The number of diesel cars on North American roads has steadily declined since its peak in the mid-1980s. For many motorists, diesel engines conjure up images of pollution, low power, and poor reliability. A generation later, however, and all that is about to change. New diesel-powered vehicles are coming soon; in fact, one is already here and receiving critical acclaim from car enthusiasts.
Who can forget those diesel-powered Chevrolet Caprices and ’98 Oldsmobiles that suddenly became very popular 25 years ago? If you’re like many car owners, you’ll want to forget about those cars. What GM did then was take the existing gasoline engines and convert them to diesel engines. These converted engines were noisy, smoky, and highly unreliable. They were unreliable to the point where GM had to pay tens of millions of dollars to replace failed engines with gasoline engines.
The memory of GM’s diesel fiasco was never lost on drivers who have shunned diesels to the point where many automakers no longer produce diesels. Mercedes, a strong seller of diesel-powered cars in Europe, no longer sells diesel-powered cars in North America. VW is the only importer of diesel engines, while US manufacturers only put high-performance diesels in their larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks.
Another area that has stopped diesel engines dead in their tracks is air pollution. Very strict emissions regulations have completely eliminated the possibility that many of the smaller diesel engines can be sold in the US. However, a change is coming as new technology is implemented that will make diesel cars be cleaner. Also, with the high cost of gasoline now prevalent, a diesel-powered car has much more appeal, especially since fuel savings of 20-30% are possible.
DaimlerChrysler recently introduced a Jeep Liberty with an optional diesel engine, and this compact SUV is selling well with the optional engine. Its new 2.8L diesel offers fuel improvements of up to 32% over a comparable gasoline 4×4 model and pollution is minimized. Plus, the extra torque is a favorite with some, especially those who need to tow a boat or RV with the Jeep.
Volkswagen will bring additional diesel cars to the North American market in the coming years. Golfs, Jettas and possibly several larger VW models will soon be tearing up the highways and avenues of Canada and the US.
Both BMW and Mercedes are likely to import diesel cars in the next few years. Both automakers are studying the market to see if the compact models could be sold in North America. Each proposed model line is currently sold in Europe and diesel engines are a popular choice with these cars.
GM is also considering leveraging its relationship with Isuzu to import engines that will be put into various compact models. Long a producer of diesel-powered vehicles, Isuzu has all but exited the North American market, but could return in the form of Isuzu-powered cars sold by GM.
Chrysler is likely to build on its favorable experience with its Jeep division and start offering diesel engines in other trucks and SUVs. At the same time, the new Dodge Caliber, a replacement for the Neon, could eventually offer a diesel engine as well.
Ford appears to be happy with expanding its hybrid offerings and no other Japanese or Korean automakers seem ready to jump into the diesel movement…yet. Regardless, within five years the number of diesel cars on American and Canadian roads will likely triple. This can be a good thing for people who want better fuel economy, more torque, and a highly reliable engine.
For older diesel cars, they will continue to serve their purpose as owners figure out how to extend their lives through useful aftermarket parts like Bully Dog and competitor products. With its rugged durability and renowned reliability, a diesel-powered car can easily go half a million miles or more before stopping.