petrol vs diesel cars (general comparision)

Diesel gives higher power ? or torque ? I am getting confused

If you plot torque vs rpm, you get the torque curve. Diesels do produce high torque and high power but they have .... so far as I've seen in low end cars (upto Jetta) .... a not-so-smooth torque curve. The power (torque x rotational speed) output gets uneven across rpm range. Even if you've tried the swift diesel, it kind of 'comes to life' around 1700-2000 rpm, where there's a step change in torque. Compare that to, say, a petrol swift, which gives smoother power output from low to high RPMs. Now compare that to a Honda, any Honda. Hondas have smooth torque curves. You can see the difference across the SX4 (102 bhp) and the old Honda (77bhp). The SX4 sucks (more on that later). The bhp is really meaningless unless backed by a honda-like torque curve (and a lot other things). That makes the diesel Swift more akin to a horse cart than a car.

Some nice useful info in this thread. I want to ask car owners here especially Diesel ones:

If the price of both Petrol and Diesel being equal, which would you prefer keeping in mind performance, noise levels, mileage etc etc?

I would be curious to know opinions on this.

Cheers,

Naveen

Hi

I would prefer a diesel unless the petrol is turbocharged

The answer is: it depends.

What's the output of turbocharging? The end output is: at some higher RPM, you are going to get higher power because of the extra compression that can burn more fuel with the same volume of air (compressed). Alright, VTEC (VTVT,  VVL, VVT-i, VarioCam) will  effectively end up giving you the same - they'll open up and give you that extra (really extra) power boost.  We are comparing two *very different* technologies but end result is same, isn't it? And Variable Valve is better than Turbo.

Btw which regular petrol car comes with Turbocharger??

I would prefer petrol. Diesels are yet to become drive-worthy in low-cost range. Atleast the Laura/Jetta give you a really bad curve as compared to the Honda.

I regularly drive a diesel (swift) and a petrol (honda) and the response of petrol is uncomparably better.

As for mileage, diesels are better. They are 'lower' fuels, and pack more power. Diesels are noisier, of course - Not as compared to Diesels of yesteryears but as compared to petrol cars of today.

Hi

I was taking about the one like Polo 1.2 TSI and Line 1.4 Tjet pure tubro

Is turbocharger available in Petrol...

I never knew...

Aby not in India but abroad

There are two types in petrol tubro

Petrol tubro charged and Petrol Super charged (Ultimate engine)

But guess no one would love to have these Fuel guzzlers...!!!

except the dream of owning one someday when we get old...LOLs

Very nice article indeed... My usage will be around 1500 to 2000 Kms per month. But I love going for long drives... Which version do you suggest for me?? Petrol or Diesel??? Currently I own a 2000 model Hyundai Accent GLE... and it is burning a hole in my pocket