The Spanish have lost interest in diesel cars. In 2023, 118,646 new diesel passenger cars were sold in our country, 12.5% of the total, a figure that contrasts with the 1.14 million units that were sold in 2007 when they represented 60% of the market share. market.
The progressive decrease in sales of new cars with this technology contrasts, however, with the weight that diesel cars still have in the used market. Last year, more than half of second-hand passenger car sales (55.3%) were diesel and the majority were more than 15 years old.
There is no doubt that there are drivers who continue to prefer diesel cars despite the double threat that weighs on them. On the one hand, the European Union will prohibit the sale of combustion vehicles in 2035, whether gasoline, diesel or other types; and on the other hand, manufacturers are increasingly reluctant to offer vehicles with this technology in their catalogues.
Even so, it is still possible to purchase a new diesel car, so we are going to analyze the pros and cons of this decision with Mapfre.
Mobility is moving towards a sustainable and emissions-free model where the electric car will play a predominant role. But today, the price of electric vehicles is still too high for most pockets. Diesel cars have a lower and more attractive price for the buyer, since they do not need large batteries that increase the final cost for the consumer.
Diesel cars are designed to travel long distances on the road. They are characterized by their low fuel consumption and having larger tanks, so their range is greater than that of hybrid or gasoline cars. An issue to take into account for those users who travel many kilometers by car.
The most modern diesel cars adapt to the Euro 6 regulations, which establish emissions of 80 mg/km of NOx for diesel engines (60 mg/km of NOx for gasoline engines), so we are talking about a technology clean unlike what happened a long time ago. The introduction of AdBlue injection, a liquid that decomposes oxides before they are expelled through the exhaust pipe, reduces pollutants without affecting efficient consumption.
Diesel models approved according to the latest European regulations have lower CO2 levels than a similar gasoline car.
Cars with diesel engines have greater strength and towing capacity than gasoline or electrified vehicles. To tow a trailer they are always the best option.
Diesel cars are subject to the same taxes as gasoline cars, despite the constant talk of applying a specific rate for diesel vehicles. The only difference is that buyers of diesel vehicles cannot access the incentives available for the purchase of electrified cars.
The European Commission's proposal to phase out diesel engines by 2035 causes diesel cars to depreciate more quickly than vehicles with other technologies. For this reason, the price of these second-hand or used cars will become increasingly lower.
Inspections and maintenance of diesel cars are more expensive than gasoline or electric cars. The engine of diesel vehicles is more complex, so it has a greater number of parts that are subject to greater wear.
Access to low emission zones (ZBE) is not determined by the vehicle's fuel type, but by its emissions levels. Although diesel vehicles sold on the new car market comply with Euro6 regulations and are environmentally friendly, they will not enjoy the advantages of electric vehicles to access the ZBE.
