A new study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute shows that diesel vehicles saved owners between $2,000 to $6,000 in total ownership costs during a 3- to 5-year period when compared to similar gasoline vehicles.
“Overall, the results of our analyses show that diesel vehicles provide owners with a TCO (total cost of ownership) that is less than that of the gas versions of the same vehicles,” according to the study. “The estimates of savings for 3 and 5 years of ownership vary from a low of $67 in 3 years to a high of $15,619 in 5 years, but most of the savings are in the $2,000 to $6,000 range, which also include the extra cost that is usually added to the diesel version of a vehicle.”
Diesel vehicles are up to 40% more fuel-efficient than their gasoline-powered counterparts, making them more and more attractive to North American drivers. In fact, industry experts predict that diesel sales will increase significantly in the coming years, including in the U.S.