The great debate has often been: what is better, diesel or petrol? The answer to this question is, it depends.
Diesel engines have a number of benefits over petrol ones. They are more efficient, they produce less noise and they're much cheaper to run. They also generate less carbon dioxide than petrol engines, which is great for the environment. However, there are some drawbacks to diesel engines too. They're often more expensive to buy than a petrol car, they cost more to maintain. Turbo-diesel engines do produce a lot of torque at low RPM, which is an advantage over petrol.
On the other hand, petrol engines are cheaper to buy, they cost less to maintain and they're much quieter run. It is easier to get more horsepower from a petrol engine, which is why most performance vehicles are petrol. Petrol engines are also considered safer than diesel engines, as they tend to emit fewer toxins into the environment. For example - all racing cars are petrol.
What about towing?
If your vehicle used for towing, then diesel is the way to go. Diesel engines will be able to tow at lower RPM than a petrol engine, which will lead to a better fuel consumption. For example - all trucks are diesel.
What about for off-road driving?
For off-road driving, the low-down torque of the diesel is also a benefit. This means that the vehicle is able to be driven at low speeds and still have enough torque to shift the vehicle in steep terrain or on sand. Diesel engines are also more 'bush-proof' as the engine has less reliance on electrics, and can cope with water ingress to the engine a little more than petrol engines - which is an advantage in water crossings.
In conclusion, it all depends on the application! Chose the engine based on your preferred method of driving: if you prefer highway driving and fast acceleration - petrol is the one for you. If you are looking for a tow rig, or a vehicle with great performance off-road - stick with diesel. Either way, a decent exhaust and a tune will have either vehicle capable of either situation, so it really is up to you!
