Kia Sportage - Petrol or Diesel

[ALH]

Having been convinced that four wheel drive is the way to go I would now be grateful for any advice regarding petrol or diesel.

Apart from towing the caravan for a few weekends and a couple of fortnight holidays almost all our driving is very local. Apparently this type of use isn't liked by diesel particulate filters? So I'm wondering if diesel is really necessary - our caravan MTPLM is approx 1100 kgs, so no heavyweight.

Thanks (again),

Al

 

[xtrailman]

Anything with around 200 pound feet torque would do a good job, providing the kerb weight is below 1700kg.

Petrol with a turbo would be fine, but gives higher co2 emissions/ higher ved, and less mpg.

Diesel is the popular choice.

I have the dpf on the xtrail, not had the dash light on as yet, but only on 7k miles, mainly urban driving.

Is your next post, auto or manuel?

 

[DavidKlyne]

Since I changed to a diesel about 17 years ago I just can't see me going back to a petrol car. Genrally they have more grunt which is useful for towing and again usually they are more economic when comparing like for like. Modern diesels are quite refined although perhaps not as refined as their petrol counterparts. Have a test drive and see what you think.

David

 

[ALH]

"Is your next post, auto or manuel?" (sic)

Well it would have to be two wheel drive then, but the thought of automatic is appealing.

Next subject will probably be "Auto two wheel drive or manual four wheel drive" ;-)

Al

 

[forestgump]

if its a new car or at least o7 it should have a euro 5 speck engine so it clean and good mpg.[diesel.

 

[Icemaker]

diesel every time, i would never go back to a petrol car even if i wasn't towing a caravan.

i have a ford galaxy 2.0 tdci ghia and tow a coachman vip 530/4 which is a heavy van. towing the car returns around 35 mpg solo it returns around 44 mpg and solo on a run around 48 to 50 mpg.

in comparison a chap at work has galaxy petrol its a couple of years older than mine but of similar weight and towes a very similar weight van, he gets just 14 mpg towing around 20 to 22 solo round town and a max of 24 to 26 on a solo run.

not only is the fuel consumption very heavy but when we go away together my car towes up hills with no problems where he has to go down through the gearbox and still ends up slowing down.

ive had 9 diesel cars in a row now and never ever had a problem with dpf's but my commute to work does involve a quick 5 mile run down a motorway so my car never really spends its time just in town.

 

[ALH]

Thanks all for taking the time to give your advice.

Will let you know when I make my mind up

Al