Data compiled by R.L. Polk & Co. show that registration of diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. – including cars, trucks and SUVs – has grown 80 percent since 2000, up from 301,000 diesel vehicles that year to 543,777 diesel registrations in 2005. For the all-important light-duty market, diesel registrations nearly doubled (95 percent growth) from 2000-2005, with 31 percent growth coming in 2005 alone. When given a choice between a gasoline or diesel engine, consumers purchased the diesel engine option almost half the time (45 percent) in 2005.
“In this era of sky-high gasoline prices, Americans are increasingly looking to diesel as a readily available solution to help alleviate their pain at the pump,” said Allen Schaeffer, DTF’s executive director. “Gasoline hybrid’s and flexible-fueled ethanol vehicles aren’t the only fuel efficient choices consumers have today.”
Most analysts expect the diesel trend to continue due in part to rising fuel prices and the desire to improve U.S. vehicle efficiency. Researchers at J.D. Power and Associates predict that diesel sales will approximately triple in the next 10 years, accounting for more than 10 percent of U.S. vehicle sales by 2015 – up from 3.6 percent in 2005.
Earlier this week, President Bush proposed extending federal tax credits for the purchase of fuel-efficient clean diesel vehicles. In a speech to the Renewable Fuels Association on Tuesday, he said that part of a good plan “to confront high gasoline prices is to promote greater fuel efficiency. Clean diesel vehicles take advantage of advances in diesel technology to run on 30 percent less fuel than gasoline vehicles do… so here’s an idea that can get more of these vehicles on the road, and that is to have Congress make all hybrid and clean diesel vehicles sold this year eligible for federal tax credits. We want to encourage people to make wise choices when it comes to the automobiles they drive.”
08/29, 12:21 PM
posted by:
Andrew
Diesels are great… and people are realizing it now. Prices average out at about midgrade levels over time (sometimes far more than premium- like now, and sometimes far less than regular), and obviously fuel economy is about 30-40% better than equivalent gas models.
I’ve toyed with purchasing a 2005 Passat TDI in the last 3 months… good luck finding one! And when you do find one, the price is very close (if not more than) the original sticker price. Hmmm…
08/29, 12:21 PM
posted by:
Robert
With clean diesel technology allowing diesel engines to meet Tier II Bin 5 and 4 standards (LEV and ULEV II in California), I’d say let’s bring these diesels quickly. Diesels are now equal to or better than gasoline engines in every way. They are also more durable and less expensive to maintain than hybrids and nearly equally as efficient. I think they represent a great option for many consumers and the industry that is struggling to produce the number the batteries needed for hybrids each year.
08/29, 12:22 PM
posted by:
Stuart
Wait till cars like the Mercedes SL420 CDI comes out. That number sky rocket
08/29, 12:37 PM
posted by:
Kryptonite
3 out of the four vehicles I own are diesel…..
08/29, 12:47 PM
posted by:
YadaYadaYada
Because Oldsmobile put the idea to sleep a few decades back. Those cars were so awful, they scared away most Americans since.
08/29, 12:53 PM
posted by:
Chris C.
I’m not sure about where you all live however; here diesel is about 3 to 4 cents higher than premium unleaded. I’m sure diesels get better mileage than gasoline however; does the added mileage out-weigh the added cost?
08/29, 1:03 PM
posted by:
j i m
The only bad thing about driving a diesel in the US is yer shoes track in spilt fuel and you need rubber gloves. I gather biodiesel eliminates those complaints.
Chris C. If I got rid of cars every few years, then I’d stick to gas. Diesel fuel competes with heating oil for refinery space: cold winters are hard on diesels for a number of reasons.
j i m
08/29, 1:19 PM
posted by:
Clitoral Stimulant
The low end torque and mid rev range push in the back of a good modern turbodiesel equipped car is awesome. VWs 2.0 Tdi is one of the best, need to overtake just floor it, no need to change down. shame only the 100bhp SDi has been available in the US
08/29, 1:37 PM
posted by:
nist777
Chris C – Most diesels sold in USA are usually somewhere between 30 and 40 mpg. Although that is better than the regular gasoline cars, you’ll still need to drive it for several years before you start to reap the financial rewards. On the other hand if you can somehow smuggle a Volkswagen Lupo into the USA, then you’ll see results almost instantly. The Lupo gets an average of 80 MPG
The point is that all these new fuel-saving hype is really not effective at this stage. The hybrids have yet to prove their reliability and the current diesels won’t give you a significant savings over gasoline (not to mention there are less stations offering diesel fuels)
There are much better ways to save money than buying the newest and hippest gadget car on the market. For example you can buy a 10-year old civic that still gets 30mpg but it will only cost 1/20 of the new civic hybrid.
08/29, 2:14 PM
posted by:
YadaYadaYada
Diesel provides more BTUs/gallon than gasoline. About a 35% gain. Even at a dime or two above gasoline (less than a 10% premium at today’s prices) you are still buying more kilojoules for every dollar.
08/29, 3:09 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
“American consumers wake up to diesels”
About damn time. I’m waiting impatiently for all the new SUV’s to get their Diesel version…this will be a very important move, IMHO.
08/29, 3:32 PM
posted by:
pj
diesel is just as expensive as premium in my city. If everyone goes to diesel their just gonna price gouge that too
08/29, 3:42 PM
posted by:
Kryptonite
My Beetle TDi= 48 mpg
I can justify the difference in price at this point.
08/29, 6:06 PM
posted by:
Daniel
On Motor Trend’s highway test, the Jetta TDi got 50 mpg, beating out the Prius. Then again, in city driving, the Prius would beat the Jetta. But 50 mpg highway is enough to “wake me up”
08/29, 6:49 PM
posted by:
The Stig
And yet I cannot get a diesel power car in California. Thank you very much.
08/29, 7:27 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
E60 BMW 535d (2993cc, I6, 24V twin turbo Diesel): 272hp @ 4,000 rpm, 413 lb ft @ 2,000 rpm. 6-speed Automatic only, 0-62mph(100km/h): 6.5 sec, Top speed: 155mph (250 km/h). Combined mpg: 35.3 mp(Brithish)g.
After DMS remap: 328hp, 481 lb ft.
‘nough said.
08/29, 9:51 PM
posted by:
Renton
Too bad the enviro-nazis keep the good Teutonic diesels out of here.
08/30, 1:54 AM
posted by:
james
wut Bimmer said…
08/30, 11:15 AM
posted by:
DPA687
When the second phase of BLUETEC arrives featuring the AdBlue injection system, the Mercedes-Benz diesels will be 50-state compliant. Probably 18-24 months out.
Until then, Mercedes-Benz will offer phase one of BLUETEC in the E320 and just standard CDI technology in the ML, R, and GL classes starting this fall.
08/30, 9:12 PM
posted by:
Henry
Renton,
I don’t think I could have said it better.
09/20, 11:07 PM
posted by:
KhiKhi Nichole
I bought my 2005 Passat TDI Wagon for $6k below sticker in March of 05!!!!(grey/silver,leather,sunroof the works) I found it in Jacksonville Florida. The sales manager was telling me that nobody showed any interest in it. Lucky for me, Jacksonville consumers are clueless! I have been averaging 43mpg. I averaged 48mpg on a 1500 mile trip. I will gladly pay the same price per gallon as prem. gas…and get twice the MPG….DUH! My cargo space is larger then my sisters trail blazer and she gets a whopping 18mpg in town and 23 on the hwy. I have put 32k miles on my TDI in 18 months. I have had ZERO issues and have ZERO complaints. Three months ago a guy in North Carolina offered me $34k for it (that’s above new MSRP and $6k more then I paid over a year ago/new). His brother in the midwest has a Passat TDI sedan and runs it on BIODIESEL! He claims to get nearly 100 mpg….. I LOVE MY VW PASSAT WAGON TDI….