The Detroit News reports:
A clean diesel car can be good for the environment -- but will it end up cleaning out your wallet? With mileage that can be as much as one-third better than comparable gasoline engines -- hitting more than 40 mpg on the highway -- clean diesel engines can take a big bite out of your car's carbon footprint.
The new diesels are much improved over the models that appeared in the late 1980s, with lowered tailpipe emissions and quieter performance that refutes diesels' reputation as noisy stinkpots. But the premium cost of diesel models and diesel fuel mean they also can take a bite out of your wallet.
In many cases, it can take years for drivers to see real savings from the improved mileage of a diesel, notes John O'Dell, senior editor of the Green Car Advisor at Edmunds.com.
"There is a cost savings on fuel, but you still have the premium diesel price on most models," O'Dell says. "It takes a while for the savings on fuel to offset that."
Figuring out the economics of clean diesel is a balancing act. You get much better mileage than a similar gas engine in most cases, but the fuel costs more, and you'll pay more for the car, in most cases. Some of the higher price is offset by federal tax credits for clean diesels, which run from $900 to $1,800, depending on the model.
Auto shoppers need to add it all up to see how a clean diesel will affect the family budget...
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