Diesel

Will the current war in Iran mean a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles? My view is no, it won’t directly cause a ban on combustion cars. But the ban is still coming and the Middle East conflict will fastrack it. For starters a date has already been set for ban on petrol and diesel cars in the United Kingdom, where from 2030 sales of new vehicles with combustion engines will cease. The European Union has a 2035 ban but previous to the Iran war this was watered down.China, which in February was our main source of vehicles, is also focused on building and developing electric cars.As for Australia, only the ACT has set a goal of phasing out the sale of new combustion powered cars by 2035.That could all change now and by this I mean be fastracked.Until now the reasons for switching to electric vehicles were mainly ethical and environmental, with emissions and cleaner air being the carrot. The problem is nobody really  wants to eat a carrot, even if it’s good for us. But faced with the prospect of not eating at all because the weekly fuel bill for two cars is now $300 and the price of groceries is going up because of the soaring cost of transport, that really changes things.Interest in electric vehicles has never been this strong. We can see it in real time by the traffic coming to carsguide.com.au and we know our competitors are witnessing the sharpening of this focus on EVs, too.Towards the start of 2025 there had been a slow down in global interest in EVs and a renewed take up of hybrids. The price premiums attached to electric cars, the limited driving range and lengthy charging times were to blame, but all things early adopters, and even slightly later ones, were willing to endure. The rest of the car buyers were too put off by the downsides of EVs and stuck with the convenience and familiarity of petrol or perhaps bought a hybrid. But now the price of convenience appears to be reaching a point where suddenly an EV sounds like a good idea. At the time of writing 95 RON premium unleaded was $2.70 per litre. An increase of about $1 per litre or 60 per cent in the space of a month. The prohibitive cost now of petrol combined with the looming threat of Australia running out of it in less than three weeks, plus reports of servicing stations already running dry now make an electric car suddenly seem like not such a bad idea after all, even to the most hardcore fans of fossil fuels.The problem is bigger than just consumers not being able to afford petrol, it’s the soaring cost of goods, which are distributed through Australia’s enormous freight network that relies on diesel.The Australian government is responsible for setting such low minimum fuel reserves all in the name of a free market. The current situation could see it either mandate that the industry maintain a higher level or reduce the risk entirely of being held hostage like this again and ban petrol and diesel car sales in favour of electric ones, which can be powered by a fuel we can produce ourselves.The second option wouldn’t be the choice of the $6 trillion-a-year global oil and gas industry. And an industry that’s worth that much has enormous sway.But then the collapse of entire economies wouldn’t be the choice of most governments.Decoupling from oil and gas is impossible in less than 50 or even 100 years. Whether we like it or not the industry pervades every part of our lives. Killing the industry would also see the collapse of entire economies.Plenty of car companies are ready for electric vehicles, especially new Chinese brands, but for many vehicle manufacturers EVs are a side hustle.This scenario play into the hands of new electric brands such as Zeekr with the 7X mid-szied SUV, BYD with the Sealion 7 SUV and even the established Koreans such as Kia with the EV3 small SUV.Does it mean the end of diesel SUVs such as the LandCruiser? Possibly, unless Toyota has an electric version up its sleeve ready to be pulled out in the next 10 years.So what you'll probably see is the EU and UK setting new firm deadlines for the discontinuation of sales for new cars with combustion engines at about 2035 or sooner. Australia will likely follow suit.Industry, freight and agriculture will be exempt until hydrogen infrastructure is in place and that will take much longer.What we may see in the short term is a temporary ban on the use of petrol and diesel passenger cars in order to preserve fuel stock for industry, freight and vital services such as emergency vehicles. That’s a real possibility if the war moves into an uncontrolled phase.So while the permanent ban of new petrol and diesel cars won’t be directly caused by the Iran war, it will be a catalyst for the ban. In the meantime, it’s probably wise anyway to purchase an EV anyway and provide a bit of security and future proofing for your own household, not to mention saving thousands in fuel bills each year.

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

Diesel utes have been the dominant forces in Australia for the past decade, but that could be about to change.The Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux have been the top two sellers in the past 10 years, and they combined for more than 100,000 sales in 2025.The pair have carried on this popularity into 2026, sitting at the top for January and February this year. Other diesel ute rivals such as the Isuzu Ute D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton are selling well. That could be all be about to change sooner than we thought. It could be the case that a perfect storm of external factors will wipe out the diesel in ute in Australia.There is a new factor is emerging that could accelerate the diesel ute’s seemingly inevitable decline. The price of diesel fuel has increased substantially more than petrol, approaching the $3 mark per litre.I went to fill up my diesel car the other day.As I pulled into the service station, a man had just finished filling up his V8 diesel LandCruiser 200 Series. $287 for 99L - he had not even brimmed the tank. You’d get a better rate when topping up your light aircraft with aviation fuel. He asked if I wanted to swap. I politely declined.No doubt big fleet buyers will be watching closely as the costs of purchasing and running these diesel utes shoots up, along with the potential increase in costs as NVES pressures creep in. Fleet sales are crucial to the success of the Ford Ranger and the Toyota HiLux, with them also contributing heavily to other ute brands.Fuel prices will also be an increasingly big head turner for private buyers. Alternatives such as the petrol plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6 offer superior fuel efficiency when charged as well as being cheaper to fill up.Toyota announced its all-electric HiLux ute recently, which has been met with a mixed reception due to concerns over driving range and towing capacity, but it at least shows brands are already looking away from diesel. Chery’s incoming KP31 ute will debut in Australia this year with a diesel plug-in hybrid set-up, which is expected to have the 3500kg towing capacity. Something the Shark 6 currently lacks.The popularity of diesel hybrid set-ups will be an indication of the survival chances for the diesel ute in Australia. It could be argued the longer diesel prices continue to rise, the shorter the diesel ute's lifespan will be.Compounding this is new emissions laws.The Federal Government's National Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES) delivered a rude awakening for some. The NVES sets emissions targets based on CO2 gram-per-kilometre limits. Vehicles sold that fall over the limit subsequently incur liabilities, which will attract hefty fines in the future for brands. Brands incur fines on vehicles sold, which have an interim emissions value of more than zero. Mazda, which sells its BT-50 ute in Australia among an internal combustion heavy lineup, accumulated a whopping more than 500,000 liabilities. Subsequently many brands, including Honda and Mazda have introduced priced increases across key internal combustion models this year.There appears to be two routes for brands. Either pass on the extra costs, or ditch diesel. Diesel utes could be about to skyrocket in price and brands scramble to account for fines on sales.In a more extreme example, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently threatened to axe the brand’s local engineering program responsible for the best-selling Ford Ranger.“Something your government, or any government, has to be very sensitive to around the CO2 glide path. We want to reduce our CO2 footprint, but there’s a level that the customer can’t afford, and not all duty cycles can be electrified,” Farley told CarsGuide.“It’s a completely open market and also pushing CO2 , arguably way beyond the customer requirements.“ needs to decide if they want to help us equalise the cost differential … because this is among the most expensive places to have engineers on the planet.”We have already seen somewhat of a winding back of Ford’s Ranger line-up Down Under, with the brand discontinuing sale of its bi-turbo diesel engine, in favour of a cleaner single turbo variant.

Fuel prices continue to increase in Australia.Hybrid models generally offer better fuel efficiency than a comparative petrol model, but they are also more expensive. Questions remain about how much going hybrid actually saves buyers on fuel and how long it will take to pay off the extra upfront cost. Below is a comparison based on some of the most popular models in Australia offering petrol and hybrid choices and the potential increased savings in the current climate. Figures have been calculated based on the average yearly kilometres driven at 15,000km, and the cost to fill-up based on average NSW pricing data using the official recommended fuel for each model. Small car/sedanHyundai i30 sedanThe Hyundai i30 is one of few passenger car models which are available with petrol and hybrid variants in its lineup. Many of its rivals have become hybrid only, such as the Toyota Corolla and Camry as well as the Honda Civic. The hybrid is cheaper to fill up and goes further on its tank, so it takes around four years to pay off the $4000 hybrid premium - well within the seven-year warranty period for the car. This is also due to the smaller and more efficient hybrid motor compared to the bigger petrol engine.Small SUVChery Tiggo 4 The Chery Tiggo 4 is one of the cheapest SUVs on the market, with a drive-away price under $30,000 for both petrol and hybrid variants. The Hybrid carries a $6000 premium over the petrol, which means it will take roughly seven years to pay off the extra cost. This is part due to the $850 year-on-year saving, which is less than many of the other cars on this list. Unlike the other examples, there is no change in engine capacity between petrol and hybrid variants of the Tiggo 4.  The seven-year break-even point matches the seven-year warranty provided on the car. Medium SUVGWM Haval H6There is a $5000 gap between pricing on the petrol and hybrid versions of the Haval H6, but the smaller and more efficient hybrid engine sees savings of more than $1000 year-on-year. The H6 hybrid offers an average of more than 500km of driving range than the petrol. This means the extra cost of the hybrid can be paid off in just under five years. This falls within the seven-year warranty period for the H6. Large SUVHyundai Santa FeThe Hyundai Santa Fe was CarsGuide’s 2026 Overall Car of the Year, and offers one of the most competitive hybrid/petrol pricing comparisons. This is because the hybrid Sante Fe is less than $4000 more expensive than the petrol and offers more than 400km average driving range. With nearly $1200 of savings each year, it would take around three years to pay off the hybrid premium, and the majority of the car’s seven-year warranty will also still be valid.UteThis comparison uses the cheapest dual-cab variant of the Toyota HiLux Workmate and the single-variant BYD Shark 6. While these utes are obviously not variants within the same lineup, the Shark 6’s petrol status offers savings over the diesel ute. It also has a smaller fuel tank, which makes filling up cheaper. The HiLux is also slightly more expensive to drive-away, costing about $59,500 in NSW.Fuel efficiency on the Shark 6 dramatically decreases when the ute has less than 25 per cent of battery charge, dropping to 7.9L/100km. This still makes it less expensive to run than the diesel HiLux. *Petrol engine only fuel use figure not provided by Ford but calculated over several CarsGuide road tests once battery had been depletedThe plug-in hybrid set-up in the Canon Alpha does make it cheaper to run overall, but the substantial price difference between the plug-in hybrid and the petrol, means it would take eight years to break even on the extra cost. The Ranger PHEV is more of a curve ball, it is harder to hit on exactly how much fuel it will use. It all depends on how ofter you charge the battery. If you don't charge it every night it'll be more expensive to run than the diesel, as it needs to be topped up more often. If you regularly charge it the cost equation flips and it's a wallet saver.You'll need to be vigilant about charging to pay off the $15,000 premium, though.

The third-generation Mitsubishi Outlander mid-size SUV was popular in Australia for good reason, with it offering buyers the choice of five or seven seats, and plug-in hybrid, petrol or diesel powertrains. As a result, it can also make for a good used car.

Volkswagen Australia is adding two new V6 turbo-diesel variants to the dual cab ute’s local line-up, with the 2026 model year range becoming an almost exclusively 3.0-litre V6 offering.Volkswagen says it has been “guided by feedback from owners, dealers and enthusiasts in placing stronger emphasis on V6 powertrains, while simplifying the range to make choosing an Amarok clearer and more intuitive than ever.”But it’s worth noting, as with its co-developed Ford Ranger ‘twin-under-the-skin’, the 154kW/500Nm 2.0L twin-turbo diesel four from the Amarok Life and Style models has been squeezed out of existence by tightening emission regulations.And, unlike Ford Australia, VW has also made the call to phase out the 125kW/405Nm 2.0L single-turbo four-cylinder diesel, currently offered in the entry-grade Amarok TDI 405 Core.To help pick up the slack, the first of the Amarok’s new 184kW/600Nm 3.0L turbo-diesel entries is the Dark Label V6.Limited to 200 examples, it adds visual drama and a lengthy standard equipment list to the VW ute formula, including:20-inch ‘Matte Black’ ‘Bendigo’ alloy wheelsLED matrix headlights (with black surrounds)Darkened tail-lightsBlack sports bar, side steps, rear bumper, door handles and mirrorsFront bumper ‘X‑design’ in blackBlack front skid plateMatte Black B‑pillar foilRoof rails in Matte BlackSpray‑in tub linerBlack tonneau coverDark Label sticker pack (bonnet, doors, tub sides, tailgate) Pricing and exact arrival timing are yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely to hit showrooms before the end of 2026.Then, in the second quarter of this year, the Amarok W600 special edition will deliver another premium performance option.Locally-developed by Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Melbourne and based on the TDI600 Style, it features the 3.0L turbo-diesel V6 as well as a multitude of dynamic upgrades including a bespoke Koni suspension set-up, 20-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, a full-width LED light bar and (lots) more.Volkswagen believes it will “reinforce Amarok’s position as a leader in driving feel and performance within the dual‑cab segment.”And finally, the 222kW/452Nm 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder powered Amarok Style TSI452 replaces the previous Aventura TSI452 with spec upgrades including: Permanent all‑wheel driveSix drive modesOptional 20-inch ‘Bendigo’ alloy wheelsFor reference, the current Amarok Aventura TSI452 is priced at $79,990, before on-road costs.Volkswagen’s Australian Amarok line-up for MY26 (with pricing yet to be confirmed) will be:Amarok Style 2.3 TSI452Amarok Style 3.0 TDI600Amarok Style (w/ Tray) 3.0 TDI600Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI600Amarok Aventura 3.0 TDI600Amarok Dark Label 3.0 TDI600Amarok W600 3.0 TDI600

Why does my 2022 Mazda BT-50 diesel manual idle at around 1000rpm most of the time and shudder when I turn it off?

Diesel isn't dead after all: Why the owner of Peugeot and Jeep is making up for lackluster EV sales with diesels.

To torture a well worn Mark Twain reference, if Australia’s 2025 new vehicle sales numbers are anything to go by, reports of the diesel engine’s death are greatly exaggerated.According to Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries VFacts registration data, for the full calendar year of 2025 diesel-powered vehicles across passenger, SUV and light commercial segments totalled 364,605 units, only 1.7 per cent lower than 2024’s overall number (370,818).In fact, sales of diesel-powered passenger cars were up 1.3 per cent year-on-year (10,372 vs 10,242) with diesel SUV sales rising no less than 6.0 per cent (122,603 vs 115,670).Diesel light-commercial sales were down 5.4 per cent (231,630 vs 244,906) while plug-in hybrid commercials went from zero in 2024 to 20,634 last year.A coincidence that 18,073 examples of BYD’s Shark 6 PHEV dual cab ute found homes last year? We think not.The Ford Ranger was the best selling vehicle in 2025, but it wasn't alone at the top.Traditional diesel-heavy sellers the Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max, Ford Everest and Toyota Prado filled the third to sixth slots on the 2025 overall sales leader board with others such as the Mitsubishi Triton lifting year-on-year volume, too. Only the second placed Toyota RAV4 Hybrid managed to break up diesel's dominance atop the new car sales charts last year.Of course, nothing stays the same forever and given the rapidly shifting form of the Australian new vehicle market and the increasing impact of the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) regime there’s a chance the diesel engine’s status may have changed dramatically by the end of 2026.But for now, it appears diesel power isn’t headed for the automotive graveyard just yet.  Australian diesel vehicle registrations:

South Korea’s KGM (formerly known as SsangYong) has officially revealed the design of its new-generation Musso dual-cab ute ahead of more details surfacing in the new year.Dubbed the ‘Q300’, this generation of the Musso dials up the style factor with glitzy looks that are similar to the current Actyon- and Torres-based Musso EV.The front particularly is busy with lots of design elements. KGM has shown off two grille designs, but both feature big LED headlights that are joined by a full-width LED daytime running light set-up.Around the side there is plenty of thick black cladding around the wheel arches and the door sills. There are also vertical accent strips at the top of the wheel arches, like the Musso EV.At the back there is a step into the tub, vertical tail-lights, KGM embossing on the tailgate, as well as a complex sports bar.Beyond this KGM hasn’t provided any further details. It appears this new-generation ute has a body-on-frame chassis, though it’s unclear how much has been altered compared to the outgoing generation.Globally this new Musso will be offered with petrol and diesel powertrains, though no specifications or outputs have been announced yet.The current Musso is offered with a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 133kW and 420Nm. In other markets there’s also a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine available.KGM plans to launch this new-generation Musso in the domestic market in the first quarter of 2026.It’s unclear when it will be coming to Australia. We’ve reached out to KGM Australia and will update this story once we hear back.The Musso name dates back all the way back to 1993 when it was adorned on an SUV. It later spawned a dual-cab ute version in 2002 called the Musso Sports.The outgoing version of the Musso, dubbed the Q200 generation, dates back to 2018. It has received a number of updates over the years, including one that launched in Australia earlier this year with the availability of electric power steering among other safety feature additions.It also saw SsangYong dropped from the name altogether.Given there is a new Musso that’s now been revealed, it’s unclear whether a new-generation Rexton SUV is also on the horizon. The two vehicles have historically been based on the same platform and share a lot of componentry.