Many people have been wondering if investing in a diesel car is worthwhile given the high price of gasoline. 

On the day the president signed a provisional measure authorizing the sale of ethanol by refineries, Petrobras made another harsh announcement: 

Starting Thursday, August 12th, the price of gasoline will increase at the refineries, and this adjustment will be passed on to customers. 

However, the price of diesel fuel will not be adjusted. 

This is the ninth gasoline price increase in 2021 alone. 

According to IBGE data, the increase in gasoline prices was 27.5% this year and 37% over 12 months. 

Therefore, it's natural that many people wonder if a diesel car is worth it these days. 

After much research and study, our experts are here to tell you today, if you're thinking of buying a diesel vehicle, whether the switch is worthwhile. 

So, what do you think? Ready to find out the answer?

Many people have been wondering if a diesel car is worth it in Brazil these days, where gasoline and even ethanol are reaching high prices. 

Today, all diesel vehicles sold in the country are large vehicles, either SUVs or pickup trucks. 

Therefore, it is important to emphasize that a diesel vehicle remains an expensive and inaccessible option for most Brazilians. 

For illustrative purposes only, we have listed some diesel car models that can be purchased in Brazil today. They are:

All these vehicles cost more than R$ 100 thousand. 

So, even though many people try to avoid gasoline and switch to diesel, it's a costly endeavor. 

You've probably wondered: Why aren't there any diesel-powered passenger cars in Brazil?

The answer to that question lies in the historical context of Brazil. 

This is a rule that emerged after ProÁlcool – the National Alcohol Program. 

An initiative of the Brazilian government that emerged in 1975 in response to the 1973 oil crisis. 

The intention at the time was to replace the use of petroleum-based fuels with ethanol. 

The context is different today, but the ban still remains. 

The text that regulates diesel vehicles in Brazil is that of Ordinance No. 23/1994 of the DNC – National Department of Fuels. 

Article 1 states the following:

The use of diesel fuel is prohibited for passenger vehicles with a cargo and mixed-use capacity – both domestic and imported – with a transport capacity of less than 1 ton. 

This prohibition is still covered by Resolution No. 292/2008 of CONTRAN – the National Traffic Council. 

This only serves to reaffirm what everyone already knows: For the Brazilian people, everything is more expensive and more difficult. 

Before answering whether a diesel car is worth it with the high price of gasoline, let's show you some advantages of this type of vehicle. 

Let's get to them. 

The first major advantage of a diesel car is that its engines are more durable. 

This is indeed a positive point, but only in the long term. 

Who hasn't ridden in their grandfather's old pickup truck and seen the odometer read over 300,000 kilometers?

Another point that proves this advantage is the large number of older trucks still in operation. 

This lower fuel consumption initially gives the impression that a diesel car is worthwhile in times of expensive gasoline. 

However, this lower consumption is around 2 to 3 liters per kilometer driven. 

Furthermore, when compared to gasoline and ethanol, diesel is indeed a cheaper fuel. 

So, let's take this opportunity to drop a spoiler of what's to come in our article:

Does a diesel car consume less fuel? Yes! 

Is diesel cheaper than gasoline? Yes!

So, does that mean it's worth buying a car that runs on this type of fuel? 

Not necessarily, after all, diesel vehicles are more expensive, but we'll show that later. 

And for those who like power, the diesel engine is a real treat in terms of strength. 

This torque power ensures more force in diesel vehicles, especially in lower gears. 

It's no coincidence that vehicles powered by this type of fuel are used for heavy-duty services, such as serving as trailer hitches, for example. 

However, not everything is rosy in the world of diesel vehicles, as we will show you in the next section. 

Now that you know the advantages and automatically think that a diesel car is worthwhile with the high price of gasoline, it's time to put the brakes on. 

Here are some interesting disadvantages of diesel vehicles to consider. 

Let's get to them.

The first disadvantage of a diesel vehicle is its price! 

Today in Brazil, there are models available for purchase with both flex-fuel and diesel engines. 

Some classic examples are: Chevrolet S10, Jeep Renegade, Toyota Hilux, and Jeep Compass. 

And the price difference is a real obstacle. 

The same model of a diesel vehicle costs between R$ 35,000 and R$ 40,000 more. 

And that's not the only reason they cost more. 

In addition to being more expensive, diesel cars have high costs for a number of other conditions. 

The first one is the IPVA (Vehicle Property Tax). 

Because it has a higher market value, the vehicle tax will automatically be higher as well. 

The second biggest expense for owners of diesel cars is maintenance. 

Although diesel engines last longer, their maintenance costs are higher.

This is because there is less skilled labor available in the market. 

And to top it all off, car insurance for a diesel vehicle is more expensive than for a gasoline or ethanol vehicle.

And the explanation for this is quite logical:

Diesel cars are more expensive, have higher vehicle taxes, and more expensive maintenance. 

Therefore, protecting a vehicle where everything is more expensive naturally costs more money. 

And the last disadvantage we can mention here is the higher levels of vibration and noise coming from the engine. 

Although vibrations and noises can be muffled with insulation and changes to the vehicle's structure, sooner or later they will reappear, and that's a real nuisance. 

And now it's time to answer whether a diesel car is worth it in times of expensive gasoline. 

The answer is: it depends! 

And although our experts say that this choice depends, it leans much more towards "no" than "yes"!

A diesel car is only worthwhile for those who need to travel LONG distances constantly, preferably on highways. 

With naturally higher prices and more expensive vehicle taxes, maintenance, and car insurance, a diesel vehicle ends up not being worthwhile even in scenarios where gasoline and ethanol are more expensive. 

Choosing a diesel car when gasoline is the norm is a hasty decision that doesn't benefit your wallet. 

Now that you know whether diesel cars are worth it, it's important to keep in mind that electricity is the future of the automotive industry. 

Even with plenty of oil to be explored and sugarcane fields that produce ethanol, electricity is an irreversible path in Brazil.

Proof of this is the fact that car manufacturers are killing off their combustion engines. 

Recently, no fewer than 10 automakers announced the discontinuation of diesel, gasoline, and ethanol-powered engines.

So, if you're thinking about cost versus benefit in the medium to long term, it's time to start thinking about an electric vehicle.

To find out which car manufacturers are phasing out combustion engines, just click below!