I completely agree with you about the Honda Accord example I used being British spec. It will be some time before we know what mileage a clean diesel can really offer in the states. Your average of 50 mpg in the Prius is fantastic of course, but what is the % improvement over a Corolla or Matrix? Maybe 50%, I’d venture. Does that sound right?

My guess is that the new diesels coming to the U.S., especially the one from Honda, will be in that approximate range of improvement. And since they’re going in totally different sized and category cars for now (excepting the anachronistic Lexus hybrids), I don’t even think diesel and hybrid will be direct competitors for some time. It’s great that both will be on the market. They drive completely differently, appeal to different buyers, and the powertrains tend to come wrapped in totally different cars.

For me, I won’t buy a hybrid that drives like the Prius and Civic currently on the market. I certainly don’t think there’s anything wrong with others buying them, but they just aren’t my preference. A diesel on the other hand, I’d get in a second. And if we all drive more fuel efficient cars, I think that’s a good thing.

In fact, the 45-state-only VW diesels had to be discontinued after 2006, and only now are “clean” diesels coming back on the market (I have seen none at the dealer, yet).

Plus, as Paul alluded to, diesel fuel costs 20% more than gasoline here in the USA.

Add in the additional cost of the diesel car, AND the additional cost of yet more emission equipment for the diesel, AND bear in mind that with a turbocharger, intercooler, etc. etc. there is “more to go wrong” (not necessarily a problem for Toyota/Honda but decidely a problem for most other car mfr’s) – well….

I’ll take my Prius instead, thanks. My 2008 Prius (just replaced my 2005) is sitting down in the parking lot here at work, and on it’s little “meter” it says 49.5 mpg (US) right now, for the past 80 miles of travel. On my last fill-up, the meter read 48.2 mpg, but we’d had a lot of high winds recently which affected it. (It’s weird to note how rain, winds, colder temperatures than about 50 degrees F., hotter temperatures and AC use, etc. cut into MPG – but if you think this is “only” applicable to Prius, you’d be wrong!)

I will say that diesels will still have a market in the US, and would consider a clean diesel for car #2 if the math added up right (for the simple and logical reason that I don’t want an SUV; we need to be able to tow a small camper and hybrid cars cannot yet tow anything). We will continue to carpool in our Prius (car #1), and only put about 6000 to 8000 miles a year on our second car (2007 Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl).

Just recently read that Prius is the MOST reliable new car sold in the US and the Sonata 4 cylinder is 3rd MOST reliable car sold in the US (with Accord in 2nd place).

After 5 plus years of non-US branded cars, I feel a lot better about abandoning Detroit’s craptastic stuff after being abused by them for 30 plus years. Feels just as if I’ve awakened to the possibilities of a different future and left an abusive spouse, in fact….

You make good points. For reference, the Honda Accord (Acura TSX) comes with both Honda’s 2.2 liter diesel (very similar to what we’re getting) and the 2.4 liter gas engine we currently have in the TSX. Going entirely off of the Honda UK numbers, the combined cycle for the diesel is 44 American miles per gallon. The petrol version is 26 American miles per gallon.

Obviously there are tons of factors contributing to the phrase YMMV, but in general the gas improvement is substantial.

Not to mention, I do believe there are Americans that think somehow buying more oil = funding the apocalypse. Although this is a debatable issue, for these folks I think a higher initial sticker price will be worth using less black gold.

Quite honestly, I’m not sure how the market is going to receive diesel engines in cars like Hondas, rather than a clunky Mercedes station wagon. But I am very excited to watch it unfold.

Problem: do folks want to pay a couple of big bills more for 25% better mileage?. Here in Eugene today, gas is $2.99; diesel $3.59. Doesn’t add up.

Drool.

Be careful what you wish for.

Check this out: Zonda

It might be localization as well as customization. I already see the seeds of the city car that can’t hack it on the highway, and the exurb car that is unwelcome in the city, if not illegal.