Diesel cars for sale with heycar
Despite falling out of favour among new car buyers, diesel power still makes up a large share of the used car market. While hybrid and electric cars continue to grow in popularity, diesel cars remain the best option for many used car buyers who cover long distances or just want the torque-rich performance of a diesel engine. Whether it's for motorway driving, high-mileage commutes or towing, there are still compelling reasons to look at a used diesel car.
Should I buy a used diesel car in 2025?
If you're cautious about diesel cars, we get it – there's been a lot of bad press about diesel, as well as increase tax rates and Clean Air Zone charges to worry about. However, for the right driver, a diesel car still makes excellent sense.
If you do a lot of long drives, particularly on motorways, then a diesel car will give you superior fuel economuy and extra low-down torque compared to petrol cars, which means more oomph on acceleration and for towing.
With public sentiment shifting and the Government's 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars looking, used diesel car prices are falling. That means better value for money, but only if you use the car in a way that plays to the inherent strengths of a diesel engine. If you mainly do shorter trips, or drive around town a lot, a petrol, hybrid or electric car might be more suitable.
The benefits of buying a used diesel car
Diesel engines are around 20% more efficient than their petrol counterparts, especially when driven over long distances. If your annual mileage is around 15,000 miles a year or more, then the savings in fuel can be significant. Diesels are also better suits to towing and carrying heavy loads, which makes them ideal for estate cars and SUVs.
However, if you do a lot of journeys of under 15 miles, or with a lot of stop-start city driving, a diesel might not be for you. Diesel engines are at their least efficient (and their most polluting) in urban conditions, and components like diesel particular filters (DPFs) can become problematic if the engine doesn't get hot enough regularly – something it'll easily do on longer drives.
Why has the Government turned against diesel cars?
For years, diesel cars were incentivised by lower road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) and company car tax (Benefit-in-Kind tax) because of their lower CO2 emissions compared with petrol cars. But growing awareness of air pollution and health ipact, particularly due to nitrogen oxides (NOx) has reversed this trend.
Today, the Government is instead focusing on improving air quality, particularly in cities, and has introduced Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and high tax bands for new diesel cars that don't meet the latest emissions standards. from 2030, the sale of new non-elecrrified petrol and diesel cars will be banned, although used examples will still be allowed).
What are the best makes and models of diesel cars?
Options are very limited when it comes to smaller diesel cars, but if you're after a family hatchback, estate or SUV then you've got lots of cars to choose from. The Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi and Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi are efficient, affordable, and capable of over 70mpg on a motorway run. Larger diesel cars, like the Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI, comvine comfort and space with low fuel bills.
The Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI is one of the best all-round diesel SUVs, while the BMW X5 30d offers a smooth, six-cylinder experience that's great for longer drives. For performance and luxury, the Audi SQ7 TDI with its twin-turbo V8 manages to blend power and efficiency, achieving nearly 40mpg.
What should I look for when buying a used diesel car?
Before you commit to a diesel car, make sure one is right for your driving habits. They tend to cost more to buy and service, so the fuel savings only make sense if you do enough miles. That said, beware of cars with extrenely high mileage, as they may have been used for fleet or taxi work and had a hard life. Conversely, diesels with very low mileage may not have been driven enough to keep components like the DPF working properly, and could also be troublesome.
As with any used car, check the service history carefully, looking for regular maintenance and evidence that the car has been properly looked after. Diesel engines are very robust when looked after well, but neglect can cause costly issues.
If you're not sure if a used diesel car is quite right for you, we've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.
