While diesel-powered cars remain rather slow-selling in the U.S., they are in huge supply in Europe and sell well. Many Americans still view diesel cars as miniature school busses that rap-tap down the road at a lumbering pace. Thanks to recent advancements in sound insulation and exhaust tuning, the sound of a diesel engine is now nothing like it was years ago. Additionally, recent turbocharging technology and other performance-enhancing upgrades have led to some impressively powerful and responsive diesel engines. On top of their increased performance capabilities and reduced noise, modern clean-diesel engines are also easier on the environment and get hybrid-like fuel-economy numbers. To help you better realize just what diesel power has to offer, we have compiled a list of the 10 most fuel-efficient diesel cars on the market today. Starting out our list of the top-10 most fuel efficient cars is a large luxury rig from Audi.
The 2015 A6 3.0 TDI quattro checks in with EPA-estimated ratings of 24 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 29 mpg city. In the world of super-efficient hybrids, these numbers may seem sub-par, but in a midsize luxury car, these ratings are rather impressive. The 3.0-liter TDI engine powering this luxo-rig is far from a rap-tapping school bus engine too, as it produces 240 horsepower between 3,500 and 3,750 rpm, and 428 pound-feet of torque between 1,750 and 2,250 rpm. This power travels through an eight-sped Tiptronic transmission on its way to all four wheels, via Audi鈥檚 quattro AWD system. This drivetrain affords this fuel-efficient luxury sedan a 0-to-60-mph sprint of just 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. Midsize sedans are typically not touted for fuel economy, especially luxury models, but toss in a diesel engine and even the BMW 5 Series becomes a fuel-efficient machine. The 2015 BMW 535d checks in with fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined in its base format, while xDrive AWD drops the highway rating to 37 mpg.
This relatively awesome fuel economy is thanks to a 3.0-liter Twin Power Turbo Diesel engine. Fuel efficiency isn鈥檛 the engine鈥檚 only strong suit either, as it is also fairly powerful with an output of 255 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 413 pound-feet of torque between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm. The engine mates to an eight-speed STEPTRONIC transmission. In its base setup, the powertrain combination allows the 535d to hit 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds, while the 535d xDrive does the same 60-mph sprint in just 5.7 seconds. Yes, there actually is an SUV in the top-10 list of most fuel-efficient diesel cars, and it hails from Germany, of course. This is the 2015 BMW X3 xDrive28d, and it gets a rather impressive 27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined from its 2.0-liter Twin Power Turbo Diesel engine. The 2.0-liter diesel engine isn鈥檛 immensely powerful, as it only produces 180 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, but it is enough to get the X3 to 60 mph in just 7.8 seconds and up to 127 mph. This diesel four-pot mates to an eight-speed STEPTRONIC transmission.
As with all BMWs, the X3 xDrive28d is fully loaded from its base model all the way to the top. 55,000 with added options and packages. Crammed between all of these German models is a single American car, the Chevy Cruze. For 2014, Chevy decided to enter the diesel market with its compact sedan, in an attempt to get a head start on the competition. For the 2015 model year, the Cruze diesel delivers decent fuel economy at 27 mpg city, 46 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined. In terms of output, the Cruze Diesel is decent, as its 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine produces 151 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. This powerplant mates to a six-speed auto transmission, and though it has yet to be officially tested, the Cruze should hit 60 mph in around eight seconds. Mercedes-Benz chimes in on our list of most fuel-efficient diesel cars with its 2014 E250 BlueTEC.
Not only is it supremely luxurious, but the 2.1-liter, twin-turbo diesel engine under its hood is delivers 28 mpg city, 42 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined ratings. These ratings fall to 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined when the engine mates to the optional 4MATIC AWD system. Unfortunately, Mercedes has yet to grace America with an E250 BlueTEC Coupe or Wagon, so buyers can only get this thrifty diesel in the sedan model. As if the Beetle wasn鈥檛 already an icon in the industry, VW went and upped the ante by installing its 2.0-liter, turbo-diesel engine under its hood. This engine delivers great mpg performance of 31 mpg city, 41 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined, regardless of the transmission. Buyers can also opt for a convertible model that delivers 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined. In the new Beetle, this 2.0 TDI engine produces 150 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The clean diesel mates to either a six-speed manual of a six-speed, dual clutch transmission and delivers power to the front wheels.
