With the end of sight for the production of new diesel cars, we've looked at what options drivers have going into 2026
Diesel cars are great if you drive long distances, need a bigger car or need to tow. They are cheaper to run that petrol cars as they’ve a excellent fuel economy and are very efficient.
That said, it’s widely reported that in just 4 years or so drivers won’t be able to buy a new diesel car (or petrol for that matter). Used diesel/petrol cars will still be an option but ongoing regulatory changes and penalties are not going away any time soon.
Diesel cars are however becoming increasingly expensive to run as fuel costs rise, there’s higher tax and the increasing prominence of ultra low emission zones (ULEZ) being introduced. Whilst ULEZ zones have not yet arrived in Northern Ireland, they are being considered by Stormont as part of their Clean Air Strategy.
With the rising popularity in hybrid and electric vehicles, drivers in the used car market with diesel cars are suffering the consequences as diesel car value continues to drop leaving drivers even more out of pocket.
The challenge for diesel drivers is that the resale value is continuing to drop dramatically. Stock levels are impacting things too as stock pressures remain across the board for most dealers. There’s an increasing lack of diesel car options as brands continue to drop models in their new car lineups.
Electric vehicles aren’t untarnished either however as drivers are concerned about range and charging infrastructure with Tesla taking the brunt as their resale prices plummeted.
What’s the best alternative to a diesel car?
Hybrid continues to be the most popular choice as they are holding their value a little better when it comes to reselling. They are most beneficial for city drivers too as they recover energy usually wasted stopping/starting
For those drivers who are not keen on going the hybrid/electric route yet are opting for petrol instead if their seeking a small/mid-size car or have low mileage. Petrol cars have come on leaps and bounds in terms of their fuel efficiency and are a strong choice for more rural drivers.
If long distances and bigger cars such as SUVs and people carriers are what’s needed then traditionally diesel cars are the better option – some hybrid SUVs offer a good option.
All in all it depends on what you need the car for and go from there. There’s still reasons to opt for a diesel car but there’s a lot to consider beforehand.
