Diesel Backers Gambling With Pump Shock

Got diesel?

 Another question: How much deeper into your pocket do you want to dig to fill up the oil-burner you replaced your gasoline-drinker with? 

According to the U.S. Energy Information Admin.'s "Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update," the nationwide average price of a gallon of regular gas on Feb. 4 was $3.54. The nationwide diesel average: $4.02. The difference of 48 cents a gallon means a 16-gallon diesel fill-up would set you back an extra $7.68.  

Is that difference worth skipping a splurge at Starbucks or lunch at Wendy's? Your call. 

The Environmental Protection Agency rates the '13 Volkswagen Passat and its 2.0L, 4-cyl. diesel yoked to a 6-speed manual at 31 mpg (7.6 L/100 km) city, 43 mpg (5.5 L/100 km) highway, 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km) combined. More than 20 other '12 and '13 models, most of them VWs with two Audi A3 variants thrown in, are rated at 32 mpg (7.3 L/100 km) combined or better.

Good, but not as good as electric vehicles and most hybrids and on par with increasing numbers of gasoline models.

It's much the same case with emissions. For all their advances in cleanliness, diesels easily are outclassed by EVs and hybrids, and conventional gasoline engines are pumping out less carbon dioxide these days, as well.

As far as initial outlay, available diesels are competitive with their gasoline and hybrid rivals and generally less expensive than EVs. A base '13 Volkswagen Jetta with a 2.0L, 4-cyl. diesel can be had for $23,000 or thereabouts, while a loaded VW Beetle or Golf with substantially the same mill goes for a bit less than $30,000.

It’s range, torque and the fun-to-drive factor that gives diesels a clear advantage.

The VW Jetta can travel more 600 miles (966 km) on a single tank of diesel, while the Passat can cover nearly 800 miles (1,290 km) with its larger tank. By delivering far more torque at much lower rpm than comparable gasoline engines, diesels provide the low-end pep of a much-larger gasoline mill. That makes diesels more fun and confidence-inspiring when passing or accelerating onto the expressway than most hybrids with similar fuel economy.  

Auto makers are banking on these qualities to trump consumer reaction to passing a filling station selling diesel fuel for upwards of $4 a gallon while gasoline costs 50 cents a gallon less _ 70 cents in the Rocky Mountain region, according to the federal price-trackers.

And while easier to find than a plug for an EV, diesel fuel currently is available only at about half of the 180,000 U.S. filling stations.

Undaunted, General Motors joined the diesel parade at last week's Chicago auto show, unveiling a turbocharged 4-cyl. Chevrolet Cruze with some attractive numbers: a base price of $26,595, EPA-estimated peak highway fuel economy of 42 mpg (5.6L /100 km) and a segment-leading 148 hp and 258 lb.-ft. (350 Nm) of torque at 2,000 rpm. 

Nice price, impressive specs, fun to drive. But ... it's still a Cruze. An image makeover may be called for.

Audi, meanwhile, is rolling out diesel versions of the A6, A7, A8 and Q5 joining the A3 TDI 5-door compact and Q7 TDI cross/utility vehicle this fall. The A3 is priced roughly in the middle of the pack at $30,000 but the Q7 fetches $52,000, making the cost of diesel fuel less of a deal-breaker for many buyers.  

In fact, diesels are very popular on pricey German luxury cross/utility vehicles such as the BMW X5, Mercedes ML and Audi Q7, showing diesels no longer are just for contractors with pickup trucks.  

Auto makers are more than doubling the number of diesel-powered light vehicles in the U.S. market this year, jumping from 20 to 42. Chrysler is planning an oil-burning Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Mazda will introduce a diesel Mazda6 model this fall for ’14.

Andreas Sambel, director-diesel marketing for Bosch Automotive, tells WardsAuto 54 oil-burners will be available in the U.S. by 2017, adding, “And by 2018, diesels will account for 10% of the market.” 

Competitive in pricing, fuel efficiency and cleanliness, it's not hard to understand the diesel trend.

But as Adam Smith put it, “Man is an animal that makes bargains.” Unless auto makers can lure consumers to the diesel pump when current prices make it counterintuitive to do so, they may have some tough bargaining ahead.