# Why does a new car w/ Diesel engine cost more than w/ regular gas engine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-new-car-w-diesel-engine-cost-more-than-w-regular-gas-engine/647254 "2013-01-15T03:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-new-car-w-diesel-engine-cost-more-than-w-regular-gas-engine/647254/42 "2013-01-17T22:50:55Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Crunch for the Jeep Grand Cherokee … according to [this article](http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/In-Gear/2013/0114/Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-EcoDiesel-debuts-at-Detroit-auto-show) > So diesel 4.17 g/100 miles and gasoline 5.26 g/100 miles. 100K means 4.17K g of diesel and 5.26Kg gasoline. Use the 2012 average prices and that means $19,031 on gas or $20,872 in diesel fuel - so a bit under $1100 savings in that 100K of driving and $2200 for that 200K you plan on. Huh. Not as big as I thought it would be. (Note fuel savings only, not factoring in retained resale value or differences in maintenance costs if any. Or the value of fewer gas stops or of decreased CO2 emissions.) The 2014s also go to a new 8 speed transmission which is a substantial step up from the old 5 speed on the V6. You would have to compare the 2014s side by side. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-new-car-w-diesel-engine-cost-more-than-w-regular-gas-engine/647254/43 "2013-01-18T15:26:30Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > The reason diesels have dominated the Le Mans circuit is because the rules have heavily favored them over gasoline engine. As an example, for the last couple of years turbo-charged diesels have been allowed 3.7 liters of displacement, while naturally aspirated gasoline engines have been limited to 3.4 liters, and turbo-charged gasoline engines 2.0 liters. It’s partly that, but it’s mostly due to Audi’s deep pockets. They were dominating Le Mans before diesels and even when their diesels weren’t the fastest on the track. They’re the masters of reliability. > [@Kevbo](#): > > Diesels don’t work so hot at high RPM, so you need extra displacement or expensive turbocharging to make enough power. Are there any non-turbo diesels out there? Turbos have been the default on diesels in Europe for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-new-car-w-diesel-engine-cost-more-than-w-regular-gas-engine/647254/44 "2013-01-18T18:36:17Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > Are there any non-turbo diesels out there? Turbos have been the default on diesels in Europe for a long time. They are indeed now rare. My point was that for the purposes of this thread, when you compare the price of a Spark engine equipped car with that of a Diesel car, you are also most likely comparing a turbo-charged engine to a normally aspirated engine, and if both were spark engines, that alone would account for a lot of price difference. I’ll also add that this makes Diesels a boon to those who live at high altitude. A normally aspirated engine takes about a 25% power loss in Denver, while most turbo diesels can still make rated output. When you get to the mountains, or hitch a heavy trailer on the back, that becomes stunningly obvious. I have mentioned it on the dope before, but a couple years ago I had the pleasure of driving a rented Peugeot 205 turbo diesel while in France. I loved driving that thing, and if they were available in the US, I would buy one tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-new-car-w-diesel-engine-cost-more-than-w-regular-gas-engine/647254/45 "2013-01-19T06:49:32Z")
Lots of good info here, thanks folks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-new-car-w-diesel-engine-cost-more-than-w-regular-gas-engine/647254.md?page=2)