There is no single right answer here — it depends on how far you drive and what kind of roads you use. The rule of thumb we give customers is simple.
Choose petrol if you mostly drive locally
If your daily driving is school runs, shopping and short journeys around Stockport, petrol is the easier ownership experience. There is no particulate filter to clog, engines warm up faster and repairs are usually cheaper.
Choose diesel if you cover big miles
Above roughly 12,000 miles a year, and especially with regular motorway runs, diesel still makes sense: better economy on a long run, strong pulling power and lower tax on many cars.
Just make sure the car gets a proper run regularly so the particulate filter can regenerate, and check the service history for injector or EGR work.
Do not forget the running costs beyond fuel
Insurance group, road tax band and tyre sizes can make more difference to your yearly bill than a few miles per gallon. Work out the total cost, not just the pump price.
- petrol
- diesel
- fuel economy
- running costs