Who makes the "best" modern diesel engines?
Discussion
PHers love to hate them but in reality, they are still relevant to the useage of many people and many of us still own them or have owned them. It seems like a bit of a "dying" technology now, as car manufacturers invest in EV technology instead but who in your opinion currently makes the "best" modern diesel engines? By "best", one could make an argument in terms of performance, fuel economy, refinement and reliability.
Peugeot/Citroen seemed to have the edge in the 80s/90s with the NA and turbocharged XUD engines and in the 2000s, having owned several, I might have championed VW's PD diesel engines but now I'm not so sure. I haven't owned a diesel for a few years now and the ones that I have encountered in recent years in hire cars (Ford TDCi/Vauxhall CDTi etc) have been pretty nasty in my opinion. Also with more complex emissions requirements/systems, diesels don't seem to be the more reliable, longer-lived engines that they once were.
Peugeot/Citroen seemed to have the edge in the 80s/90s with the NA and turbocharged XUD engines and in the 2000s, having owned several, I might have championed VW's PD diesel engines but now I'm not so sure. I haven't owned a diesel for a few years now and the ones that I have encountered in recent years in hire cars (Ford TDCi/Vauxhall CDTi etc) have been pretty nasty in my opinion. Also with more complex emissions requirements/systems, diesels don't seem to be the more reliable, longer-lived engines that they once were.
BMW for me in the 3.0l category, Audi do that V8 in the 4.0l category as well, not sure about the smaller ones but again BMW are pretty good at diesel.
(awaits the typical PHer who bought a 5k shed with 130k on it that had been ragged/remapped and not serviced properly to say a timing chain went so they must be crap etc....)
(awaits the typical PHer who bought a 5k shed with 130k on it that had been ragged/remapped and not serviced properly to say a timing chain went so they must be crap etc....)
I was impressed with Honda's 2.2 litre turbo diesel in the 2005 Accord that I had as a work car for four and a bit years, it was as economical, flexible and powerful as you could wish for in everyday use.
I have also owned a 2.0 litre VW Golf TDi, in a Mark VI Golf of 2012 vintage, which again lacked for nothing in daily use. I did one journey from Southampton to Hull and back, 525 miles in one day, averaging 50mph and 70mpg. There was still 100 miles of fuel left in the tank when I got home. Like the Honda, it boasted 16 valves, variable cam timing, and an intercooler.
In between, i had a 1.8 litre Focus TDI, which had 8 valves, and no intercooler, which was altogether more agricultural than either of the others, and nowhere near as nice to drive.
I have also owned a 2.0 litre VW Golf TDi, in a Mark VI Golf of 2012 vintage, which again lacked for nothing in daily use. I did one journey from Southampton to Hull and back, 525 miles in one day, averaging 50mph and 70mpg. There was still 100 miles of fuel left in the tank when I got home. Like the Honda, it boasted 16 valves, variable cam timing, and an intercooler.
In between, i had a 1.8 litre Focus TDI, which had 8 valves, and no intercooler, which was altogether more agricultural than either of the others, and nowhere near as nice to drive.
In terms of reliability the Mercedes 2.1 4 cylinder takes some beating.
I am on my 4th over the last 16 years and cumulatively have done 1.1 million miles in them, one C220 CDi at 152k and three E220 Cdi's at 312k, my current one still running well.
I have had zero issues with any of them engine wise, and very few issues overall, and over that time have averaged 48-49 mpg.
Not the most refined it has to be said but certainly reliable. They have however all been serviced at the mfgs recommended intervals and nearly all servicing, bar 3 services, by Mercedes at approx every 17k miles.
I am on my 4th over the last 16 years and cumulatively have done 1.1 million miles in them, one C220 CDi at 152k and three E220 Cdi's at 312k, my current one still running well.
I have had zero issues with any of them engine wise, and very few issues overall, and over that time have averaged 48-49 mpg.
Not the most refined it has to be said but certainly reliable. They have however all been serviced at the mfgs recommended intervals and nearly all servicing, bar 3 services, by Mercedes at approx every 17k miles.
The 3.0 V6 in my C350 was a good engine. 265bhp out of the factory and masses of torque. Was very reliable in my ownership too, never put a foot wrong. Also quite economical on a run, could easily see 50mpg.
Was once in an E220 taxi in Singapore that had 1.6 million km on the clock, reportedly had a couple of gearbox rebuilds but on the original engine.
Peugeot XUD and VAG 1.9 PD engines very good back in their day, also the old 2.0Di fitted in Rovers and Montegos etc.
Was once in an E220 taxi in Singapore that had 1.6 million km on the clock, reportedly had a couple of gearbox rebuilds but on the original engine.
Peugeot XUD and VAG 1.9 PD engines very good back in their day, also the old 2.0Di fitted in Rovers and Montegos etc.
None of the four pot diesels are great, in my experience. They may be incredibly efficient, but they are all rough and rattly and you can never, ever forget you are driving a diesel.
BMW 6 cylinder diesels are completely different. Smooth, powerful, efficient and reliable. In my experience, they are in a league of their own.
BMW 6 cylinder diesels are completely different. Smooth, powerful, efficient and reliable. In my experience, they are in a league of their own.
PorkInsider said:
BMW 3l in-line 6 for me, too.
Absolutely fantastic engines.
I had a diesel X5for years with the twin turbo version of this engine and had a 535d before that....it was a great engine and was a big fan. However, I’ve got a Cayenne with the 4.2 L V8...it;’s done 45k miles in 2 1/2 years. It’s an absolute brilliant engine....its way smoother when being revved than the BMW unit. It’s a ridiculously good engine.Absolutely fantastic engines.
In the 4cyl category, I'd vote for BMW closely followed by Mercedes. in both the latest versions of the 190-ish BHP 2.0 diesel is a generally well-hushed engine which easily delivers over 40mpg on average in all applications, even SUV. For me, the BMW just wins as it uses Adblue much more sparingly with a tank lasting an entire service interval.
Both are light years ahead of JLR's rubbish "ingenium" effort.
Both are light years ahead of JLR's rubbish "ingenium" effort.
Probably the old VW 1.9 TDI unit. It sounds like a bag of spanners, isn't particularly refined and has a relatively small power band, but it is/was pretty bombproof, tuneable, and economical. Fitted into everything from a Seat Ibiza via a VW Passat to an Audi A6. 90, 110, 130, 150 & 160bhp states of tune.
Yes, there are better engines. But as an overall unit I think it was pretty good.
Yes, there are better engines. But as an overall unit I think it was pretty good.
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