545 mile run from London to Geneva.

One corner, the greenies favorite (and a car I happen to despise) the Toyota Prius. A vehicle most frequently driven by smug, self righteous folks.

In another corner, a BMW 520d with a 2.0-liter diesel engine and regenerative braking from a company that's more known here as a yuppie high roller than as it is in Europe as a full line car company.

The BMW, a fair sized 5-series based sedan (not a 3 or even 1 series)

BMW goes from 0-62 in 8.3 and reaches 144 mph, versus 11 seconds and 106 in the 500 pound lighter and more aerodynamic Prius.

Results?

Prius? 40.1 mpg.

BMW 520D? 41.9 mpg!

The BMW was also quicker, had a longer cruise range (bigger fuel tank).

Prius was cheaper to buy, though.

No, this isn't from BMW's marketing department. It's a test carried out by a couple of people from the London Times.

If we were able to get Diesel down to the price point of gasoline (again), diesel would be a better alternative to hybrids IMHO. I imagine if a Prius was diesel powered, it would be cheaper and get better fuel economy than the high tech, high-cost-to-make complex Hybrid system it has.

(short article)
http://www.technoride.com/2008/03/bm...us_in_econ.php

(full article)
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol...cle3552994.ece

 

If their driving was mostly heavy-footed and highway then the Prius would be at a natural disadvantage. If it was moderate to light footed and in the city then the Prius was in its element.

I'm very interested in some good diesel cars showing up here in the US in the next couple of years, but every time I look at the gas prices at my local station and see the 20+% premium over regular unleaded I can't help but consider that even if the diesel vehicle got my 20+% better mileage than a comparable gas 4-cyl car I'd be breaking even, not taking into consideration the premium price I probably paid for the diesel motor itself.

 

I wonder what a TDI jetta would have got in that same test.

 

Csaba Csere has an interesting editorial on the challenges diesel faces in this month's Car and Driver. I know that there are some here who aren't fans of the monthly car rags, but he does bring up some interesting points about diesel and where it fits in the U.S. infrastructure currently.

Should American Vehicles go Diesel Just When the World is Running Short of it?

 

Apples and oranges. With diesel at 50¢ more per gallon (in my area) the beemer would need to get 45.6 mpg for me to break even on fuel alone. (Compared to the Prius.) Impressive? Yes. But hardly Prius impressive.

Show me a turbo diesel that gets 50 mpg average and then I'll consider it.

 

I think because of the similar prices in europe it is better, but here it's just an extra 20grand down the whole.

Where's my Hybrid Corolla TOYOTA? HUH? HUH? That's right, you gotta buy a Prius to get the drivetrain...Or a Camry!

 

Diesel is cheaper than gasoline in Canada.

 

For high-speed driving at moderate throttle openings, diesels are likely to return better mileage - especially compared with a single-ratio system like the HSD in the Prius, which actually is less efficient than traditional drivetrains at higher speeds.

In stop-and-go traffic with a lot of low-speed driving at varying throttle openings, hybrid drive systems are going to shine.

 

No problem,

Just buy a diesel electric.

(Yeah, I know trains can't run on the road )

 

I think a better comparison would be the Jetta TDI. It gets a little better mileage than the BMW and the overall car cost and size is more inline with the Prius. But it is impressive the mileage the BMW gets for its size. I look forward to more diesel car options in the future.

 

Hmm, the BMW has to cost at least twice that of the Prius. Of course it has more power, more room, is probably more comfortable to ride in and easier to drive.

Now put a diesel in the 1-series, or even better, in the Mini, and you'd have an impressive vehicle.

 

They have diesel in a Mini. Just not in the USA...

 

And GM builds a sub 2.0L diesel version of the Ecotec, but you can only get it in Europe.

 

With the 20% cost difference in 87 and diesel here, the BMW would need to get nearly 50mpg to be break even.

 

Weak! Why does the anti-hybrid crowd insist on testing hybrids in conditions that they aren't built for? These are the same retards that quote the best highway mileage their car ever got as their "norm."