Should I Lease a Diesel Car?

Should You Lease a Diesel Car?

Looking to lease and wondering if you should go for a diesel? 

The simple answer is that diesel can still be a brilliant option for many drivers – but it's definitely not for everyone. Let me walk you through the pros and cons so you can figure out if diesel makes sense for your situation. 

When diesel works

Despite what you might have heard, diesel cars aren't going anywhere just yet and they're very good for certain types of drivers.  

For example, if you do a ton of miles or the majority of your trips are long distance, they really come into their own.  

Diesels are like marathon runners – they excel at cruising along at steady speeds for long periods. If your typical journey involves settling into the middle lane of the M1 for a couple of hours, diesel efficiency is hard to beat. 

They deliver that lovely low-end torque (that's the pulling power that helps you overtake without having to change down a gear), which makes motorway driving less stressful and more economical. 

Or maybe you need to tow a caravan for those summer holidays? Or perhaps you've got a horse trailer or boat? Diesel engines give you that grunt you need for hauling heavy loads. 

When diesel might not work 

Diesel isn't the right choice for everyone, like if you're mainly a city driver. Modern diesel cars come with something called a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) which catches harmful emissions. Sounds great, but these filters need regular long journeys at higher speeds to clean themselves out otherwise you're left to pay a garage to unblock them (more on that here). 

If you mainly nip to the shops, do the school run, or commute across town, your diesel's DPF might clog up, leading to expensive repairs. For predominantly urban driving, petrol, hybrid, or electric vehicles typically make more sense. 

Cities across the UK are cracking down on pollution with Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and Clean Air Zones (CAZ). If you regularly drive in London, Birmingham, or other cities with these zones, an older diesel could end up costing you in daily charges.

With the UK planning to end sales of new pure petrol and diesel cars by 2035, you might be wondering about the long-term viability of diesel. 

If you're leasing, this isn't a major concern for now – your contract will be over long before any bans come into effect. 

Are diesel cars going to be banned?  

The UK isn't banning diesel cars from the roads anytime soon. What's changing is that from 2035, manufacturers won't be able to sell new pure petrol or diesel cars. 

Even after 2035, your existing diesel will still be perfectly legal to drive. And for now, leasing a diesel remains a completely viable option – you'll hand the car back long before any significant changes come into effect. 

Diesel vs Petrols vs Hybrid 

Lets summarise... 

Diesel cars are great when...

• You do lots of long-distance driving 

• Fuel economy is a key factor for you 

• You need good towing capability 

• Most of your driving is on motorways 

 
Petrol cars are great when... 

• You mainly do shorter journeys 

• You don't want to worry about DPF 

• You're concerned about ULEZ 

• Your annual mileage is low

Hybrids and EVs are great when...

• You do a lot of city driving 

• You want the lowest possible emissions 

• You're looking for the most future-proof option 

• You have access to charging (KEY for EVs) 

So, Should You Lease a Diesel? 

Here's my honest take: 

If you're regularly covering long distances, spend a lot of time on motorways, or need the extra pulling power for towing, then yes.  

If you mainly drive in the city, do lots of short trips, and generally do low mileage, then no. 

The great thing about leasing is you can try a certain fuel type for a couple of years and if you don't like it, you can switch to something else.