In an interesting twist that may interest fleet operators, a recent Which? investigation has found that diesel cars are often more expensive to run than petrol cars. Although this year is likely to be the first in which diesel cars will make up more than half of the new car market, a Which? comparison between diesel and petrol versions of six popular car models has found that petrol engines can be surprisingly more cost effective for drivers covering a set annual mileage. The findings of the study were that diesel engines in the BMW 5 Series, Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Tiguan may indeed deliver cheaper fuel bills than the petrol models in the short term, but it can take a number of years before they eventually save the average motorist cash. On the whole drivers have to pay upwards of £2,000 more on a new diesel car than a petrol model. However, Which? tests reveal that it could take as long as 14 years to recover those additional upfront costs in fuel savings. With falling petrol pump prices and technological improvements in petrol engine efficiency, petrol vehicles can now rival diesel cars in terms of value for money. Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director, said: "Fuel price rises have been hitting household budgets hard, so it's important that consumers know they are getting value for money when they buy a car. "Diesel cars are known for their fuel efficiency, but with lower pump prices for petrol and premium price tag for diesel cars, it may make more financial sense for families to go for the petrol version." Efficiency is something that drives us forward every single day here at IT Fleet Automotive. Our fleet appraisal service allows us to provide an electronic inspection of fleet vehicles at regional centres across the country using the latest handheld technology by fully trained vehicle inspectors. We provide fleet operators with a condition report completed by the collection driver, with fully-costed damage and refurbishment estimates to keep customers fully in the picture. If you would like to discuss your fleet appraisal and refurbishment requirements with us then why not call our friendly team today on 01473 313057 or drop us a line using our enquiry form and we will endeavour to get back to you.
