10 Best Small Diesel Cars - Used and New

2015 Audi A3 sedan ・ Photo by Audi

When it comes to small cars, some of the most efficient models are powered by diesel engines, especially if you spend more time on the highway than you do on city roads. While the number of diesel offerings seems to be shrinking, there are still plenty of choices out there. In order to help narrow down the field, we have come up with a list of the 10 best small diesel cars from both the past and the present.

While there are other models out there, we've chosen ten of the newer used or brand new models that are commonly available. Read on to discover what made our list, sorted by fuel economy from least to most efficient.

2009-2011 BMW 335d

With a bigger and much more powerful engine than the current model, the 2009 to 2011 BMW 335d is sure to provide more than enough grunt for even the most discerning driver. The 3.0-liter turbo diesel inline-six generates 265 horsepower and a very healthy 420 lb-ft of torque, backed by a six-speed automatic transmission. That combo is good for a 6-second flat sprint to sixty miles per hour and a top speed that has to be electronically limited to 155 mph. All that power means that combined fuel economy is rated at only 27 miles per gallon, which while still better than the gasoline models of the time, it can’t quite match the other diesel vehicles on our list.

Photo by BMW

2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze

The previous generation of the Chevrolet Cruze was offered with a diesel option from 2014 to 2015. It uses a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that generates 151 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. That’s good enough for a zero to sixty mph run in 8.6 seconds, though fuel economy isn’t quite as good as the newest versions with a combined rating of 32 miles per gallon. That’s no better than the gasoline-powered Cruze Eco from the same years, though the diesel is significantly quicker and more powerful. Because of that, the Cruze places lower on our list of 10 of the Best Small Diesel Cars.

Photo by Chevrolet

2014-2016 Mercedes-Benz E250 Bluetec

While the E-Class isn’t really a small car, when equipped with a diesel the Mercedes-Benz E250 Bluetec can give the smaller cars on our list a run for their money in both fuel economy and performance. The 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel engine punches above its weight, churning out 195 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque which is directed to the wheels by a smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission. That combination is enough to get this fairly heavy car to sixty miles per hour in around eight seconds while managing a combined fuel economy rating of 32 miles per gallon for rear-wheel drive models, and 31 miles per gallon when equipped with the 4matic all-wheel-drive system.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2013-2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

The 2013-2015 Volkswagen Beetle TDI Convertible is the only open-top vehicle on our list, making it perfect for those who like a diesel engine soundtrack to accompany their top-down motoring (it’s hard to escape the fact that you’re driving a diesel when the top is down, but it isn’t obtrusive.) The 2.0-liter TDI turbo diesel engine generates 150 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque and can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Acceleration is fairly leisurely with arriving at sixty miles per hour in about nine seconds, but with a combined fuel economy rating of up to 33 miles per gallon, you can spend all day cruising without having to worry about stopping to refill the tank.

2018 BMW 328d

The BMW 328d is available as a rear- or all-wheel drive Sedan (starting at $41,750) or an all-wheel-drive Sports Wagon (starting at $46,150.) The 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo Diesel four-cylinder engine puts out 180 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque and is backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. The xDrive all-wheel drive sedan is the quickest, with a time of 7.3 seconds in the sprint to 60 miles per hour, and all models have a top speed of 130 mph. The rear-wheel-drive sedan is rated at 34 miles per gallon combined, while the all-wheel-drive Sedan and Sports Wagon (our favorite of the bunch thanks to the extra cargo-hauling capability) are rated at 32 mpg.

Photo by BMW

2015 Audi A3

If you’re looking for a small sedan with Quattro all-wheel-drive grip and diesel fuel economy, look no further than the Audi A3 TDI. While a current diesel version is unfortunately no longer available, the 2015 A3 still looks up to date, and with a combined fuel economy rating of 35 miles per gallon, it manages to be the most economical AWD car on our list. Power comes from a 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder engine that pumps out 150 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The run to sixty miles per hour takes around eight seconds, but like many of the vehicles on our list, the A3 TDI feels quicker thanks to all that torque.

Photo by Christian Wardlaw

2015 Volkswagen Golf

For years the Volkswagen Golf TDI (or Rabbit) was the most popular diesel car on the market, but unfortunately, Volkswagen has recently moved on to electric vehicles and no longer offers diesel models in the United States. Your best bet if you want a diesel-powered pseudo-GTI is the 2015 model as it has a version of the 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder engine that outputs 150 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, which helps get the Golf from zero to sixty miles per hour in just under nine seconds in stock tune (like other Golfs there is plenty of aftermarket support for the TDI versions.) Whether paired with the six-speed manual or six-speed dual clutch transmission the combined fuel economy is rated at 35 miles per gallon.

Photo by Volkswagen of America

2018 Jaguar XE

Starting at $37,225, the Jaguar XE sedan is available in either rear or all-wheel drive configurations with a diesel engine. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel makes 180 horsepower and 318 lb-ft of torque and is backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. The run from zero to sixty miles per hour takes a reasonable 7.5 seconds and although the top speed is limited to a humble 120 mph, that should be fast enough for most roads (and even most tracks, should you decide to take your diesel for a romp.) Fuel economy for rear-wheel drive models is the best of the compact diesel luxury sedans at 36 miles per gallon combined, while all-wheel-drive models are rated at 34 mpg.

Photo by Jaguar

2018 Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze is the only non-luxury small diesel car currently remaining on the market, available as both a sedan (starting at $22,195) and as a hatchback (starting at $23,895.) The diminutive 1.6-liter Ecotec turbo diesel four-cylinder engine generates an impressive 137 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque and can be paired with either a six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic transmission. Both the sedan and hatchback reach sixty miles per hour in around eight seconds, though the sedan is the more economical of the two with a combined fuel economy rating of 37 miles per gallon. Like most modern diesel vehicles, the Cruze runs fairly smoothly but it’s still a bit rougher than its gasoline counterpart especially at idle.

Photo by Chevrolet

2002-2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon

The 2002-2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon is the oldest car on our list, but as with most diesel vehicles they tend to last for many miles if properly maintained. Thanks to its generous cargo area it’s one of the most practical vehicles on our list, and with a combined fuel economy rating of 39 miles per gallon with the five-speed manual transmission, it’s also the most efficient (a less frugal automatic is also available.) On the other hand, the 1.9-liter TDI turbo diesel engine generates a paltry 90 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, and the run to sixty miles per hour will take 12 seconds or more. Newer models are more powerful, but unfortunately also less efficient.

Photo by Wikipedia