Petrol or Diesel

Although the gap between sales of diesel and petrol vehicles is gradually decreasing, sales of the latter still outnumber diesel by a wide margin in the UK.

Both types of vehicle have merits and de-merits though. A few points might be worth considering.

Petrol: The Pro’s

1 Quietness – petrol vehicles are generally quieter than diesels.

2 Responsiveness – Petrol vehicles tend to outperform their diesel counterparts, generally accelerating more quickly, although this is not true of modern turbo-charged diesel models, which can often outdo petrol cars!

3 Repair and maintenance – petrol engines are cheaper to repair and maintain.

Petrol: The Con’s

1 Environmental considerations – petrol cars have higher carbon emissions than diesel models and petrol is a non-renewable energy.

2 More frequent services – the servicing of petrol cars may be cheaper part for part, but they need servicing more frequently than diesels.

Diesel: The Pro’s

1 Lower carbon emissions –before the advent of diesel particulate filters, diesel produced sooty emissions. Today, it produces significantly lower carbon emissions than petrol.

2 Higher engine efficiency – diesels yield significantly more mpg over long distances.

3 Less gear changes – diesels stay in gear longer than petrol vehicles, making for smooth and efficient acceleration.

Diesel: The Con’s

1 Cost - diesel models (and fuel) are generally more expensive than petrol equivalents.

2 Noise – although new technology is reducing the noise factor in diesel engines, they remain more vocal than most petrol cars.

3 Other pollutants – diesel produces more Nitrogen Oxide than petrol.