{"id":164551,"date":"2025-08-28T10:39:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T10:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/all-car-news.com\/are-diesel-cars-profitable-these-days\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T10:39:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T10:39:00","slug":"are-diesel-cars-profitable-these-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/all-car-news.com\/en\/are-diesel-cars-profitable-these-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Are diesel cars profitable these days?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What do we mean by profitability?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Profitability is about the relationship between costs and revenues. For a diesel car, this means: do the benefits &#8211; compared to equivalent gasoline cars &#8211; of a lower liter price and lower fuel consumption outweigh the higher fixed costs and current depreciation of diesel cars? For individuals, this mainly revolves around the total cost of ownership (fuel, maintenance, taxes, <a href=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/restwaarde-berekenen-van-een-elektrische-auto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">depreciation<\/a>). For business drivers, tax regulations, depreciation within the company and the additional taxable benefit also play a role.   <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Difference between individuals and business drivers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For individuals, the question is often, &#8220;Do I drive enough miles to &#8216;earn back&#8217; the higher fixed costs of a diesel car compared to a gasoline car?&#8221; You generally pay more motor vehicle tax (&#8220;road tax&#8221;) and insurance premiums for a diesel car than for an equivalent gasoline car. Consequently, those who drive little each year are likely to pay more than they save with the lower fuel costs.  <\/p>\n<p>For business drivers, the situation is more nuanced. For a business owner or lease driver who drives a lot of miles, diesel can still be cost-effective. Moreover, companies can often deduct costs and reclaim part of the VAT. For lease drivers, a diesel can sometimes still be attractive if you drive a lot of long distances, although hybrid and electric models are gaining ground because of the low(er) <a href=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/alles-over-bijtelling-in-2025-en-verder-regels-en-percentages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">additional tax rate<\/a> and the increasing electric range.   <\/p>\n<h2><strong>What does profitability depend on?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The profitability of (diesel) cars is determined by several factors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Annual mileage:<\/strong> only from about 20,000 to 25,000 kilometers per year does a diesel car usually provide an advantage over an equivalent gasoline car.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Motor vehicle tax:<\/strong> it is substantially higher for diesel cars than for gasoline cars, and the government keeps increasing the tax.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fuel price:<\/strong> diesel is often slightly cheaper per liter than gasoline, but this difference has narrowed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintenance costs:<\/strong> a diesel engine requires more maintenance and has components (such as particulate filters and AdBlue systems) that cost extra compared to those of a gasoline engine.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Depreciation:<\/strong> due to declining popularity, diesel cars are losing their value faster than before, especially small and medium-sized models.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use case:<\/strong> for those who drive a lot on the highway, a car with a diesel engine is still efficient. For short trips, diesel is unsuitable because of wear and tear and clogging risks. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How do you calculate profitability in advance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Individuals can make a simple calculation by comparing the total <a href=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/autokosten-drukken-zwaar-op-modaal-inkomen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">car cost<\/a> per kilometer of a diesel car to that of a gasoline-powered car. You do this by using the expected annual mileage, average consumption and the average liter price of fuel to calculate the fuel cost over an entire year. Add the motor vehicle tax and <a href=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/autoverzekering-was-nog-nooit-zo-duur\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">insurance costs<\/a>. Contrast that advantage or disadvantage with the purchase price and expected depreciation over the period you expect to own the car. Then you can roughly estimate whether buying a diesel car will be more profitable for you than buying a car with a gasoline engine.    <\/p>\n<p>For business drivers, there is also the accounting side: tax deductions, VAT refunds and any additional taxes. Leasing companies often work with a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculation, which includes all costs and benefits. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>New or used diesel car?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Those who do opt for diesel (as well, of course, as those who opt for a gasoline car) face the question: new or used?<\/p>\n<p>New diesel cars are hardly sold anymore. Many brands have even withdrawn their diesel variants from the range, especially in the compact and mid-size classes. This makes the choice limited, and the lack of demand for diesel cars depresses the market value if you want to resell the diesel.  <\/p>\n<p>Used diesel cars are plentiful, often at attractive prices. Yet the future residual value is uncertain. Especially in cities where <a href=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/milieuzones-voor-diesels-in-nederland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">environmental zones<\/a> apply, the value can drop faster. For most individuals, therefore, a used diesel is more attractive than a new one, provided they drive enough miles to compensate for the higher fixed costs.   <\/p>\n<h2><strong>The influence of market development<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Diesel cars are slowly but surely disappearing from the market. In the Netherlands, sales have declined dramatically over the past decade. This has two effects on profitability:  <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lower trade-in value: the demand for (used) diesels is decreasing, causing the residual value to drop faster.<\/li>\n<li>Niche position: for certain target groups, such as long-distance drivers or caravan owners, diesel remains interesting. As a result, specific models (e.g. SUVs and commercial vehicles) retain their value relatively well. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Forecast for the coming years<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Diesel cars are expected to become less and less profitable toward 2030. This is due to: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>further increase taxes on diesel and diesel cars;<\/li>\n<li>expansion of (the number of) environmental zones in cities, where older diesels are barred;<\/li>\n<li>increase in attractive alternatives: all-electric for those who <a href=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/thuis-goedkoop-je-elektrische-auto-laden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">can charge for business or at home<\/a> and hybrid gasoline cars for those who want flexibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Still, for those who drive very high annual miles, diesel may still be the cheapest choice for now.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Comparison with electric and (hybrid) gasoline cars<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Electric cars (EVs) have low energy costs per kilometer, but are more expensive to purchase. For business drivers, an EV is often more favorable due to lower additional tax liability. For individuals, it depends on charging options and the extent to which he or she makes long trips.  <\/p>\n<p>Hybrid and gasoline cars are attractive to those who drive infrequently and make mostly short trips. Hybrids offer a middle ground with lower consumption values and no diesel surcharge in taxes. <\/p>\n<p>Diesel cars are cost-effective for long-distance drivers and those who drive a lot with a trailer or caravan.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-content\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mercedes-Benz-E-220-d-Estate-1140x641.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-207145\"><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Examples of cost-effective diesel cars in 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Although the supply of new diesel cars is shrinking, there are still some models that could be profitable for the right target market in 2025:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>BMW 320d Touring<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Popular in the upper business segment. With an output of 140 kW (190 hp) and strong torque, the <a href=\"https:\/\/autorai.nl\/officieel-facelift-voor-de-3-serie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BMW 3 Series<\/a> offers a good mix of driving pleasure and low highway mileage. <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mercedes-Benz E 450 d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A large sedan or estate with 270 kW (367 hp), known for its economical, powerful diesel engine. Especially interesting for business drivers with high annual mileage, as comfort and space also count. <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Land Rover Discovery Sport D165<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Prefer an SUV? The 120 kW (163 hp) strong Land Rover Discovery Sport D165 combines a higher seating position and spacious interior with a fine four-cylinder diesel. A D200 with 2.0-liter four-cylinder is also available, but costs considerably more.  <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Diesels can be profitable in specific situations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Diesel cars in 2025 are no longer the obvious choice they once were for frequent drivers. For individuals who drive little, diesel was and is almost never cost-effective, but for business drivers and individuals who drive more than 25,000 kilometers annually, diesel can still be the most economical option. <\/p>\n<p>So whether a diesel is profitable for you depends very much on your personal situation. With the advance of electric and hybrid cars and environmental zones, the role of diesel is decreasing, but for those who need to hit the highway daily or often drive heavily loaded, a modern diesel still seems a logical choice for the time being. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For many years, the diesel engine had a rock-solid position on the Dutch car market. But anno 2025, the question&hellip;","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":157344,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[94,93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-background-en","category-car-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Are diesel cars profitable these days? - All cars news<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/all-car-news.com\/en\/are-diesel-cars-profitable-these-days\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Are diesel cars profitable these days? - All cars news\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For many years, the diesel engine had a rock-solid position on the Dutch car market. 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