Diesel, Petrol, Electric or Hybrid? Which One Should You Choose?

There are all manner of options when it comes to what powers your car. Here at Eden, we’ve got a broad range of choices, whether you’re looking for a diesel, petrol, electric or hybrid vehicle, but which one should you choose and which one could work best for you?

In this article, we’re going to look at what each fuel type brings, as well as its benefits and drawbacks, to see which one could be the right fit for you.

Diesel

Diesel might seem like something of an old-school choice in the modern-day world of electrification, but for many drivers, it still makes a great deal of sense. Diesel is ideal for long-distance motorists as during long journeys, a diesel engine is at its most efficient and can deliver superb fuel economy.

While the number of diesel models available has dwindled in recent years, you’ll still find a good number of options here at Eden. The greatest amount of choice lies within our pre-owned vehicles, with cars like this Volkswagen Golf offering diesel power at a very competitive price.

Petrol

Petrol has gone from strength to strength over the years, with greater levels of efficiency coming with each new generation. While petrol is often seen as the ‘original’ option for car propulsion, today it remains as relevant as ever, while great strides have been made to make this fuel type cleaner and greener. Petrol is still a great choice for all types of drivers, with these engines often providing the reliability that motorists want. Plus, the latest petrol engines are remarkably good on fuel, so they’re good for reducing your overall costs.

Today, petrol makes up the vast majority of cars on sale, and you’ll find a good number of options within both the new and used markets. Cars like the new Vauxhall Corsa are available with a fuel-sipping petrol engine, or you could opt for an earlier Corsa model if you’re looking to save money but still want petrol power.

Electric

Electric is, of course, one of the most talked-about powertrains at the moment. With a greater government emphasis on electric vehicles, we’ve seen more and more battery-powered vehicles appearing on the market. Electric power can be a good fit for many types of drivers, but there are some factors to bear in mind. You’ll want to consider how you’ll reliably charge an EV; if you’ve got off-street parking, then installing an electric charging point shouldn’t be too tricky, and this will give you access to low charging rates accessed via EV-specific energy tariffs. Depending on your energy tariff and battery size, charging at home can cost under £10. However, if you’ve not got off-street parking, then you may want to think about how you’ll regularly charge your car up - is there a public charging unit nearby that could work?

Electric vehicles offer plenty of other positives, including lower maintenance costs and heightened performance over an equivalent petrol or diesel car. You’ll find many of the latest electric vehicles available here at Eden, too, from brands such as MG and Peugeot.

Hybrid

Finally, we have hybrid, which is seen as a real ‘stepping stone’ towards full electric driving. There are different types of hybrid vehicles, too: mild, self-charging and plug-in. With each one, you’re getting greater levels of electric assistance. Mild hybrids, for example, only have a very small battery and a compact electric motor, which helps to reduce the level of strain imposed on the petrol engine. As a result, the petrol engine can work more efficiently, delivering better fuel economy and lower emissions. A mild-hybrid is barely noticeable against a standard petrol engine, too, so it’s great for drivers who want an experience as close to a ‘traditional’ car as possible.

Self-charging hybrids take that electrification up a notch. Whereas mild hybrids only offer a small level of electric assistance, regular hybrids are kitted out with a far larger battery that allows these models to run on electric-only power for very short periods and at slow speeds. If you’re often crawling in traffic or driving around town, you’ll notice that a regular hybrid brings some big savings in terms of fuel use. Many regular hybrids are available today, too, and since they’ve been on sale for a little while now, you should find some within the pre-owned market, too.

Switch to a plug-in hybrid, and you’ll find things are a lot more electrified. Because they can be charged via a plug, these models get a far larger battery than the ones you’ll find in either mild or regular hybrid cars, and, because of this, they can travel for a lot longer on electric-only power. Some of the latest plug-in hybrids can manage over 50 miles of battery-only power, which means that for local journeys or shorter trips, you’ll barely have to trouble the petrol engine. Like a full electric vehicle, you’ll need to think about where you’ll regularly charge a plug-in hybrid - it needs to be kept topped-up to remain at its most efficient - and a home wallbox is the easiest way to do this. Again, you’ll find many plug-in hybrids available here at Eden, both in the new and used areas.

The great level of powertrain options out there means that there’s something for all types of drivers, and you’ll find each of them available here at Eden. For more information, get in touch with a member of the team or browse our new and used car pages to find a vehicle that’ll work for you.