Demand for diesel-fuelled cars and SUVs is shooting through the roof as fuel prices rise and more models are made available. Despite the added cost of purchase, which sometimes tips the balance of affordability out of diesel models’ favour for the first few years of ownership, there’s no denying their growth in popularity as consumers look for more fuel-efficient means of motoring.

Nissan’s X-Trail compact SUV is now available with a diesel option, and the company is touting not just the efficiency benefits but the improved torque levels throughout the rev range.

From August, Nissan will offer the X-Trail with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine as an alternative to the 2.5-litre petrol engine that had previously been the sole offering. Two variants of the new diesel will be available, one for models equipped with the automatic transmission and a more powerful version for manual vehicles.

Petrol power, diesel torque
No substantial step down in power is required when choosing the diesel option, regardless of the transmission chosen. The petrol engine is still available - rated at 125kW and 226Nm - but the 110kW, 320Nm four-cylinder turbodiesel paired with Nissan’s six-speed automatic offers more torque and nearly as much power. Equip the vehicle with a manual transmission and power rises to 127kW, eclipsing the petrol engine, while torque rises even further to 360Nm.

In the most potent manual-transmission form, the X-Trail is capable of towing up to 2,000kg. With 90% of peak torque available from 1,750rpm and maximum torque available from as little as 2,000rpm.

Strong efficiency driving popularity of diesel engines
Despite the added size, space and towing capacity of the X-Trail SUV, the new diesel engines offer solid emissions and fuel efficiency, rated at just 7.4L/100km for the most powerful 127kW variant. By way of comparison, even the Holden Epica CDX 2.5-litre diesel only manages 7.6L/100km fuel efficiency - itself an admirable number, but outperformed by the Nissan.

The strong fuel efficiency performance of diesel engines has spurred their adoption, as has a proliferation of new diesel models on the market. Over the first six months of 2008, the number of diesel SUVs sold to private customers rose 42% over 2007 figures, while June 2008 saw a rise of 47% over the same month of the prior year.

In contrast, hybrid SUV sales have fallen off sharply, down 11.7% for the year and 23% for the month, despite rising significantly for passenger car sales.  Both hybrid and diesel technologies have drawbacks, however. One shared downside is higher initial cost to the purchaser. This means that it will take months or in some cases years to recuperate the money spent on the vehicle in saved fuel costs.

At price premiums of $4,000-$5,000 over the petrol equivalent for the TS and TL models, it will take some time to earn back the difference with the X-Trail as well. The petrol X-Trail manages 9.5L/100km, and at standard fuel prices of $1.50/L, it would take nearly 16,000km, or just over a year’s travel for the average Australian, to make up the purchase price. Nevertheless, the environmental and emissions savings can also be substantial and are significant.

• Alfa Romeo to enter premium compact SUV market
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• Audi Q5 SUV debuts at Beijing Motor Show
• Audi Q7 hybrid to lower fuel economy below 10L/100km
• Bentley rules out diesel for now

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