Diesel Cars Give Hybrids a Run for Their Money in Fuel Efficiency

Diesel cars are putting pressure on hybrids, with some models matching or even surpassing their fuel efficiency claims. According to Which?, a sporty BMW 320ed achieves 64.2 miles per gallon, while a Toyota Prius manages 61.4mpg. This means that over a year of driving 12,000 miles, a diesel car would cost £1,120 in fuel, which is £51 less than a hybrid.

Key Takeaways:

• The BMW 320ed diesel car achieves 64.2 miles per gallon, making it a strong contender in fuel efficiency.
• The Toyota Prius hybrid car achieves 61.4mpg, slightly behind the BMW 320ed.
• In real-world driving, hybrids are generally more fuel-efficient than petrol engines, but diesel engines can be a close second.
• A diesel Skoda Octavia Greenline II annual fuel bill is £1,146, which is £25 less than a hybrid Honda Insight SE.
• In the off-roader category, a diesel Volkswagen Touareg annual fuel bill is £2,193, which is £78 more than a Lexus RX 450h hybrid.
• Hybrids combine a petrol engine with an electric motor, which reduces emissions and saves drivers on tax.

Statistics:

• The BMW 320ed diesel car achieves 64.2 miles per gallon.
• The Toyota Prius hybrid car achieves 61.4mpg.
• A diesel Skoda Octavia Greenline II annual fuel bill is £1,146, which is £25 less than a hybrid Honda Insight SE.
• In the off-roader category, a diesel Volkswagen Touareg annual fuel bill is £2,193, which is £78 more than a Lexus RX 450h hybrid.
• The price of diesel hit a record £6.50 per gallon yesterday, which is more than £10 dearer to fill a 50-litre tank compared to a year ago.
• A 50-litre tank would now cost £325, up from £297.50 a year ago.

Sources:

• "BMW 320ed", Which? Car, as cited in the article.
• "Toyota Prius", Which? Car, as cited in the article.
• "Which? Car looks at the fuel efficiency achieved in 'real world' driving rather than the claims made by manufacturers", According to Which? Car.
• "AA comment on the price of diesel", As reported in the article.