Compare the best diesel hybrid cars

There are a couple of reasons why diesel hybrid cars aren’t all that common. When these types of powertrains were first launched around 10 years ago they were pretty expensive, so lots of people were put off the idea of buying one based on the sticker price alone. That said, while used models might be a fairly rare find, you will be able to buy one for a far more reasonable price today.

The other reason why diesel hybrids aren’t all that common (at least in the UK), is because diesel cars in general have out of fashion with buyers due to concerns surrounding the emissions produced by older diesel models.

Diesel hybrid cars practically work in the same way as a regular petrol hybrid vehicle. In extremely simple terms, the car’s diesel engine will be supplemented by a battery and an electric motor, which enable the car to drive for short periods of time on electricity alone. The electricity that’s stored in the battery and is used to power the electric motor will either be generated by running the diesel engine, or through regenerative braking.

Usually, the electric motor will take the lead when you’re travelling at low speeds or in stop-start traffic, so if you spend most of your time driving in town, this is where you’ll potentially maximise your fuel savings. Then, when you’re running at higher speeds (such as on the motorway), the diesel engine will take over proceedings.

Plug-in hybrid diesel cars come with much larger batteries, which can be charged by plugging them directly into the mains. Their bigger batteries mean they can run on electricity for much longer distances before their diesel engines kick in, which make them even more suitable for town driving. That said, they’re expensive, and those large batteries will often lead to compromises in practicality, such as a smaller boot than a non-hybrid model, or a lack of seven seats in an SUV.

From 2035, the sale of all brand new hybrids - regardless of whether they’re diesel or petrol hybrids - will be banned. That said, if by that point you really don’t fancy going electric, you’ll still be able to buy used hybrid diesels. You’ll probably be able to pick them up for a pretty low price, too.

Whether or not you buy a diesel or a petrol hybrid car really comes down to what your typical vehicle usage patterns look like. If you spend the vast majority of your time driving around town, or don’t do a huge number of miles in any given year, you won’t benefit from running a diesel hybrid car and would be better suited to a petrol hybrid.

That said, if you do a lot of motorway miles in a year, but still want a car that can run on zero emissions when you’re in town, then a diesel hybrid would be worth considering. Diesel engines typically use less fuel than equivalent petrol engines at motorway speeds, which means high-mileage owners stand to save a bit of money at the pump.