Using a diesel for low mileage

[AceKid]

im looking at SUV options for around £7k, based on my last years mileage, I only do 3000 miles a year so obviously petrol would be best, but at the price im looking at the market is flooded with diesels.
Am i setting myself up for a big problem considering a diesel, what should i get??
We used to own an XC60 (prior to my ill judged range rover phase) and i would love a petrol one, but they are so rare, when they do show up, they are too expensive, but wouldnt really want to kill a diesel.
Any other largish, fastish and very comfortable options?

[anonymous-user]

It’s not the annual mileage, it’s the type of journeys. Diesels need a long run every so often to get up to temperature and clear out the DPF (if they’re new enough to have one fitted).

What sort of journeys are your 3k miles a year made up of?

[AceKid]

Did think the type of journey would be the problem...12mile round trip to work, i doubt any of my journeys have been more than a 50 mile trip in the last year....think im answering my own question here...

[Jazzy Jag]

My father has a Diesel CRV, he only potters around locally, rarely doing more that 5-10 miles and has never had a problem with DPF.
He previously had a Petrol CRF, which drank like a dehydrated camel at an oasis.

OTOH, SWMBO had a Mazda 5 Diesel which became a complete money pit with DPF problems.

[RammyMP]

The wife had a diesel X1 which only did short journeys, after about 6 months it went in to limp mode with EGR issues. It went to BMW, they fixed it and did something with the ECU and it was fine for the next 3 years until she got rid.

[ZX10R NIN]

Petrol SUV's

Infiniti FX S Petrol it means some haggling & stretching the budget a bit

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009123...

X5 30si as above

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

Lexus 400h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008021...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009294...

Subaru Tribeca

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201901284...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008202...

[Jag_NE]

AceKid said:

im looking at SUV options for around £7k, based on my last years mileage, I only do 3000 miles a year so obviously petrol would be best, but at the price im looking at the market is flooded with diesels.
Am i setting myself up for a big problem considering a diesel, what should i get??
We used to own an XC60 (prior to my ill judged range rover phase) and i would love a petrol one, but they are so rare, when they do show up, they are too expensive, but wouldnt really want to kill a diesel.
Any other largish, fastish and very comfortable options?

Why not an estate or hatch?

[Summit_Detailing]

Petrol would be the obvious choice but as highlighted are rare and the ones that are for sale are cars that maybe realistically are not on your top5 list of models to own.

You could of course choose a car/year where DPF's are not fitted. My '09 3.6TDV8 Range Rover doesn't have them e.g

Happy hunting!

Cheers,

Chris

[AceKid]

Thanks for the replies, great ideas ZX.....definitely follow up on some of those.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Infiniti is the pick when you consider the age/spec/mileage & reliability the X5 & Lexus are a close second which you choose out of those two will depend on if you can get on with the CVT in the Lexus.

[Shifter1]

Ran a 2009 diesel as a commuter for 3 years without any problems. My work commute was only 5 miles each way. Never had issues.

[Twig62]

Shifter1 said:

Ran a 2009 diesel as a commuter for 3 years without any problems. My work commute was only 5 miles each way. Never had issues.

At that age it probably wouldn't have been fitted with a DPF so you wouldn't have had any issues.

Edited by Twig62 on Monday 5th October 07:03

[RizzoTheRat]

My 2009 Octavia definitely has a dpf, and VW started using the 2.0 CR engine before Skoda so presumably they had too.
I spent several years doing 8 or 9 miles each way commute with no dpf issues except when the local dealer managed to damage one of the sensors.

[Don Roque]

A DPF isn't a barrier to entry for a low mileage driver, so long as you know how it works and try not to switch it off when it's performing an active regen. In general, most diesels perform a very small amount of passive regen and rely on a regular active regen cycle to keep the DPF soot loading low.

[roscopervis]

The Honda CRV CDTi's don't have DPF's (sub 2010) and neither do the RAV 4's with the 136 bhp diesel engine up to the DCAT engine (2009/2010)

[AceKid]

Thanks for all the info everyone.....currently top of the list is the RX400h, the infiniti is nice but a bit too big if the wife uses it....
Dont mind the cvt on the Lexus as it suits the lazy hybrid powertrain.

[ZX10R NIN]

AceKid said:

Thanks for all the info everyone.....currently top of the list is the RX400h, the infiniti is nice but a bit too big if the wife uses it....
Dont mind the cvt on the Lexus as it suits the lazy hybrid powertrain.

Also look out for the smaller EX in petrol form they're rare but worth keeping an eye out for them:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

[XLYC]

Diesel newer Cars have active and passive regens - you’ll be fine, just detect it and don’t turn off.