Most Reliable Used Cars With Diesel And Petrol Engine

Choosing a used car is not a simple matter, let alone choosing the engine. Many people start with that. I suggest which model is better with petrol and which is better with diesel, to help you find a used car that costs up to $ 8,000.

Most Reliable Used Car Engine Specs Reviews Problems Reliability

Most Reliable Used Cars With Diesel & Petrol Engine

In this list, I selected 20 most reliable and best used car models with priced up to around $ 8,000, from various segments, showing that the questions asked in the headings are not always ambiguous. I’m trying to choose a car like that where you can really run into a big dilemma. I chose the best engine, indicated how much fuel they needed in the opinion of the reader, suggested whether gasoline was suitable for LPG and finally answered the question: which one and why?

Ford Fiesta Mk7

In some used car markets, a Ford Fiesta with a petrol engine can win. However, the plethora of diesel engines technically tied to the iconic French HDI are tempting. The best diesel in this range is the 1.6 TDCi 95 HP unit. It provides better performance than the popular 1.25 l and 1.4 l petrol engines. The average consumption is about 5 l / 100 km, which is a better result of almost 2 l than a gasoline engine. The disadvantage of these petrol engines is the fact that LPG is not recommended for them.

Is diesel a better choice? Without a price difference, of course. It is dynamic, more economical, and operation is inexpensive. Of course, supporters will still use gasoline, but I recommend diesel in this model.

Mini One (R56)

Many people want to buy an unusual mini, but also quickly learn about the many problems with this model. One of the main areas is the 1.6l petrol engine, which among other things has difficulty with timing and oil intake. However, if this engine is well maintained, it turns out to be durable, but on a used car this seems rare.

Meanwhile, the used Mini also offers a 1.6 HDI diesel engine – almost exactly like the Fiesta described above, at only 110 HP. My fuel consumption is 4.8 l / 100 km.

Opel Corsa D

Opel Corsa is a used car with dimensions that are quite heavy, so it requires a powerful engine for perfect acceleration. It’s a 1.7 CDTI diesel engine that delivers up to 125 HP, which makes Corsa almost a hot hatch. The average fuel consumption is about 5.5 l / 100 km.

A competitor may be a 1.4 liter 90 HP petrol engine, which is also great for cars, and especially for LPG fuel. It consumes 6.7 liters of gasoline per 100 km and shows practically no problem. In this particular case, I would bet on this engine, even if it performs worse, because the diesel engine in this used car can surprise you with a fairly costly error.

Škoda Fabia II

This popular used car model, especially in companies, is usually available in the market in the 1.2 liter petrol and 1.4 L diesel versions. Both of these engines are quite risky, but it is safer to buy the TDI version. It could be the end of the story, if not 1.4 MPI gasoline.

The 86 HP engine makes the Fabia dynamic, quite economical (about 6.5 liters / 100 km), and at the same time completely reliable. Even with the high mileage, there is no risk of any mistakes, and the LPG supply is received without the slightest hitch. The engine that was designed for this car – it’s a shame it’s “not built” anymore. This is without a doubt the best machine in its class.

Toyota Yaris III

In the third generation used Yaris, all engines were excellent – from the weakest 1.0-liter petrol engine to 1.4-liter diesel, including hybrid drive. All, except cars with 1.33 liters, fuel consumption is less than 6 l / 100 km. The choice here is not easy, so I would only recommend finding a good used yaris car.

In the end, however, I would recommend buying a used car with hybrid, if it weren’t for the less than $ 8,000 in price. Therefore, the choice is a diesel engine. While it goes a bit against the city car idea, it does a great job and is undoubtedly the best small diesel car at this price.

Ford Focus III

This increasingly popular model has such a large engine range that there are many options. The best petrol engine is the 1.6 Ti-VCT engine, medium in every way. It can be installed with an LPG installation, although many specialists do not recommend it. The modern system will solve the problem of weak cylinder heads and valves, as well as fuel consumption of 7.5 l / 100 km.

The same goes for the 1.6 TDCi 95hp diesel. This engine is very simple, though less powerful, on par with gasoline engine performance, and fuel consumption averages 5.4 liters / 100 km. These are engine that mechanics rated more highly, without errors, although they sometimes require expensive servicing. Unfortunately, due to the mileage, a focus used car bought for around $ 8,000 might already require a higher financial outlay, so I recommend a petrol engine.

Hyundai i30 (GD)

The used Hyundai i30 may not have been a hit in sales yet, but it is already in great demand in the market. Most cars have either a 1.6 liter MPI petrol engine or a CRDi diesel engine under the hood. The latter is even in some strength versions. Select which one?

It’s hard to say anything bad about Hyundai’s diesel engines, they are durable and the fuel consumption is around 5.6 l / 100 km. However, major fixes may be a problem. The low popularity of these machines made some parts expensive. Meanwhile, a gasoline engine with a capacity of 120 HP is practically no problem and even though it consumes an average of 7 l / 100 km it is still good for gasoline. So the choice is simple, namely a gasoline engine.

Opel Astra J

Astra’s used car with diesel engines are great, especially the 1.7-liter capacity, as the newer ones are harder to buy for up to $ 8,000 and are already very cumbersome. However, compared to diesel engines with a fuel consumption of about 6 l / 100 km, gasoline engines are better. Both the 1.4 Turbo supercharged with 140 hp, which is the optimal engine, and the naturally aspirated 1.6 l with 115 hp.

The thing is, on the 1.4 T diesel and petrol engines, we are dealing with the M32 emergency transmission. With an unsuccessful purchase, this can significantly increase operating costs. The 1.6 engine doesn’t suffer from this problem, which is not economical (about 8 l / 100 km), but good for gas supply. The driver may complain about the lack of dynamics, but I still recommend this machine when buying.

Škoda Octavia II

If you are planning to buy the used Skoda Octavia II, then you are definitely considering the TDI version. Both 1.9 liter and 2 liter engines are offered in this model. There’s also 1.6 TDI, but that’s fine when the naturally aspirated 1.6 MPI petrol engine stays in the $ 8,000 price range.

This simple engine is designed to run on gas, so 2 l / 100 km more fuel consumption in relation to diesel should not be a problem. The more so because it does not show major drawbacks, unlike the diesel variant, which has more engines with flaws. I recommend buying a version of this engine also on the Golf V and VI, which was produced in the same period.

Toyota Auris (Corolla) I

In the used Auris (Corolla), the choice is clear – the 1.6 VVT-i petrol engine. It has a power of 124 HP, according to the size of the car, and consumes an average of 7.6 l / 100 km. Valvematic is newer up to 7.1 l / 100 km. Also, they work well with LPG installations.

However, in this case I will choose diesel. Again, for the 1.4 D-4D (90 HP) engine, which is simple and durable, has better dynamics than the 1.4-equivalent petrol, and consumes an average of 5.4 liters / 100 km. If I bought a diesel in this class and price range, it would be the Auris (Corolla) 1.4 D-4D.

Audi A4 (B7)

The choice of engines is huge, but there aren’t too many guarantees in the used Audi A4 (B7) range. Among the petrol engines, the supercharged version of the old 1.8 Turbo deserves special recognition. It delivers excellent performance and, despite consuming an average of 10 l / 100 km, it’s good for fuel, although many mechanics don’t recommend it.

The petrol engine described would have been the only “proper” choice, were it not for the 115 hp 1.9 TDI diesel. This successful engine may not be very efficient and you need to pay attention to timing gear changes in a timely manner, but the fuel consumption of 6.5 l / 100 km, excellent access to spare parts and excellent durability assures itself.

There is no clear answer here, as the difference in dynamics and fuel consumption is enormous – they are different sources of propulsion. If you want dynamics and maybe quattro drive, get a petrol engine. If you use a TDI that is noisy and fuel efficient, you can choose a diesel engine.

Ford Mondeo (Fusion) Mk4

Choosing the right engine on the third generation used Mondeo is just a dilemma. The Turbocharged EcoBoost engines show their weaknesses even more, but they flirt with performance. On the other hand, the 2-liter diesel engine seduces high durability, low fuel consumption (6.7 l / 100 km) and similarities to the French HDI, although repairs are not always cheap.

Somewhere in the middle is a 2.0 petrol engine with 145 HP. Relatively economical (9 l / 100 km). It may not provide great performance, but its simple structure and capacity suitable for a car results in low maintenance costs and high durability. This is the best choice in my opinion.

Opel Insignia

In this case, the consumer makes his own choice. Although used Insignia gasoline is cheaper in showrooms than diesel engines, the dominance of diesel engines in the market is enormous. Or was it a mistake?

Everything is fine with gasoline. On its own, for example, 1.8 L or 2.0 T units, and even the tiny 1.4 T are fine. The problem is the car. The insignia is not only large, but also very severe. Economical driving will allow you to descend up to 8 l / 100 km, but you can count on dynamics only from 200 HP and above. The 2 liter petrol engine making 220 HP seems like a good fit, but it consumes 12.4 l / 100 km and LPG is not recommended.

That’s why Opel customers have chosen so well – the 2.0 CDTi diesel engine is in practice the only engine compatible with the car. They match the fuel consumption at 7 l / 100 km and ensure decent performance. They are durable, maybe not the cheapest in service, but they don’t pose a big problem.

BMW 5 Series (E60)

Although these cars are known for their relatively high maintenance costs and many shortcomings, they are still popular. Importantly, it’s the last used 5 Series with a really good range of engines. From a gasoline engine, you can recommend almost any 6-cylinder according to the rules – the older the simpler. Of course, you can not count on low fuel consumption (10-11 l / 100 km).

The 3 liter diesel engine provides better performance in terms of fuel consumption. This “armored” engine has no major problems, is rarely repaired, many mechanics handle it, and enjoys dynamics and fuel consumption below 9 l / 100 km. The greater the ability not to overtake everyone on the road, the closer the result is to 5-6 l / 100 km. Although I consider the 30d engine to be the best, the choice of a 25i or 30i petrol engine is also very good.

Mercedes E-Class (W211)

Neither of the standard versions of the used E-Class will give you as much fun as the E500, which you will find within the budget described, but when looking for a good, well-maintained used car, you should focus on the weaker one, which will also be cheaper to repair. potential.

The E320 version is optimized – perfect for LPG, the power of 224 KM won’t be a shame, and the car doesn’t even consume excessively (about 10 l / 100 km) of fuel. A weaker version of the E240 will also be fine, although the burn is not reduced.

However, in my opinion at the moment it is Mercedes, the best is with a diesel engine. Users and mechanics alike praise the CDI E220 for its economy (7.5 l / 100 km) and above average durability. For those expecting good dynamics, the E270 CDI with an average fuel consumption of 8.3 l / 100 km is a better choice. The diesel engine in this car is also easier to resell.

Dacia Duster I

The excellent 1.6 liter petrol engine is an obvious choice in the Dacia Duster used car. Not only simple and durable, it is also suitable for LPG. However, it should be noted that until 2015 it was a Renault engine, then a Nissan engine. The technical differences were large, and the older engines were better suited for gas operation. The average fuel consumption is from 7 to 9 l / 100 km, depending on opinion.

The alternative is, of course, the super efficient 1.5 DCi diesel, which I won’t exclude at all. Despite the fact that the engine has a design flaw – low quality bushings. With proper maintenance, this is a durable, moderately reliable and powerful machine. Burns averaged 6 l / 100 km. Unfortunately, the greater susceptibility to breakdown, higher service costs however, higher fuel costs after taking into account the supply of petrol gas, makes diesel objectively inferior in this comparison.

Suzuki Grand Vitara II

An attractive used SUV that is an off-roader replacement with lots of tuning potential. A decent design with a permanent 4 × 4 damper and drive, however, can be tough to buy because of the engine. Petrol vehicles are very fuel intensive – at least 10 l / 100 km, and 2.4 engines even more than 13 l / 100 km. However, it is the safest and most optimized 140 HP 2.0 16V engine, also gasable.

The Diesel 1.9 DDiS is a Renault design with some flaws, but after a rather expensive “starter pack” it will function for years without fail. However, it is inconclusive with fuel consumption – 8.7 l / 100 km. Performance due to 129 hp power also does not. You don’t need to hesitate anymore when buying Grand Vitara.

Toyota RAV4 III

The RAV4s that were known from the start for their low failure rate in this generation had one problem – they were diesel engines that looked tempting on offer, but had problems that were expensive to fix. It’s no wonder that on average you’ll have to pay around $ 1,800- $ 2,700 more for a single petrol engine. This is the machine that I recommend. At $ 8,000 it’s a little hard to find the newer Valvematica, but the older VVTi is good too.

The 152 HP variant consumes an average of 9.7 liters of gasoline per 100 km, which is at least 2 liters more than diesel. After gas, fuel consumption will increase even more, but the cost of driving 100 km will be lower. In addition, these used engine can cover hundreds thousands of kilometers without any problems.

Volkswagen Tiguan I

Are you afraid of expensive 2.0 TDI diesel repairs? Duly. Are you afraid of a serious failure of the TSI unit? You are right. If the car does not exceed 300,000 km of mileage, we can confidently recommend diesel. They all have a Common Rail system and are surprisingly durable. Repair will be cheaper than competing diesel engines. The optimal engine has 140 HP and consumes fuel around 6.5–7.0 l / 100 km.

However, if you want to buy this used car with a petrol engine, choose 122 HP 1.4 TSI and after purchase it is thoroughly revised to eliminate the problem. With this you need to go to a specialist. If you find this used car with a mileage of about 100,000 km, it doesn’t have to be that bad, and on average it takes 8 liters of gasoline per 100 km.

Renault Scenic III

The Scenic is known for its high failure rate, but its third generation is pretty good. Both of these factors make it possible to buy a good car for very little money, provided you choose the right engine.

Diesels are very tempting – as many as four versions to choose from. Each of them will consume fuel in 6 l / 100 km. Versions 1.6 and 2.0 l are known for their smoothness, and 1.5 l is cheap to repair. 1.9 L is very risky, although some art with big mileage is known.

However, the diesel engine in this used car is inferior to the 1.6 petrol engine at 110 HP. This is an optimal engine so it is suitable for gas supply. It’s true that with the full set of passengers it lacks a bit of power, but pays for a low failure rate and cheap service. On average it consumes about 7.7 l / 100 km, but after adding LPG, it will be cheaper than the most economical diesel.

Conclusion

I find that often the selection of a used car starts with determining the type of fuel. There are supporters of petrol-fueled vehicles as well as supporters of diesel. However, when it comes to the factor called LPG, the situation has changed a little.

It is not always profitable to buy a used car with LPG, but it is often cheaper to drive this fuel than diesel. It also happens that the petrol engines in certain models are not suitable for gas or are more troublesome than the theoretically more complex diesel engines.

Leave a Comment