The Car Guy: Fuel Economy Alternatives for Smart Car Shoppers

It seems as if everyone is worried about the price of gas these days. One week the price of gas could rise, and the next it could fall. But what if you need a new car, and you want something that's fuel efficient? Where do you begin?

Today there is a lot of talk about electric and hybrid cars. Both are viable options that are worth looking into further, if that’s what you are looking for. There is, however, another option that a lot of people don’t think about when it comes to fuel economy: the diesel-powered car.

The technology behind the diesel-powered engine has grown in leaps and bounds. No longer do car manufacturers sell vehicles with that distinctive diesel sound, with the exception of some diesel trucks. Diesel engines also tend to last longer than their gasoline counterparts do, which is due at least in part to their more robust construction and simpler design.

The price of diesel fuel is generally higher when compared to the price of gasoline. As of this writing, when comparing prices at local gas stations that sell both gas and diesel, diesel costs an average of 30 to 40 cents more per gallon. However, when your car is able to get 40 to 50 miles per gallon, the importance of this price difference seems to diminish a bit. Over the long haul, you’d be saving more than you would be spending, based on these numbers.

A few years back, there weren’t many diesel-powered cars, and those models that were on the market were not available in all 50 states. From the research I’ve conducted, it looks as if they are available across the entire country now. The most affordable diesel cars continue to be made by Volkswagen, and claim fuel efficiency of between 30 and 42 MPG. I believe this to be a conservative estimate, as I’ve seen reports of people driving V-dubs and getting almost 90 MPG. That is not a typo. I meant to say 90 MPG.

Of course, the people who are getting these impressive numbers are doing so by cutting every corner known in order to save fuel. However, by driving conservatively, there is no reason that the average driver cannot get 40 to 50 MPG. This is much better gas mileage than most gasoline cars are capable of producing, and the clean diesel technology that now exists is also a “greener” option.

There are always downsides, though. Generally speaking, the cost of maintenance on a V-dub is higher. They usually have specially manufactured parts that are more expensive and harder to come by. Also, not every filling station has diesel fuel readily available. Furthermore, most of the diesel-powered cars are foreign.

There are positives and negatives associated with all cars. The clean diesel technology is on the cutting edge of the automotive industry. I do have hope that American car manufacturers will catch on to the advantages of the diesel engine soon.

Would you drive a diesel powered car? Why or why not?