Choosing Between Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

Gone are the days when petrol cars were the only available variant in the personal car segment. Diesel cars aren’t just relegated to the taxi segment anymore. Now, most passenger cars come with a diesel engine variant too. Except for the few smaller ones like Alto or Kwid, most of the other cars let the user choose between the two fuel engine alternatives. So it is the battle of petrol vs diesel cars.

Diesel cars are giving their petrol variants a run for their money. Diesel engines these days are customized to perfectly fit the car they will be running in. These engines are available in different types as well. They can also accommodate divergent fuel capacity. And they have other redeeming factors like competitive pricing. With all of these in their arsenal, diesel cars are boldly encroaching on the petrol run ground!

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Engine | Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

Before the major drawback of the diesel engines were their high Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels. But since car manufacturers are now refining their engines, the clatter has gone down considerably. With this, the sounds are minimal on the outside. And on the inside, it is only as noisy as a petrol model. That too is smoothed out in the high-end models. However, the life of a diesel engine is comparatively shorter than its petrol version.

You should look at all these factors before you decide on the make, model, or the variant. Make sure you don’t mind the noises or the vibrations produced by the car you choose. 

Performance | Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

Horsepower is yet another yardstick we use to measure the performance of the engine. A medium-range, affordable petrol car, clearly displays the singular power of its engine since it responds well during the first pick-up. But, accelerating on lower gears makes the car rush ahead but not with much power.

Diesel engines, on the other hand, have turbochargers, which increase the car’s Horsepower (PS) considerably. But you will be frustrated at the beginning because the vehicle will face something called a turbo lag or initial delay. Even flooring the pedal won’t make the car answer to your command to gain power and speed up! It is your preference toward’s the car’s response time and your thirst for power that determines which engine you will go for. Will it be petrol or diesel?

Mileage | Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

There are no two ways about the fact that a diesel car outshines a petrol car in terms of mileage and fuel efficiency. Long-term fuel efficiency offsets the higher on-road purchasing cost of the car.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno: A fuel-efficient diesel car. 

Pricing | Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

In all places except Goa, the price of diesel is less than the price of petrol. Because of the limited deregulation of diesel prices in the year 2013, the price difference between the two fuels is apparent. And this would remain the same in the foreseeable future. When calculated in terms of savings in comparison with each other, diesel wins hands down.

Diesel engines have a greater fuel efficiency. Hence, you get a considerable time gap between each tank fillings! But buy the fuel variant keeping in mind the length of the car’s daily run. Petrol cars are ideal if the commutes are short. If that is not the case, go for the diesel variant.

Car Maintenance and Servicing | Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

Buying a car is a one-time thing, but its service and maintenance are a lifelong expenditure.

Compared to petrol cars, diesel variants are high maintenance. Over a similar period of time, service cost per km, as well as the cost of parts that need servicing, is more for a diesel engine. Additionally, you would lose even more money for changing parts due to wear and tear or damage, and for other repairs. Spare parts for a diesel engine cost more than its petrol counterpart.

Resale Value | Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

Diesel cars resell at 10% above the market resale value of its petrol variant. The percentage difference comes down as the age of the cars increase.

You can compare the on-road cost of the variants, the mileage, the power, the cost of maintaining the car, fuel charges and the noise levels. Also, do your homework and learn about the latest regulations in the fuel pricing and transportation to make an informed decision!

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Power | Petrol Vs Diesel Cars

For a common man in India, the real test of the car’s power is the people-carrying capacity of a car. Mostly, petrol cars are considered to have a good initial pick-up. That is, as soon as you press the accelerator pedal, the car rushes ahead. But it doesn’t extend the pulling power after certain revolutions. This provides better horsepower, but it also results in a lower torque.

In contrast, a diesel car is fitted with a turbocharger. The turbocharger has a larger amount of pulling power which is because of its elevated torque causing a high energy push. It means that despite pressing the accelerator to its maximum capacity, the car will take the time to respond. This produces more torque and lesser power.

Diesel as a fuel is not as refined as petrol and hence is cheaper. But less refined fuel causes more pollution.

But things have changed a lot now. Lack of fine particles and the wide use of exhaust reduction for many years have changed the perception that diesel engines are the devil. The new modern, fuel-efficient and less polluting engines are almost at par with their petrol counterparts.

Eventually, it all boils down to your personal choice and what you want. If you expect a faster response from your car, then a petrol car makes more sense. Otherwise, if the thrust of sudden power is what thrills you, even with the initial lag, then you would love a diesel car.

Both diesel and petrol engines are equally popular in the market as both of them have their set of advantages. Ultimately, the buyer’s expectations and preferences reflect in her decision. Anyhow, we don’t expect this enigma of Petrol vs. Diesel cars to end any time soon.

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Related: 10 Reasons To Choose Petrol Over Diesel For Your Next Car