The best diesel cars 2026 – driven, rated, ranked

BMW’s second-largest ICE SUV is one of the best you can buy today and offers a choice of two mild-hybrid diesel powertrains, alongside a BIK tax-friendly plug-in hybrid. 

Both diesels are potent, thanks to their 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged powerplants.

New to this generation of X5 is two-axle air suspension, which is optional on the 30d and 40d diesels but standard on the 50e PHEV.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

The xDrive30d produces 294bhp and 479lb ft, which is enough to shift the near two-tonne SUV from 0-62mph in 6.1sec. The xDrive40d is more muscular with 347bhp and 516lb ft, hitting 0-62mph in 5.5sec.

BMW also claims official economy figures of 38.2mpg in both cars, which isn’t too bad for those with longer commutes. 

Both diesel variants deliver their power smoothly, but it's the way this large SUV handles which is most impressive. Direct and agile, its handling is perfectly paired with soft-riding suspension for an overall enjoyable driving experience.

All versions of the Land Rover Defender - the three-door 90, five-door 110 and stretched 130 - present the option of a diesel powertrain, so you’re spoilt for choice.

They all use JLR's mild-hybrid six-cylinder oil-burner, labelled D250 or D350 depending on spec. 

The driving position is upright and accommodating, the steering wheel huge and visibility fantastic.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Performance across the range is similar to the Range Rover. In 110 form, the D250 produces 248bhp, hitting 0-62mph in 7.9sec. Move up to the D350 for 345bhp and a 0-62mph time of 6.1sec.

Of course, those times will be slightly different depending on whether you choose the 90 or 130 bodystyle.

If you need to do some off-roading, the Defender is the ultimate choice. Height-adjustable air suspension is available as an option, while Land Rover’s Terrain Response system provides class-leading off-road traction and stability control.

Today’s Mercedes-Benz E-Class uses the same recipe that made it one of the world’s most popular luxury cars and brings it to new heights. 

That means the usual blend of comfort, practicality, quality and refinement is still on offer, and no more so than with its line-up of diesel engines. 

Every UK E-Class comes with a dashcam, blindspot monitoring and adaptive cruise control as standard, plus mandatory emergency braking, automatic lane keeping assistance and speed limit assistance.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

The range opens with the popular, mild-hybrid E220d. It’s essentially the same as the version seen in the model’s previous generation, with 194bhp and a 20bhp electric motor. 

For the enthusiasts among us, the E450d will appeal for its silky smooth straight-six diesel engine. It makes 367bhp and 553lb ft, getting you from 0-62mph in 4.8sec – and will achieve 46mpg at a cruise. 

Then there’s the E300de, which is highly unusual as a diesel-engined plug-in hybrid and offers 68 miles of electric-only range. 

Overall, the E-Class both looks and feels expensive. Prices can reach startling highs, but its combination of efficiency, build quality and performance seems worth the cost.

The Range Rover is one of the most capable models on sale today, aided in part by its strong engine line-up. 

It includes two mild-hybrid diesels: the D300 with 298bhp and the D350 with 345bhp. Both hit 0-62mph in less than 6.4sec and will achieve around 38mpg, which is impressive for the Range Rover’s size and weight. 

In cabin isolation and ride composure, it’s unrivalled by anything in this class and, we would wager, a few classes either side of it.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

The jewel of the Range Rover crown is its interior, which is hugely spacious, comfortable and feels of supreme quality. It’s designed as a place to relax, which is reflected in the model’s large seats, posh digital screens and upholstery.

The boot is sizable too, measuring 725 litres (1841 with the seats down). That all the features and functions are controlled via the central touchscreen is a bit of a bugbear; physical buttons and switches would go a long way in terms of usability. 

If you’re after a sportier vibe but don’t want to sacrifice on luxury feel or off-road ability, the Range Rover Sport is another excellent diesel SUV. It can be had with the same D300 and D350 straight-six engines and offers an equally refined, comfortable and dynamic drive. 

There’s a trail of common sense running through every part of this SUV. From the simple, intuitive dashboard controls to the broad mix of Volkswagen-derived powertrains, the second-generation Kodiaq puts usability and drivability front and centre. 

Of the diesels, there’s the entry-level 2.0 TDI which makes 148bhp and 265lb ft of torque. It has a claimed efficiency figure of 53.3mpg, and you will likely achieve that on a long run. 

The diesel sounds surprisingly, well, dieselly. It’s not horrendous, though, and it does have more grunt from low revs, which will be useful if you plan to do any towing.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

The more powerful four-cylinder oilburner makes 190bhp and 295lb ft of torque and should manage around 45mpg in the real world. Plus it comes with four-wheel drive, which makes lighter work of towing. 

The Kodiaq is a highly practical and roomy SUV; you get a vast 845-litre boot; the option of seven-seats; generous amounts of head and leg room in the back; and loads of oddment storage.

Factor in the Kodiaq’s competitive pricing and this is easily one of the best all-round family SUVs you can buy. 

The Kia Sorento is one of the better value models on our list, with a price tag of just over £40,000. Bear with us, because while that might sound a lot, this large SUV has quite a lot going for it.

Just one diesel engine is available, which sits alongside a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. All versions offer four-wheel drive, while the diesel gets 199bhp and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

In damp stretches of road, its nose will begin to push into understeer relatively easily, but such transgressions are calmly and quickly corrected by its stability control system.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

If you’re after a strong towing car, the Sorento is one of the best around, being capable of pulling up to 2500kg. That compares significantly more favourably compared ot the hybrid (1110kg) and the PHEV (1010kg). 

The Sorento has a calling card that most others on this list can’t match too: it’s a seven-seater, so you will have plenty of space to carry cargo or the whole family.

In terms of usability, it’s up there with some of the best.

Now in its fifth generation, the C-Class is available with three diesel engines. First up is the C220d with 197bhp, followed by the C300d with 261bhp. Then, as with the larger E-Class, there's a diesel-engined plug-in hybrid, the C300de, with a BIK tax-busting 72 miles of electric-only range. 

All cars will hit 0-62mph in less than 7.5sec, with the C300de posting a more impressive time of 5.5sec. 

It's seriously refined on the motorway and will look great at your business meeting or golf club.

Murray Scullion, Digital editor

The C-Class doesn’t drive quite like a sports car and it performs best at cruising speeds. There’s little wind and road noise. Plus, there’s the choice between a saloon and an estate body.

The C-Class is a superb option for long-range driving. Mercedes advertises an official figure of 62.8mpg in the C220d (and similar figures from the C300d) and we managed an average of 60mpg during our road test. 

The familiarity of powertrains offered by the new Audi A5 estate/saloon (which replaced the A4) will no doubt prompt selection over rivals for some drivers. 

Petrol, hybrid and diesel are all available here, with the diesels driven by a Volkswagen Group TDI 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit. There are two variants, both using the same engine but one with four-wheel drive. 

Any A5 is a very capable cruiser. The Volkswagen Group’s adaptive cruise control is one of the better such systems out there, and the annoying bings and bongs are easy to turn off.

James Attwood, Associate editor

The A5’s interior isn’t its strongest point, but it still has a good driving position for most and there’s a lot of technology available. 

The star of the show is that 2.0-litre engine. It provides effortless pulling power and will get you from 0-62mph in 7.7sec, or 6.9sec if you opt for Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system.

As for economy, Audi says you will get up to 55.1mpg.