Autos

Ten Diesels That Will (Still) Save You Money

New imported diesel cars and SUVs are coming. Even with the surge in fuel prices, they are cheaper to run than their gasoline equivalents

By Jim Henry

A year ago, buying a diesel car must have seemed like a pretty smart idea. Not only was the price of diesel fuel 20% lower than it is today, but thanks to new clean-burning diesel technology, you were also able to reduce your carbon footprint by driving one. Now, however, diesel is pushing $5 a gallon, and many buyers might think they would be better off driving a hybrid. But they'd be mistaken.

Despite the surge in diesel prices, many of these new German imports still cost less to fuel over the course of a year than a comparable gas model. The Audi Q7 TDI still represents an annual $1,200 cost savings over its gas-powered equivalent, the Q7 3.6 FSI. Not bad—and, unlike with a hybrid, you still get plenty of power.

Read on to find out which diesels offer the best and worst cost-savings, starting with the best.