Zego dig into Diesel Price Reality

Diesel prices have reached a new record high of almost £2 per litre, putting further pressure on millions of motorists as the cost of keeping diesel cars on the road continues to climb.

Reports today suggest existing contingency plans for diesel rationing and a temporary 50mph speed limit could be considered if the situation worsens. No restrictions are currently in place, but with diesel prices continuing to rise, those relying on some of the UK’s most popular diesel cars could be hit harder than others.

Ahead of any potential restrictions, the car insurance experts at Zego have found the 10 popular diesel cars that could leave drivers facing the highest annual fuel bills, potentially prompting some motorists to reconsider whether their current vehicle is still affordable to run. Sten Saar, CEO and Co-founder of Zego, also comments on what rising diesel prices could mean for motorists and the potential impact of further fuel restrictions.

10 popular diesel cars that could cost drivers the most to run

Rank Model Estimated annual diesel cost

1 Range Rover Evoque £2,358

2 Ford Kuga £2,116

3 Volkswagen Tiguan £1,960

4 Mercedes C Class £1,863

5 BMW 3 Series £1,772

6 Audi A3 £1,769

7 BMW 1 Series £1,748

8 Ford Focus £1,725

9 Nissan Qashqai £1,693

10 Volkswagen Golf £1,689

You can access the full dataset here.

The Range Rover Evoque has the highest estimated annual fuel cost. A driver covering 10,000 miles could spend around £2,358 a year at the current average price, roughly £669 more than the same mileage in a Volkswagen Golf, the cheapest of the 10 at £1,689.

The Ford Kuga (£2,116) and Volkswagen Tiguan (£1,960) complete the top three.

Below the top three, costs are much closer, with the models ranked fifth to tenth sitting within around £83 a year of each other.

Together, the 10 models account for around 2.33 million licensed diesel cars, based on the DfT licensing data.

What if diesel keeps climbing?

Rank Model Diesel at 199.18p Diesel at £2.25 Diesel at £2.50

1 Range Rover Evoque £2,358 £2,664 £2,960

2 Ford Kuga £2,116 £2,390 £2,655

3 Volkswagen Tiguan £1,960 £2,214 £2,460

4 Mercedes C Class £1,863 £2,105 £2,339

5 BMW 3 Series £1,772 £2,002 £2,224

6 Audi A3 £1,769 £1,998 £2,220

7 BMW 1 Series £1,748 £1,975 £2,194

8 Ford Focus £1,725 £1,948 £2,165

9 Nissan Qashqai £1,693 £1,912 £2,124

10 Volkswagen Golf £1,689 £1,908 £2,120

*illustrative scenarios, not forecasts.

Sten Saar, CEO and Co-founder of Zego, comments:

“With diesel at record levels, drivers are understandably thinking harder about what it costs to keep their cars on the road. Even small rises at the pump can add up over a year, particularly for people who rely on their vehicle every day.

No restrictions are currently in place, but the possibility of them adds uncertainty for diesel drivers. Anyone already stretched by running costs may want to look at what they’re really spending on fuel, and whether their current car still makes financial sense for them.

Our findings show how much annual costs can vary between popular diesel models. Knowing your car’s real world fuel economy is the first step to understanding what you’re actually paying.”