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What Are The Best Diesel Hybrids?

What Are The Best Diesel Hybrids?

Hybrids are great at offering incredible economy, without sacrificing long range, in the same way an electric car does. The first hybrids used a petrol engine for simplicity, but diesel engines are just as suited to working in conjunction with an electric motor. These are the best diesel hybrids on sale today.

1. BMW X5 - £82,850

The X5 is one of BMW’s most popular SUVs, and from 2023 it was offered with the impressive 6-cylinder diesel engine and 48v mild hybrid system. This boosts power to nearly 300hp, with a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds, which is impressive considering the X5’s size!

As standard the new X5 comes with air suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels and loads of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance and more! 

2. Range Rover Sport SE - £82,220

At nearly £40,000 less than the ‘full fat’ Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport has been a favourite of those who love the opulent styling and prestige, but don’t need such a large vehicle.

In order to increase fuel efficiency whilst delivering a smooth and powerful ride, the Sport uses the 3.0 diesel hybrid powertrain from BMW, the same one featured in the X5 above.

This gives it comparable power and acceleration figures, and should mean the reliability is pretty good too!

3. Toyota Hilux Hybrid - £37,420 + VAT

Whilst technically a pickup, the new Toyota Hilux in Invincible X trim has all the comfort and features of a car. Plus, as a commercial vehicle, it is excluded from company car tax (until April 2025 at least).

Only the Invincible X trim level and above are available as a diesel hybrid, which makes it around £9,000 more than the cheapest double cab trim. 

It yields more than just a hybrid option though, it also includes 18” alloys, a high-quality built-in nav system and a 360-degree camera. Whilst the hybrid battery and motor do not add power, Toyota claims up to 5% reduction in fuel consumption.

4. Mazda CX-60 - £45,370

In a bold move straying away from the competition with their small petrol engines, Mazda have opted to offer their CX-60 SUV with a sizeable 3.3 Litre diesel engine, accompanied by a mild hybrid system. There are two power options, the rear wheel drive 200hp version, and the 3 wheel drive 250hp version. 

Because the system is a mild hybrid, there is no electric-only range, except on the petrol PHEV model. The MHEV can achieve 60MPG though, which is pretty good considering the size of both the engine and car. 

5. BMW X7 - £104,815

If you’re looking for a full-size SUV, that has a substantial diesel engine but also gets good fuel economy, the BMW X7 Diesel hybrid would be perfect. Using the same drivetrain as the X5 we discussed above, the X7 makes even better use of the torque on offer, being that it’s around 350kg heavier!

Inside the X7 is even more refined too, with premium materials everywhere, it is very apparent this is the competitor to the Range Rover, it even features a split tailgate; a revered feature of the Range Rover since the ‘80s. 

Why Aren’t There Many Diesel-Hybrids?

The Diesel-Hybrid is a relatively rare fuel type, with only 6 brand new cars for sale on Autotrader at the time of writing. 

This is due to a few reasons:

  • Cost - Diesel engines cost more to make than petrol ones, and adding a hybrid system adds even more on top – this makes them more expensive than most petrol hybrids, and also more expensive than a traditional diesel
  • Fuel efficiency - the fuel efficiency benefits of a diesel-hybrid powertrain are not as good as a petrol-hybrid, and in some cases not much better than a traditional diesel-powered equivalent
  • Demand - A diesel-engined vehicle can achieve significantly better fuel economy than petrol already, so adding an electric hybrid system yields less benefit than if added to a petrol vehicle

Why Are Petrol-Hybrids More Popular Than Diesel?

Petrol and diesel engines produce power in different ways, the power delivery of a petrol engine complements that of an electric motor much better than a diesel engine, with the electric motor providing the low speed torque that petrol engines are inefficient at providing.

In contrast, diesel engines are good at providing low-speed torque, so the benefit of having a supplemental power source for accelerating up to cruising speed is lessened. 

What Are the Benefits of a Diesel Hybrid?

Much like a petrol hybrid, the main benefit of a diesel hybrid is the fuel efficiency gains. For example, Toyota claim the addition of the mild hybrid system in their Hilux Hybrid gains around 5% efficiency. 

Emissions regulations also play a part. All new cars need to adhere to strict EU laws on carbon dioxide and other chemical emissions. The addition of a hybrid system allows some manufacturers to continue using older engine designs or larger-capacity engines. 

Do Diesel Hybrids Use Adblue?

AdBlue as it is used on many modern diesel engines to help their emissions output stay within legal limits, many diesel-hybrid engines use it, as determined by EU regulations. 

AdBlue is a catalyst solution that improves the conversion of harmful emissions into less harmful compounds.

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two; blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

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