of recapturing lost sales – but, lacking the time to homologate it anew, it had to do so as a commercial vehicle. This meant hastily installing a big, rattly metal bulkhead between the rear seats and boot, completely obliterating any load-through functionality with the seats folded down and, with it, the Berlingo’s main USP.

These days, then, the diesel Berlingo is sadly a shadow of its former self – and best avoided.

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2025-01-30T07:35:08Z