Should you buy a diesel, petrol, hybrid, or electric car in 2023? Fuel economy has become a crucial factor in the decision-making process of buying a new car. With a diverse range of fuel options, this decision can be quite tricky also. Below we have laid out the pros and cons of each engine option so that you can see which one suits your lifestyle.
Petrol
Pros
- Petrol engines do not make a lot of noise and are more refined than diesel engines.
- It is cheaper in terms of manufacturing than diesel, hybrid and electric.
- Modern petrol engines are equipped with turbochargers that are responsive and fuel-efficient, making petrol engines a great option for day-to-day errands like fetching the kids from school, doing a grocery run or trips around the city.
- Petrol engines produce a lower number of particulate emissions. Particulate emissions have a considerable impact on local air pollution, which contributes to respiratory and other health problems, particularly in urban areas.
Cons
• The Petrol price in South Africa is more expensive than diesel.
• Compared to diesel engines, petrol engines tend to clog up more quickly, requiring more frequent maintenance.
Diesel
Pros
- Diesel engines use less fuel per kilometre, which means they emit less carbon dioxide.
- Diesel engines offer more low-speed torque, which gives them more power for overtaking and towing.
- Diesel is generally cheaper at the pumps than petrol. While this price changes every month, the price of diesel, for both 500PPM and 50PPM, remains below that of unleaded petrol.
- Compared to petrol engines, diesel engines push out more power at lower revs which is why they are better suited for long trips.
Cons
- Even though diesel at pump stations is cheaper than petrol, diesel cars are more expensive than petrol cars because of the technology they are fitted with to reduce particulate emissions.
- Diesel engines operate at higher temperatures, therefore they emit more nitrogen oxide (NOx). This is a very toxic gas that has been linked to causing poor air quality which in turn has led to breathing difficulties.
- Diesel engines are not good for short trips. Modern diesel engines contain a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in the exhaust that reduces harmful particulate emissions. If the car is mainly doing short and low-speed trips, there’s a chance that the DPF can get blocked. A blocked DPF will cause engine problems which will be costly to fix. Therefore, diesel engines are perfect for those who frequently travel long distances.
Hybrid
Pros
- According to Carmag, Hybrids pair an electric motor and a battery with an internal combustion engine (ICE), and they work together to boost efficiency and keep emissions low. The ICE sends power to charge the battery pack, and energy from braking is captured and stored as energy. In this way, they are ‘self-charging’.
- Hybrid cars are the most fuel-efficient among petrol and diesel.
- “While the country grapples with ongoing electricity issues and better infrastructure for EVs is installed, hybrid cars are a good transitional option”, says Barend Smit, Marketing Director of MotorHappy.
- The Hybrids are environmentally friendly due to lower sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions.
- You save a lot when it comes to fuel costs.
- It is quieter than conventional gasoline-powered cars.
- There is less wear and tear on the car’s internal combustion engine (ICE), thus requiring less maintenance.
Cons
- Hybrid cars are quite expensive, due to the research and technology that goes into them. Therefore, they are not affordable to many of us.
- Hybrid cars have two engines that are not as big as the one engine found in a regular car or electric car meaning less power is produced when it comes to acceleration and fast driving. This can be a deal breaker for many drivers who are used to petrol engines.
- Because hybrid cars have dual engines and a complex technical setup, maintenance can be costly. Since hybrid vehicles are new and not a lot of sellers yet, finding a specialist mechanic may also be difficult.
Kelston Motor group offers different brands with a variety of HEV engines, speak to our staff if you are interested in one of these models.
- Corolla Cross - R442400
- Corolla Hatch - R500700
- Corolla Sedan - R512700
- Rav4 - R698700
- Haval Jolion HEV - R549950
- Haval H6 HEV - R669950
- Alfa Romeo Tonale - R739900
*Prices were correct at the time of publication.
Electric
Pros
- Electric cars feel lighter to drive.
- You can install EV charging units in your home garage to recharge your electric car instead of going to a gas station.
- They reduce your carbon footprint as they do not emit harmful CO2 emissions.
- Since EVs have fewer mechanical parts, they don’t require maintenance and servicing as frequently as needed for petrol cars.
- Electricity is cheaper than fuel which means the running costs of EVs are less compared to petrol cars.
Cons
- In South Africa, we have load shedding and it does not look like it will leave us any time soon. A fully electric vehicle can be frustrating if you need to charge and there is load shedding.
- They can cover a few Kilometres a day before you need to charge, meaning you will be constantly charging which can be quite frustrating.
- A charging station installation at your house can be an added expense.
Conclusion
Fuel economy is one of the crucial factors to consider when purchasing a car these days. With a diverse range of engine options with their pros and cons, it ultimately depends on your lifestyle and what you can afford. Chat with us today to find out more about the different engine options that we offer.
Article credit : DIGI CARS
