The used diesel cars you can actually have fun with

From sleek coupes to hot hatches, SUVs to convertibles, there are plenty of diesel-fuelled exciting cars out there. Here’s our pick of the best in alphabetical order:

As ever with older cars, please be aware of any ULEZ restrictions in your area that might affect your usage of them

Fun and fantastic looks go hand in hand in the Alfa Romeo Brera. Its handsome looks will be enough to convince many this is the car for them, but you can also enjoy this Italian with a hint of frugality thanks to two diesel engine options. The 2.0 JTDm came with 167bhp and offered 0-60mph in 8.8 seconds, allied to 52.3mpg average economy.

However, it’s the five-cylinder 2.4 JTDm that holds the greatest interest. In original 200bhp form, it was good for 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds, while the later 210bhp version dropped that to 7.9. Both are rapid across country, where the firm low speed ride turns into good body control. This diesel even sounds good, but make sure the cambelt and water pump have been changed at 60,000-mile intervals. Bag a good one from £4000.

Alpinas always offer something different from their mainstream BMW relatives. In the case of the D4, launched in 2014, it took the 430d Coupe or Convertible and added a tuned version of the twin-turbo 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine. With a substantial 345bhp and 516lb ft of torque, the D4 dealt with 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and finally hit the buffers at 173mph. Impressive for a car that could also return more than 40mpg.

As an Alpina, the D4 also came with uprated suspension with a bespoke strut brace and trademark alloy wheels. There was also an Akrapovic-developed stainless steel exhaust. All of this makes the £25,000 needed to buy a D4 now seem like very good value.

Audi already had form with performance diesel models by the time it announced the mild hybrid diesel S5 in 2019. Gone was the supercharged 3.0 V6 petrol, replaced by a V6 diesel of the same capacity and 48V electric assistance. With 349bhp on tap, the S5 is good for 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds yet it can also offer 45.5mpg.

With one exhaust-driven turbo and another electrically-operated one, the S5 has seamless power. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is not perfect, but the S5 handles cross-country drives with ease, and you can have one from £40,000.

The Audi SQ7 was always going to offer impressive performance with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine under the bonnet. What made it very special, however, was Audi’s EPC electronic compressor that was not quite a turbo or supercharger that helped free up 429bhp from the motor. Despite weighing 2.3-tonnes, the SQ7 could cover 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, yet still return 39.2mpg.

At its best when driven in a flowing manner, the SQ7 is a brilliant way to cover big miles over country roads. The steering misses some feel, but the immense in-gear performance will still put a smile on your face, and it’s yours from £38,000.

If the Audi SQ7 is a subtle, under the wire way to enjoy colossal diesel-fuelled performance, the SQ8 is a whole lot more in your face. The coupe-like styling of the SQ8 makes it stand out, while the twin-turbo plus electronic compressor set-up boosts engine power to 429bhp. That equates to 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds.

If that seems a little tardy, Audi upped the SQ8’s power to 500bhp in 2020 and then added the 592bhp RS Q8 for good measure, which nips off 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds. Early SQ8s cost from £70,000 and it’s an entertaining 40mpg alternative to its rivals from BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche.

Audi wasn’t the first to mate a sporting coupe with a diesel engine, but its second-generation TT proved to be one of the most popular. It’s easy to see why when the sleek looks of the coupe or its Roadster open-top brother could be enjoyed alongside 50mpg economy.

With four-wheel drive, the 258lb ft slug of low- and mid-rev torque could be enjoyed easily as the TT scythed its way over sinuous roads. While not the last word in refinement, it’s easy to forgive the diesel TT this as it’s just such an able all-rounder from £4000.

Given the list price of a new Bentley Bentayga, the £90,000 needed to bag a used diesel version looks like incredible value. For starters, you get the Bentley name, and the Bentayga is a surprisingly practical car thanks to its large cabin and boot. It’s also good to drive and is sportier than you might first think when you press on.

The Bentayga Diesel offers 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds thanks to the 435bhp V8 it shares with the Audi SQ7. It can also head on 167mph, yet driven with some decorum it will also provide a combined economy of 35.8mpg. Not bad for 2.5-tonnes of luxury and fun.

BMW had already enjoyed some success with its earlier 330d Coupe in the E46 generation of 3 Series. With the next generation E92 Coupe, the 335d took the idea of diesel sports coupe to a whole new level thanks to the twin-turbo motor’s 282bhp. It wasn’t that long since this type of power was the preserve of the M3, and the 335d also came with a whopping 427lb ft of torque to deliver 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds.

Although the 335d only came with an automatic gearbox, it’s an entertaining drive thanks to superbly balanced handling. There’s also massive in-gear performance for overtaking, and you can have this experience from £6000.

The earlier 635d was a success for BMW thanks to its svelte looks, fine driving manner, and a diesel engine that made it popular with company car drivers. So, it made sense to repeat the formula with the 2011 F06 third-generation 6 Series, and the result was the mighty fine 640d. It quickly became the default choice for European buyers, helped along by its 313bhp twin-turbo six-cylinder motor.

The 640d’s mix of comfort and handling means it’s more than up to everyday use, cruising on the motorway yet also delivering the goods on more winding roads. You’ll also appreciate 52.3mpg combined economy, and used prices start at £12,000 for examples in good nick and with reasonable miles.

All three generations of Mercedes-Benz CLS to date have come with diesel engines. This original CLS, or C219 in Mercedes-speak, stands out for its looks and the unique four-door coupe style it pioneered. While petrol V6 and V8 motors, including the mighty AMG versions, were more obvious sporting choices, the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel used in the 320 and later 350 CDI models is a belter.

With 221- or 272bhp respectively, the CLS could see off 0-62mph in 7.0- or 6.5 seconds, so it was no slouch. This CLS also handles nimbly and cruises effortlessly, so it covers all bases. A well cared for car will cost from £4000, but make sure the engine is free from oil leaks and the inlet shut-off port motors are working or have been recently replaced.

The diesel-stoked Mercedes SLK250 CDI is an unexpected sweet spot in this roadster range. Quicker than the four-pot petrol model and much more frugal than the V6, it’s the one to have for almost every occasion. From rest to 62mph takes 6.7 seconds, and it’s just as brisk through the gears, plus you can see 56.5mpg combined economy.

While the SLK is not as sharp to drive as a contemporary Porsche Boxster, it still handles well and there’s always pleasure in lowering the clever folding hard-top roof. Look carefully and you’ll find excellent SLK250 CDI models from £9000.

The 2011 Coupe was an interesting evolution of the MINI theme and it now enjoys rarity value. Choose the Cooper SD model with its 141bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel motor and you get even greater exclusivity coupled to 65.7mpg economy if you stick to the six-speed manual gearbox version. Take the auto and that drops to 53.3mpg.

The diesel engine doesn’t quite have the revvy fizz of its petrol siblings, but it makes up for this with a strong mid-rev punt. Allied to the Coupe’s firmly sprung and agile handling, and you can make quick progress on looping lanes. This kind of rarity starts at around £5000, or £6500 for the Roadster version.

Trust Peugeot to fly the flag for some good old fashioned hot hatch fun in the shape of the 306 D-Turbo. The 306 was always one of the finest handling hatches of its era and the D-Turbo mixed the warm hatch XS set-up with the torque of its 1.9-litre turbodiesel motor. It may have had only 90bhp and 145lb ft of shove, and 0-60mph took 13.3 seconds, but the superb handling meant you could carry speed and maintain momentum.

The D-Turbo earned a name for itself as a left-field fun car and it’s now something of a modern classic. Find one in good condition and you can expect to pay from £2500.

The looks of the Peugeot 406 Coupe are so sleek and stylish that you could put a steam engine under the bonnet and it would still hold its appeal. While the 3.0-litre V6 model was always the pinnacle of the range, the four-cylinder petrols didn’t feel that special.  This opened up an opportunity with the 2.2 HDi turbodiesel for a long-legged cruiser that would also appeal to company drivers. It proved a shrewd move.

Although not particularly quick off the mark, taking 10.6 seconds to cover 0-62mph, the diesel 406 Coupe lopes along smoothly and can turn in 44mpg. Like all Coupes, it has lowered and wider-set suspension than the saloon, so it handles very well while retaining a supple ride. You can enjoy this blend of talents from £3000.

Peugeot had been in the sporting car doldrums for a decade when the RCZ went on sale in 2010. Suddenly, the French firm had a sleek and credible coupe rival to the Audi TT. This included the 2.0 HDi turbodiesel model with 159bhp that was just as quick as the 154bhp 1.6 petrol from 0-62mph, taking 8.4 seconds apiece.

Just as importantly, the refined diesel model offered all of the same graceful handling and well controlled ride of the petrol models. However, the diesel RCZS also delivered 53mpg combined economy. With prices now from £4500, the diesel RCZ is a frugal sporting bargain, but just check the gearbox slots cleanly from third to second on downchanges.

Purists will still rankle at the thought of a diesel-powered Porsche four-door hatch. For the rest of us, we can just rejoice in the Panamera offering all of the usual Porsche handling and feedback in a practical form with a fine 3.0 V6 turbodiesel engine from around £20,000 for smart examples.

The diesel arrived in 2011 and offers 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds and a 150mph top end. While not the firecracker that the petrol V8s were, the diesel version is possibly the finest everyday Porsche going, and there’s no such thing as a dull Porsche.

Renault hoped the Laguna Coupe would tempt buyers away from the usual German two-door models. However, the Coupe’s appeal lies in it not being an Audi, BMW or Mercedes. The supple ride and strong performance from the 178bhp 2.0 dCi diesel lend a uniquely Gallic air to the drive, and the Laguna is an ideal, refined long distance tourer.

For such a handsome car, it seems strange you can find good ones from £2500, but that makes the Laguna Coupe all the more alluring. The 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel provides 47mpg, while the more powerful 178bhp unit offers 49mpg to make it the one to have.

The Skoda Fabia vRS has developed cult status and that means you’ll pay £5000 for one with less than 100,000 miles on the clock. As a ground-breaker, the vRS showed you could make a hot hatch with a diesel engine at its launch in 2003. Here was a small, five-door performance model with a 128bhp version of Volkswagen’s venerable 1.9 turbodiesel, yet it felt much quicker than its 9.2-second 0-62mph time suggested.

You could drive the Fabia vRS as hard as you liked and it always felt up to the challenge, and it would deliver 53mpg along the way. Just make sure the timing belt and water pump have been changed every four years or 80,000 miles and you are good to go.

Vauxhall Astra and fun are not the most obvious bedfellows, but don’t let that put you off considering the three-door GTC. Forget the less powerful 1.7 diesel motors and seek out the 162bhp 2.0-litre that offers 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds and 58.9mpg.

From £3000, look for an Astra GTC in SRi trim to get a sportier look and bigger alloy wheels. In this form, it will handle, steering and ride with a panache you wouldn’t expect at this price point or in a car with such mainstream beginnings.

There was something so essentially right about the third-generation Volkswagen Scirocco that arrived in 2008. Great looking, decently practical, and it came with a good spread of engines. Among these were VW’s tried and trusted 138bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel that offered 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds and 55.4mpg.

That’s good economy and reasonable acceleration, but if you wanted more there was the 167bhp version from 2009. It delivered the 0-62mph dash in 8.1 seconds and 53.3mpg, so is the one to aim for the same £4500 starting money as the less powerful model, and both will be in sound, usable condition at that price.