We all want to drive the most cost-efficient and reliable vehicle possible. And if it provides environmental benefits, then it’s all the better! One factor that often becomes a determining one in vehicle choice is the fuel type. Should it be petrol, or should it be diesel?
Both offer drivers benefits, yet both also have their drawbacks too. This sometimes makes it easier to consider an electric Range Rover, but electric vehicles are often a little out of the price range meaning petrol or diesel become the only solution.
How do you know which is the best for you and will provide optimum cost savings and better vehicle performance? In this blog, we break down the advantages and disadvantages of both petrol and diesel Range Rovers so you can make the right choice when buying your new SUV.
What is the difference between petrol and diesel?
At first glance, not much. The improving levels of innovation across Land Rover and other manufacturers have helped to see both petrol and diesel engines now appear much more similar in how they work. Where in the past, it was largely taken as known that diesel vehicles were louder, slower and more expensive to run, it has now turned into an almost level playing field.
However, each has particular benefits that may change your opinion over what the best option for you may be. A diesel engine Range Rover has a low-speed torque making it ideal for towing, off-roading, long distances or motorway driving. A petrol engine on the other hand is more fine-tuned to deal with an agile drive where you may need to drive shorter distances. Think of towns and city centres for example.
In terms of fuel, petrol is combined mainly of hydrocarbons with lighter molecular weights ranging from C4-C12. Diesel is composed of the heavier hydrocarbons normally ranging between C10-C22.
So, what does this mean in an environmental sense?
Range Rover diesel engine emissions and green credentials
Range Rovers equipped with diesel engines have developed considerably over the years. As we mentioned in our intro, many drivers have often looked upon diesel as the noisier, slower and more costly Range Rover to drive but things are changing.
All recent diesel engines in Range Rovers are made to be EU6 compliant, making their polluting emissions comparable with their petrol equivalents. Perhaps better news is that the CO2 emissions from the diesel Range Rovers are as much as 25% lower than petrol Range Rovers. To further enhance the green credentials of a diesel engine, since 2006, all Range Rover diesel engines have been fitted with particulate filters and catalytic converters. These remove 99% of all exhaust particulates. According to Land Rover, this means that over 3 million tonnes of CO2 have been saved from going into our atmosphere since 2002!
It isn’t just the CO2 that diesel engines help reduce but it’s nitrogen oxide too. All Range Rover diesel vehicles use SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) to eliminate up to 92% of the NOx emissions from the exhaust. The SCR system adopted by Range Rover incorporates the use of AdBlue or other Range Rover Diesel Exhaust Fluid products to convert the nitrogen oxide into water and nitrogen.
Range Rover petrol engine emissions and green credentials
Petrol engines remain the choice for many and with them being slightly cheaper to buy than diesel, it often becomes a decision based on cost. However, a little later, we will dive into why this initial saving isn’t always as beneficial as you may think.
As with diesel Range Rovers, the petrol Range Rover engines are also EU6 compliant in all the latest models. Perhaps the biggest step forward to help make petrol engines more efficient in Range Rovers is the Ingenium engine. This innovation from the Land Rover engine manufacturing centre helps provide optimum fuel consumption and more power for Range Rover drivers. Equipped in the latest versions of the Evoque, Velar and Sport, the Ingenium petrol engines provide as much as 25% more power and up to 15% better fuel consumption than the engines that went before it.
Isn’t the Ingenium engine available for both petrol and diesel?
It is, and it provides benefits to drivers of both petrol and diesel Range Rovers. They are created with sustainability in mind and help keep costs down for owners. With reduced emissions, your vehicle becomes less of a pollutant and as a result is exempt from the extended ULEZ in London.
Thanks to better fuel efficiency, less money needs to be spent on refills and taxes. Something many drivers can agree is a blessing. The Ingenium also gives you a smoother and quieter drive, a feature perhaps more alluring to previous diesel drivers who thought their vehicles were significantly louder than the petrol equivalents. Perhaps the best shared benefit of the Ingenium though is the fuel efficiency. It’s been noted that up to 67.3mpg can be achieved!
Should I choose a petrol or diesel Range Rover?
Firstly, you’ll need to weigh up a few key factors. A petrol Range Rover will cost a little less than a diesel variant but if you tend to drive a lot, it could be more beneficial to spend a little more money on the diesel Range Rover as you may get a greater return on the mileage. If you drive over 12,000 miles per year, a diesel model will be the most cost-effective Range Rover to choose.
Perhaps the simplest way to assess what works best for you is to ask yourself not only how far you drive annually, but also how you drive. Will you be towing heavy loads? Will you be using motorways frequently, and will you be driving off-road? If the answer is yes to any of those, then opt for diesel. If you drive small distances, never venture off-road and don’t tend to use motorways, a petrol Range Rover will be best.
Whichever Range Rover you choose, you can rely on the Range Rover specialists at RCV. With more than 40 years of experience, we work to ensure your Range Rover is always at its optimal performance levels. Using only the manufacturer’s diagnostics and service schedules, you can remain confident your Range Rover is in the safest of hands. Our Range Rover service centre is located in Kent and offers not just standard servicing but also mechanical repairs and Range Rover MOTs, all priced competitively, and in some cases, as much as 40% cheaper than main dealer prices. Why not contact our team today to see how we can save you money and get your Range Rover to its best?