If you’re in the market for a new car, you may be wondering whether you should buy one with a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. Here, our fleet fuel card company is here to help. We’ve investigated the pros and cons of owning a diesel car so you can decide if one is right for you:
Fuel
Many people opt for a diesel engine because of its fuel efficiency: a diesel car will usually get about 30% more miles per gallon than a gasoline car. This is most noticed when driving on the highway, so if you do a lot of traveling or commuting, diesel may be a good choice. However, you have to consider the fact that diesel fuel costs more than unleaded gasoline. (Just a note: If your current care takes premium gasoline, you may not really notice the difference in price.)
Maintenance
Diesel engines are built differently than gasoline engines (for more information on that, read our How Does an Engine Really Work? blog). Since diesel engines don’t have spark plugs or distributors, they tend to need less maintenance than gasoline. In addition, diesel engines are known, on average, to last longer than gasoline engines.
Value
On average, a diesel car will hold its value more than a gasoline car. So if you’re the kind of person who gets bored with cars easily, you may want to choose a diesel car that you can trade in later and still get a good amount for.
Performance
Here is where diesel cars are much different than gasoline cars: diesel cars are known for their long-lasting strength, and much of that is due to their increased torque. However, when you have more torque, you tend to have less horsepower, which means diesel cars aren’t very quick. If you’re someone who likes to whip around a fast, sporty car, diesel cars may not be for you. However, if you’re looking for your car to last and you’re considering using it for towing, diesel may be the right choice.
What other differences have you found between diesel and gasoline cars? We’d love to know!
