10 Diesel Cars You Might Not Know Exist

The Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTec is completely backwards from the usual eco/diesel offering. While most automakers will ask you to pay a bit more for the fuel-efficient model, Mercedes is offering the diesel model as its base product.

This “base model” gets a 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that makes 195 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, more twist than what you get in the gas-powered E350. That engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic that helps this base model E-Class earn 28 MPG in the city and 42 MPG on the highway. The same powerplant can also be found in the Mercedes-Benz GLK250.

Audi’s compact crossover is one of the most popular luxury crossovers on sale today, but we wonder how many buyers opt to get the 3.0-liter diesel V6 engine instead of the 2.0T or supercharged V6 in the SQ5.

SEE ALSO: Audi Q5 TDI vs Mercedes GLK 250 Bluetec

The Audi Q5 TDI is even more efficient than the hybrid model, earning 24 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. The diesel option isn’t wimpy either with 240 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque.

Pickup truck maker Ram is looking to use diesel to make its trucks more capable and fuel efficient. The 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine makes 240-hp and 420 lb-ft of torque in the Ram 1500, while offering mileage of 20 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. Numbers like those make it the most fuel efficient truck available.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Ram EcoDiesel Review

The diesel is also still rated to tow 9,200 lbs. like other models in the Ram 1500 lineup, making this engine option the least compromised choice.

BMW is finally giving us the option to put a diesel engine in its spacious and family friendly crossover. Using a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, the X3 xDrive28d is good for 180 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Paired to BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system and a snappy eight-speed automatic transmission, the X3 gets 27 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway, making it more fuel efficient than the six-cylinder diesel in the Audi Q5 TDI.

We know that diesel cars are fuel efficient, but thanks to the arrival of the Audi A7 TDI, we now know that they can they be sexy too. With a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine sending 240-hp and 428 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, the A7 is a ferociously quick car on the street. If the sleek body work doesn’t net envious stares, the fuel economy certainly will. The A7 is rated to get 24 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway.

Want that diesel engine in a more conservative body style? The A6 TDI is available, and the limo-like A8 TDI can also be equipped with a fuel efficient diesel engine.

There’s only one car in Porsche’s lineup that’s available with a diesel engine (in North America anyway), and that’s the ever-popular Cayenne. A 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 makes 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, helping this big car earn 20 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. Good fuel numbers to be sure, but they’re just part of the package that makes the Cayenne such a great package. Combine that with the relatively low starting price and excellent on-road dynamics and the Cayenne Diesel is worth a look in the premium SUV segment.

The Volkswagen Beetle is an icon and extremely versatile in terms of configuration. There are convertible models, turbocharged models and even sporty models, but did you know about the diesel versions? Outfitted with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel making 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, the Beetle TDI is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or fast six-speed dual clutch automatic. Both transmissions average 32 MPG, but if you want better city mileage, the dual-clutch earns 29 MPG (one more than the manual) while the manual model gets superior highway mileage with 41 MPG (two more than the dual-clutch).

If you like the idea of the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, but wished the engine was in something more practical and family-friendly, then check out the Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the diesel model is a bit pricey, they are solid on fuel thanks to an eight-speed automatic. Even though this vehicle weighs more than 5,000 lbs, it’s still capable of getting 22 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway.

SEE ALSO: Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Review

Add in the 7,000 lbs. tow rating, and the EcoDiesel equipped Grand Cherokee is an do-anything sort of SUV.

Chevrolet’s Jetta-fighting compact is available with an extremely fuel efficient diesel engine. The Chevolet Cruze Diesel earns 27 MPG in the city and a whopping 46 MPG on the highway, making it one of the most fuel-friendly highway compacts available on the market today.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel Review

Diesel equipped Cruze’s are also extremely well equipped, as they’re among the top-of-the-line models. Heated leather seats and a seven-inch touchscreen are just a few of the interior highlights of the Cruze diesel, while the 151 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque highlight the performance features of the compact Chevy.

Diesel engines and wagon body-styles go hand-in-hand like bacon and eggs. It’s a match made in heaven, or, more commonly, in Europe, and BMW is offering just that package in the new 328d wagon. While it’s also available as a sedan (which is more efficient) the wagon offers the best value due to its extra practicality. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 180 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic that’s capable of getting 43 MPG on the highway and 31 MPG in the city.