A couple years back, it seemed like diesel was up in the air. Would it sell at all? Would it explode and create waiting lists? No one knew for sure. The only thing that was definite was that Americans had an image of diesel in their mind.
If you were to ask any Joe Blow about their thoughts on diesel they would probably mutter something along the lines of "dirty, slow and unrefined." And, to an extent, they were right. Tufts of black smoke would exit the exhaust when a driver got on the throttle, there was some serious vibration on acceleration and they were not exactly rocket ships.
Turn the clock forward a decade and then the green movement came. Gas prices soared and drivers were sent scrambling for MINI's and Honda Civics. It was one of the rare times the Ford F150 was unseated from its beloved throne as the most sold vehicle in the States.
With consumers clamoring for longevity and cleaner autos, some manufacturers had a brilliant plan; bring diesel back with a vengeance.
Now it seems that diesel vehicles have become an integral part to sales.
Looking at Volkswagen's past several months it is clear that diesel sales propped up the brand in tough times and they continue to gain market share. And the story remains the same at Audi, whose Q7 TDI sport-utility is made up of nearly 50 percent of sales. Additionally, the all-new 2010 A3 TDI racked in an even 50 percent of sales this past January.
Diesel models are fantastic. They can offer a remarkable improvement in MPG and provide a thrill for an enthusiast. My 2004 VW Touareg usually achieved 14-15 MPG, where the 2009 V6 TDI I tested racked in 24 MPG at times while being much MORE powerful.
But it does not matter if I am sold, what about you? Do you believe in diesel autos OR are hybrids the way of the future? Electric technology, while it remains the cleanest, lacks the practicality at the moment -- unless you want to wait at a charging station for x hours on a road trip.
AND, we are curious: what is YOUR favorite diesel vehicle on the market today. Think hard, there is a large selection, running from BMW 3-series to X5's AND VW's Golf TDI to Jetta SportWagen.
Make your voice heard on AutoSpies. Let us know in the comments below.
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