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The Daily Insight

What's the best small diesel car to buy?

Author

Sarah Cherry

Updated on March 12, 2026

Top 10: Most Economical Diesel Cars
  • Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC (Official fuel economy - 80.7mpg)
  • Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi (Official fuel economy - 78.5mpg)
  • Dacia Sandero 1.5 dCi (Official fuel economy - 80.7mpg)
  • Citroen/DS 3 1.6 BlueHDI (Official fuel economy - 78.5mpg)
  • Alfa Romeo Mito 1.3 JTDM (Official fuel economy - 83.1mpg)

Accordingly, what's the best small diesel car to buy?

Best diesel cars 2021

  • BMW 320d.
  • Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI.
  • Ford Kuga EcoBlue mHEV.
  • Mercedes E 300 de.
  • Volvo XC60 B4.
  • Renault Megane dCi 115.
  • Mercedes Benz S 350.
  • Land Rover Discovery SDV6.

Also, what's the most reliable diesel car? The most durable and reliable cars

  • Ford Focus diesel 2011-2018.
  • Toyota Avensis 2003-2009.
  • BMW 3 Series 2012-2018.
  • Skoda Octavia diesel 2004-2013.
  • Honda Civic petrol 2006-2012.
  • Kia Cee'd 2007-2012.
  • Toyota Avensis 2009-2015.
  • Toyota RAV4 2006-2013.

Hereof, what is the best second hand diesel car to buy?

Ten of the best used diesel cars to buy for fuel efficiency and lower taxes

  • Ford Focus.
  • Blue Ford Fiesta car.
  • Mini Cooper D.
  • BMW 3 SERIES SALOON.
  • Vauxhall Corsa.
  • Renault Clio.
  • Toyota Yaris.
  • The Peugeot 206.

What's the best diesel car to buy?

Best diesel cars 2021

  • BMW 320d.
  • Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI.
  • Ford Kuga EcoBlue mHEV.
  • Mercedes E 300 de.
  • Volvo XC60 B4.
  • Renault Megane dCi 115.
  • Mercedes Benz S 350.
  • Land Rover Discovery SDV6.

Related Question Answers

Is there a scrappage scheme for diesel cars?

Scrappage explained

Eligibility for the scrappage schemes will depend on the age of your car, it's emission rating and whether it's a petrol or diesel. Each manufacturer has certain models that are available to buy through the scrappage scheme.

How long before a diesel car is banned?

The government announced in 2020 that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2030, along with most hybrid cars that use existing technology. Although it sounds like a drastic measure, the policy may not actually have a very dramatic impact on the industry.

Is it worth buying a second hand diesel car?

The facts about diesel cars

Modern diesels are just as clean as equivalent petrol engines in terms of NOx emissions. Diesels generally produce lower amounts of CO2. Diesels achieve excellent fuel economy at motorway speeds. It can absolutely be worth buying a diesel car depending on what you use the car for.

Are high mileage diesel cars a good buy?

Diesel Rule 1: NEVER buy high mileage

To be clear - avoid diesel cars with over 100,000 miles on the clock. Just avoid them. Really. They will cost you money, time and hassle.

What are the cleanest diesel cars?

The best clean diesel cars
  • BMW has one of the lowest NOx emissions for diesel cars.
  • Likewise, MINI (owned by BMW) offers a range of vehicles that offer low diesel emissions.
  • Toyota, an innovator in the green space, offers low emission diesel cars.
  • Ford diesel cars are also some of the least polluting on the UK roads today.

How many miles can a 2.0 diesel engine last?

Most modern diesels should be good for 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. A gasoline powered truck can run for 200,000 miles. Conversely, a diesel truck has a longer lifespan and can run for at least 500,000 and as much as 800,000 miles.

What second hand cars should I not buy?

These are the cars to avoid if you want a stress-free used car ownership
  • 10: Renault Clio (2005 – 2012)
  • 9: BMW 5 Series (2003 – 2010)
  • 8: Land Rover Discovery (2004 – 2017)
  • 7: Volkswagen Passat diesel (2005 – 2015)
  • 6: Ford Focus (2004 – 2010)
  • 5: Vauxhall Insignia (2008 – 2017)
  • 4: Vauxhall Astra (2004 – 2009)

Which car is best for 2nd hand?

Best Second Hand Cars to Buy in India
  • Maruti Alto 800. The first car in our list of Best Second-hand Cars to Buy in India is the Maruti Alto 800, which is also among the cheapest cars in India.
  • Maruti Swift.
  • Hyundai Elite i20.
  • Volkswagen Polo.
  • Maruti Dzire.
  • Maruti Ciaz.
  • Honda City.
  • Maruti Vitara Brezza.

What is the most reliable old car?

Ranked: the most and least reliable older cars
  • Ranked: the most and least reliable older cars.
  • 1: Lexus – 94.9% reliability score.
  • 2: Dacia – 93.1% reliability score.
  • 3: Honda – 90.0% reliability score.
  • 4: Toyota – 89.7% reliability score.
  • 5: Suzuki – 88.4% reliability score.
  • 6: Kia – 87.8% reliability score.

What car will last 20 years?

10 Cars That Will Last 20 Years (And 10 That Won't Last 5 Years)
  1. 1 Won't Last 5 Years: 2018 Ford Fiesta.
  2. 2 Will Last 20 Years: 2018 Audi A4.
  3. 3 Won't Last 5 Years: 2017 Chrysler 200.
  4. 4 Will Last 20 Years: 2017 Mazda MX-5.
  5. 5 Won't Last 5 Years: 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan.
  6. 6 Will Last 20 Years: 2017 Honda Ridgeline.

What is the most reliable small car?

Ranking Model Reliability Score
1 Hyundai Kona 95.75%
2 Peugeot 2008 94.53%
3 Kia Rio 94.48%
4 Volvo XC40 94.20%

What is high mileage for a diesel engine car?

Heavy-duty diesel engines are categorized differently when discussing high mileage. An over-the-road class-8 truck will log 750,000 miles or more before it is considered “high mileage.” It's not unusual for a truck to achieve more than 1,000,000 miles if it is serviced regularly.

How long do BMW diesel engines last?

How Long Do BMW x56 diesel engines last? A BMW X5 diesel engine should last over 150,000 miles with regular maintenance.