Diesel vs Petrol: What’s the Best Way to Fuel Up?

The debate around diesel vs petrol cars has raged on for decades. Back in the day, diesel engines often sounded a bit like asthmatic tractors, which gave them a bad reputation for everyday driving. These days, the differences are far more subtle to the average driver. Car technology has improved, and most modern cars deliver a fairly safe, pleasant, and not-too-noisy ride.

But the reality is that if you drive a lot you want the car best suited to your needs. With petrol prices increasing and more choice than ever when it comes to second hand and new cars, what should you opt for?

Here are the ins and outs of the petrol vs diesel car debate. Hopefully, it helps you make a decision one way.

Diesel vs petrol: what’s the difference?

We all know that cars come in petrol and diesel versions.  But what’s the actual difference when it comes to diesel vs petrol engines? What makes them different from one another?

There’s a lot of jargon and technical stuff around engines which you can read more about here. As a driver, the main thing to know is that they deliver different types of power. Sort of like a sprinter versus a long distance athlete.

Petrol engines perform well at high revolutions. As you up the revs, you get more speed. That’s why most super cars are petrol engines, and why they rev their engines so much. As you might have guessed, they’re the Usain Bolt sprinters of the world.

Diesel engines are the marathon runners! Their power is slower and lower; it’s the sort that would get you slowly and steadily up a steep hill with a loaded car. But not at high speed. If you push diesel cars into high rev ranges, their power lessens.

What is better to drive?

The differences in engines are all good and well, but most of us only really care about driving performance and reliability. And cost too…

The difference in the way diesel vs petrol cars deliver their power means differences in driving style.

Diesel cars are excellent for cruising and staying in low to mid revolutions. They’re particularly lovely to drive on the motorway, because you can overtake easily without needing to change gears and up the revs. The fact that they’re excellent “work horses” at low revs and over longer distances also makes theme excellent towing cars.

That said, they do usually have louder engines and sometimes the ride isn’t quite as smooth as in a petrol engine. But with advances in modern car cabin design and build, this is becoming less apparent.

Petrol cars are more nippy, whizzy little things and can be fun to drive. Plus, the engine makes less of a loud, tractor-like sound as you drive, which is a big benefit for some people. They tend to accelerate faster if you go into high revs, and most high performance engines are petrol versions.

If you want a sports car and a thrilling drive, many people would advise a petrol engine. Maybe that’s why car enthusiasts are called petrol heads, not diesel heads…

Which is cheaper to run: diesel or petrol?

Another important thing to think about is the cost of maintaining a diesel vs petrol vehicle.

Diesel cars are often more expensive to buy in terms of the initial outlay. But fuel prices have skyrocketed lately (not taking into account Australia’s recently introduced short-term fuel tax excise reduction), and petrol is one of the biggest considerations for many people’s general monthly budget – not just car-related expenses.

So in the long run, is diesel or petrol cheaper? While diesel vehicles are more expensive than their petrol counterparts, they still win in the ongoing costs department.

When it comes down to it, diesel cars give you better fuel consumption in comparison to petrol ones. And the difference isn’t always small – it can be an improvement of as much as 30% or 40%. It’s worth noting that a good diesel engine also saves you time, because you get more range from a tank. Time is money too…

But again, things are slowly changing – these days, there are plenty of small, turbocharged petrol engines which are fairly fuel efficient. So the exact difference in fuel consumption will depend on the make and model of car you’re looking at in petrol vs diesel.

If you’re hoping to save some cash when it comes to expenses, you can check out our advice on saving on fuel to combat the creep of fuel prices.

Overall, is petrol or diesel better?

The answer depends on what you value and the type of driving you do.

If you do tons of road trips around Australia or caravan travel with long drives, you’ll want a diesel. Or if you have a long commute and spend a long time on highways. The same goes for if you regularly tow boats or trailers – in which case, read our advice for towing a trailer too.

But if you do most of your driving on short trips around town running errands, driving to and from work in the suburbs, or handling the school run, then a small petrol engine can be a great choice. They’re quiet, responsive, and easy to handle. They do, however, have higher CO2 emissions than diesel engines as a general rule.

And on that note… to get ahead of the curve, maybe you want to start exploring electric cars or hybrids? They’re cheaper to run, kinder to the planet and who knows – sometime in future, maybe they’ll be the only cars available on the market!

No arguments here…

Wherever you lie in the diesel vs petrol debate, there’s no arguing that comprehensive car insurance is a must. Whether you’re nipping about town or taking the highway for a driving holiday, you can still be involved in an accident or become victim to a severe weather event or theft.

If that happens, knowing you can afford to repair or replace your precious (and expensive) car offers serious peace of mind.