Should you still buy diesel?

Diesel earns its keep in one situation: long, steady miles. If you regularly cover big distances on the motorway, a diesel will sip fuel and pull effortlessly, and it will likely hold its value better than a petrol equivalent doing the same job.

It struggles in the opposite case. Short urban trips never get the engine and its filters properly hot, which leads to clogging, warning lights, and repair bills. If most of your driving is short hops around town, diesel is usually the wrong call.

Watch the local rules. Cities are tightening low-emission zones, and older diesels can face daily charges or bans that quietly wreck the economics and the resale value. Check what applies where you actually drive before you commit.

If your mileage is high and mostly open road, diesel can still be the rational choice in 2026. If it is low and mostly urban, a petrol or hybrid will almost always cost you less to run and less to worry about.

Either way, use the fair-price read to make sure you are not paying a premium for a diesel that no longer commands one.