tend to use petrol ICEs in combination with electricity, but there is an alternative. The best diesel hybrid cars combine diesel power with a battery and electric motor, and it’s often a winning combination for the best fuel economy.
A diesel hybrid is much more rare than your average hybrid or plug-in hybrid, but there are still a few around – and we’ve rated the best ones on the market right now.Keep reading for our list of the best diesel hybrids – both mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid – that you can buy. If you’re after something more family focused, check out ourThe competition may have caught up with it, but the 3-series Touring is still one of the best estate cars – let alone diesel hybrid cars – out there.
A diesel hybrid is an ‘electrified’ powertrain using a diesel combustion engine coupled to an electric motor and battery pack. Almost all electrified diesels available are mild hybrids, which provide a small torque boost and a smooth start/stop system to help save fuel. Diesel mild hybrids also usually feature a mechanism that allows a car to coast with the engine at idle when no throttle is applied. And, even so, they’re still few and far between.
However, if you’re looking for lower company car bills, have a wallbox charger at home or the opportunity to charge at work, a diesel plug-in hybrid could be a strong option. Not many diesel plug-in hybrids are available at all, though, due to low demand and the additional costs of developing such a powertrain – even if they seem to make the best sense in terms of maximising possible fuel economy.is a Senior Staff Writer for the Bauer Automotive Hub.