Some people still prefer diesel: these are the five best-selling diesel-engined cars in our market

Sales of diesel-engined cars continue to fall. Specifically, by 8.3 percent in the first half of 2023 compared with the same period last year, with a drop of more than 20% in July alone. Diesel-engined vehicles now account for 13% of the total passenger car market, compared with 43% for petrol. The remaining almost 44% is already taken by vehicles with alternative propulsion systems, including non-plug-in hybrids (30.3%), plug-in hybrids (6.3%), electric cars (4.6%) and gas-powered cars (2.3%), which are now almost entirely LPG.

Many factors have led to this loss of prominence for diesel, which remains an interesting option for many drivers, mainly if they are looking for a car to cover a high mileage each year at low fuel cost. Undoubtedly, the popularisation of hybrid cars and the arrival of low-displacement petrol engines with very low consumption have caused this radical shift. To this we must add the problems of modern diesel engines – you know, AdBlue, particulate filters, EGR, airflow meters – especially when they are mainly used on short journeys and rarely driven on open roads.

But as we said, there are still drivers who prefer diesel. Let us review the five best-selling diesel-engined cars in our market so far in 2023. Incidentally, it is no coincidence that all of them are SUVs.

1st – Audi Q3

So far this year, the Audi Q3 is the model that tops the list of best-selling diesels. In fact, within its own range, more diesels than petrols are still being sold, with around 4,000 TDI units compared with 2,000 TFSI. And yet the 1.5 TFSI with 150 hp and the 2.0 TFSI with 190 hp may be even more appealing options than the equivalent 2.0 TDI, with 150 or 200 hp. In the case of the entry-level version, the Q3 35 TDI costs about 800 euros less than the Q3 35 TFSI. However, when comparing the more powerful engines the tables turn, and the Q3 40 TDI quattro S tronic is about 2,000 euros more expensive than the 40 TFSI with the same transmission.

You can read our road test of the Audi Q3 Sportback 35 TDI here.

2nd – Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen also continues to offer several diesel options in its Tiguan range, where you can choose the 2.0 TDI in 122 hp and 150 hp variants. As with the Q3, the well-balanced 1.5 TSI petrol, available with 130 and 150 hp, has been taking sales away from diesel, which remain unbeatable in terms of consumption, especially on long journeys. The 1.5 TSI with 150 hp, which would be the most balanced option in the range (you can read our road test of the petrol Tiguan AllSpace here), is available from 39,630 euros, about 900 euros less than the 2.0 TDI with 122 hp, which is the entry point to the diesel offer in the Volkswagen SUV.

3rd – Dacia Duster

The third diesel model in our market, the Dacia Duster, is one of the few cars where you can choose between petrol, diesel and LPG engines. The best sellers are Duster with the TCe ECO-G engine, thanks to the cost-per-kilometre advantages of this fuel, which also gives access to the DGT’s ECO label. Specifically, around 8,000 of the total Dacia Dusters sold this year can run on gas. Petrol engines follow, with a choice of the TCDe with 130 or 150 hp, totalling close to 5,000 units. The rest, just under 3,400 units, are diesel-powered, with the Blue dCi with 115 hp. Despite ranking third among the best-selling diesels in our market, within its own range, the diesel Duster is the least in demand, compared with petrol and LPG versions.

You can read our first look at the new Dacia range with the interesting Extreme trim here.

4th – Citroën C3 Aircross

Another case where more petrol than diesel is sold, but the 2,600 units sold with BlueHDI engines – compared with over 6,200 with petrol PureTech engines – place the C3 Aircross fourth in the top five best-selling diesel models. The mechanical options here are only two: the BlueHDI with 110 hp, or the 3-cylinder PureTech petrol with the same power. Neither is hybridised and, therefore, both carry the C label. For the same trim, the diesel costs about 1,200 euros more than the petrol, so it is no surprise that the PureTech engine is the “favourite” among buyers of this small SUV, which, in principle, is not a car designed to cover high annual mileage either.

5th – Seat Ateca

Of the 9,300 Seat Ateca sold in the first six months of 2023, 2,600 have TDI engines, which places the Spanish SUV fifth among the best-selling diesels. The diesel offer in this case includes the 2.0 TDI with 115 hp as the entry level, along with the 150 hp variant. Although it clearly goes harder and uses less fuel, compared with the 1.0 TSI petrol with 110 hp, the 115 hp TDI costs a hefty 3,500 euros more, which makes it hard to recommend. The gap remains of the same order if we compare the 1.5 EcoTSI with 150 hp against the 2.0 TDI. It is no surprise, then, that more than twice as many petrol Atecas are sold as diesel, although the number of drivers who still choose diesel is still significant. You can read our road test of the Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 150 hp here.

And what would happen if we extended the list of best-selling diesels to 10 models? The ranking would then include, in this order, from sixth to tenth: Peugeot 3008, Renault Clio, Volkswagen T-ROC, BMW X1 and Audi A3. As you can see, all are SUVs except the Clio and the Audi compact.