Question of the Day: Are There Any Small Diesel Cars for 2008?

Diesel engines hold the potential to offer an alternative to other green car technology, like the hybrid engine. Already popular in Europe, clean-burning diesel engines can offer increased fuel economy that can make up for the typically higher price of diesel fuel. One of our readers wants to know about prospective car buyers’ diesel engine options. Ask.cars.com lays out the still-slim choices.

Are there any small diesel cars for 2008? (Ask.cars.com)

Comments

Isn't BMW going to offer diesel engines in the 1 series?

Isn't BMW going to offer diesel engines in the 1 series?

Actually, BMW will offer the 1-series in the U.S., but not with a 4-cylinder diesel engine as is offered in Europe, however, BMW plans diesel entries in the latter part of '08 or early 2009 with a 3.0-liter V-6 in larger platforms.

The problem with small diesels for the U.S. is convincing our market that small diesels, in small cars, are worth the premium price that is needed to make selling them profitable. A second hurdle is that small diesels work best without urea injection, and the technology to make them emission compliant is more costly than urea injection used for V-6s and V-8s.

The only manufacturer scheduled to offer a smaller diesel power train, as of now, is Volkswagen, and that diesel ( a 2.0-liter, 4 cylinder) has been delayed until Fall of 2008.

Here is a list of upcoming diesel options headed to the U.S. as have been announced by manufacturers.

2008-2009; Volkswagen: (1)Jetta TDI / (2)Jetta SportWagen TDI; (3)Tiguan TDI (new, compact SUV) (2.0-liter, inline 4; 140 hp / 235 lbs of torque; 45 mpg city/hwy. combined); (4) Touareg TDI (3.0 V-6). Mercedes-Benz: (5)E320/E300 BlueTec; (6)ML320/300 BlueTec; (7)R320/300 BlueTec; (8) GL320/300 BlueTec (all with a 3.0 V-6 urea-required MB engine; 208 hp / 388 lbs of torque; mpg varies but gets pretty meek with respect to larger vehicles). Ford: (9)F150 (4.4 V-8 built by Ford of U.K.). BMW: models unannounced but assumed to be the (10)3 series, (11)5-series, and (12-13)X-series SUVs (3.0-liter, twin-turbo, V-6, 240plus horsepower / 400 lbs of torque). Audi: (14)Q7 (3.0 V-6 and a 6.0 V-12; (15)A4 (3.0 V-6). Honda Accord (2.2 i-4).

2010 and beyond: Mitsubishi Lancer; Cadillac CTS; Saturn Aura; Mahandria Motors of India (pickup and SUV); Chevrolet Silverado 1500; GMC Seirra 1500; Nissan Maxima; Subaru (possibly); Dodge Ram (Cummins engines). Honda Ridgeline and Odyssey (V-6). Toyota Tundra (possibly). Nissan Titan (possibly).

In conclusion, by the end of 2009 we will have between twelve and fifteen diesel choices for cars, pickups, and SUVs below 8501 GVWR, for all fifty states. By the end of 2010, we will have around twenty-five diesel choices, however, the choices will remain mostly six and eight cylinder power trains.

Oh yeah. I forgot Hyundai.

They have announced that they will offer the Veracruz SUV with a diesel option (V-6) as soon as they can get it emission certified for all fifty states (probably 2010). Also, Hyundai has announced their intention to eventually offer a diesel option to America for every vehicle in their passenger lineup.