Diesel Vehicles are Less Expensive to Own

2013 Volkswagen Golf TDI (Volkswagen of America)

Although they often cost more up front, a new study indicates that diesel-powered cars, trucks and SUVs have lower ownership costs in the long run. In a press release, dieselforum.org says that diesel models cost $2,000 to $6,000 less to own over three to five years than comparable gas-powered vehicles. The study was conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute for Robert Bosch LLC, which makes automotive parts for diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles.
Diesel cars typically earn better fuel economy ratings than their gas-powered counterparts, but other variables are also at play when it comes to lower ownership costs. Autoblog writes, “The savings stem not just from improved fuel efficiency but also overall fuel costs and better retention of value, and take into account the added purchase price of a diesel engine over its gasoline counterpart.
The study finds that diesel-powered versions of small cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta save their owners $5,013 and $3,128, respectively over the course of three years. Additionally, the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen costs $3,389 less to own when equipped with a diesel engine.
The savings also translate to luxury cars and SUVs. Diesel versions of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and M-Class save their owners $4,175 and $3,063, respectively, while the diesel-powered Mercedes R-Class costs $5,951 less to own. The diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg and Mercedes GL-Class offer even bigger savings, with ownership costs that are $7,819 and $13,514 lower, in that order.
Some automotive journalists think that lower ownership costs will bolster consumer demand for diesel vehicles. The Los Angeles Times reports that the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta is “the third-most-considered vehicle by people shopping for alternative-fuel cars,” according to analysts at Edmunds.

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Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Promises Best-in-Class Fuel Economy

(Chrysler Group)

Diesel engine options have long been a mainstay for heavy-duty pickup trucks, but until now, diesel power has never been offered in the half-ton truck segment. That changes with the 2014 Ram 1500. Chrysler Group announced last week details for the EcoDiesel engine option for the Ram 1500.
Chrysler Group hasn’t given any specific fuel economy estimates yet, but it expects the Ram 1500 with the EcoDiesel to be more fuel-efficient than any gasoline V6-powered half-ton pickup truck available. The most fuel-efficient non-hybrid full-size pickup truck currently on the market is the Ram 1500 equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic, which is rated at an EPA-estimated 17/25 mpg city/highway. With the diesel engine, Pickuptrucks.com predicts that fuel economy estimates will be about 23 mpg city and less than 30 mpg highway.
Chrysler Group says the EcoDiesel engine option is a 3.0-liter V6 rated at 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, which is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine is also available on the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV.
Autoblog expects an EcoDiesel-powered Ram 1500 to be able to tow as much as a Hemi V8-powered model, “while returning significantly better fuel mileage.” A Hemi-equipped Ram 1500 can tow up to 10,450 pounds.
With the projections for towing capacity and fuel economy, an EcoDiesel Ram 1500 should be able to match the towing capacity of the strongest Ram 1500 and meet, if not exceed, the fuel economy estimates of the gasoline V6-powered Ram 1500. Given the added cost of diesel fuel over gasoline, owners may not save much money at the pump, but the increased fuel economy should allow for more miles between refueling stops. Given a 26-gallon fuel tank and estimating 29 mpg highway, a diesel-powered Ram 1500 could travel more than 750 miles on a full tank. Using the same tank size with the gasoline V6’s 25 mpg highway estimate, the maximum range of that Ram 1500 would be about 650 miles.
The new diesel engine option costs $2,850 more than a similarly-equipped Hemi V8-powered model, according to Chrysler Group. Given this pricing information, Car and Driver expects that a diesel-powered Ram 1500 will likely start at about $30,000.
Chrysler Group says the base 2014 Ram 1500 will start at $24,200 before destination. A Ram Truck representative said it will hit dealerships late this year or early in 2014.

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Chevy Cruze Diesel Hits 46 MPG Highway

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. Photo courtesy of Chevrolet.

Chevrolet announced yesterday that the upcoming diesel-powered 2014 Chevrolet Cruze achieves an EPA-estimated 46 mpg highway with a six-speed automatic transmission, and has a range of up to 700 miles per tank. The fuel economy information is not yet posted on the EPA’s website. The automaker says that the Cruze diesel has a starting price of $24,885 plus a $810 destination charge.
The Cruze diesel’s engine produces 148 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Chevy says that the Cruze diesel is equipped with an overboost function that can boost maximum torque to 280 pound-feet for short durations, such as accelerating onto a highway.
The gas powered 2013 Cruze Eco achieves 26/39 mpg city/highway with an automatic transmission or 28/42 mpg with a manual, according to the EPA. Maximum range per tank for the gas-powered Cruze Eco is 435 miles. A Cruze Eco with an automatic transmission starts at $20,875 before destination, which is $4,010 less than the Cruze diesel.
Car and Driver says that, on the surface, the Cruze diesel’s 46 mpg highway “is a laudable achievement,” but, upon closer inspection, they aren’t as impressed. They report that the Cruze diesel also achieves 26 mpg in the city, which isn’t as good as the Cruze Eco’s rating of 28 mpg with a manual transmission.

2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. Photo courtesy of Chevrolet.

One of the Cruze diesel’s primary competitors is the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The diesel-powered Jetta starts at $23,055 and achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg on the highway. Its diesel engine produces 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. While the Cruze diesel costs more than the Jetta TDI, Chevrolet says that the Cruze diesel comes with a greater array of standard features, including leather seats and a MyLink infotainment system, in addition to getting better fuel economy.
Kicking Tires points out that over the past 12 months, diesel fuel has cost, on average, 10 percent more than gasoline, or an extra 38 cents per gallon, which somewhat erodes the benefit of higher fuel economy. According to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, diesel fuel currently costs an average of  $3.93 per gallon nationally, while regular gasoline costs $3.51. Looking strictly at highway fuel economy estimates for the Cruze diesel and gas-powered Eco with an automatic transmission, you would have to drive about 802,000 miles to recoup the added cost of the diesel model over the gas model. Keep in mind that throwing city driving into the mix would likely change this math, as would a fluctuation in current fuel prices.
While most publications only make comparisons with other diesel and conventional gas-powered rivals, it is worthwhile to draw a comparison with similarly-priced hybrid models as well. The 2013 Toyota Prius, for example, starts at $24,200, excluding destination fees, and achieves an EPA highway estimate of 48 mpg. The Prius makes a better value proposition, given its lower price and the added cost of diesel fuel over gasoline.
The 2014 Cruze diesel goes on sale in select cities this spring, and hits dealers nationwide this fall.

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