In this post:
Choosing the right fuel type for your next car has never been more important or more complicated. A decade ago, the choice was simple: petrol or diesel. Today, you have self-charging hybrids, plug-in hybrids, mild hybrids and fully electric vehicles to consider as well. Pick the wrong one, and you could end up paying more than you need to or dealing with a car that simply does not suit how you drive.
The good news is that there is no universally “best” fuel type. The right choice depends entirely on your circumstances: how far you drive, what kind of journeys you make, your budget and whether you can charge at home. This guide will help you work out which fuel type makes the most sense for you, and how leasing through cars2buy can make it easier to switch between technologies as your needs change.
Questions to Ask Before You Pick a Fuel Type
How far do you drive each year?
Your annual mileage is the single biggest factor in choosing between petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric.
If you cover fewer than 6,000 to 7,000 miles a year, petrol usually makes the most financial sense. The cars are cheaper to buy or lease, and you will not rack up enough miles to offset diesel’s higher upfront cost through fuel savings. Hybrids can work well here too, particularly if much of your driving is in town, where they harvest braking energy.
For medium mileages between 10,000 and 15,000 miles annually, diesel starts to make sense if you do lots of motorway or A-road driving. The superior fuel economy (typically 15 to 20 per cent better than petrol) adds up quickly. Full hybrids are also excellent in this bracket if your driving is mixed between urban and faster roads.
High-mileage drivers covering 15,000 miles or more each year should seriously consider diesel, especially for regular long motorway trips. Modern diesels deliver significantly better real-world economy than petrol or hybrid equivalents on fast roads. That said, if you can charge reliably at home or work, a long-range electric vehicle can slash your running costs even further.
What kind of journeys do you do?
The type of driving matters just as much as the distance.
Lots of short urban trips favour hybrids and electric cars. Stop-start traffic is where electric motors shine, and regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted. Modern diesels are actively discouraged for constant short journeys because their diesel particulate filters need regular high-speed runs to stay healthy.
Mixed driving, combining town work with occasional longer trips, suits petrol or full hybrids nicely. If you can charge at home, a plug-in hybrid becomes very attractive because you can cover most daily journeys on electricity and still have the engine for longer runs without range anxiety.
What is your budget, and how do you prefer to pay?
Upfront costs and running costs work in opposite directions across fuel types.
Petrol cars are usually cheapest to buy or lease. Diesels cost a little more, self-charging hybrids more still; plug-in hybrids higher again, and electric vehicles typically sit at the top of the purchase price ladder.
Leasing helps here because you focus on the monthly cost rather than the list price. That makes it easier to step up to a hybrid or electric car without the shock of a much higher purchase price, and you avoid worrying about long-term battery life or resale values.
Can you easily charge at home or at work?
This question only matters if you are considering a plug-in hybrid or electric car, but it is critical.
If you have a driveway, a dedicated parking space or reliable access to workplace charging, an EV or plug-in hybrid becomes much more viable. Most EV drivers charge overnight at home using a dedicated wallbox, which is the cheapest and most convenient way to keep the battery topped up.
Without off-street parking or workplace charging, you will rely on public charge points. The UK now has over 50,000 public chargers, and the network is growing fast, but it can still be patchy or busy in some areas. If public charging is your only option, a self-charging hybrid or efficient petrol car may cause less hassle day to day.
Fuel Types Explained
Petrol cars
Pros: Petrol cars usually cost less to buy or lease than diesel, hybrid or electric equivalents. They are quieter and smoother to drive, particularly at low speeds. Petrol also has lower nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions than diesel, so you face fewer restrictions in clean air zones.
Cons: Fuel economy is worse than diesel, especially on motorways. For high annual mileages, the fuel costs can quickly outstrip the savings you made on a cheaper purchase or lease price. Petrol engines also produce higher CO₂ emissions per mile than diesel or hybrid alternatives.
Diesel cars
Pros: Significantly better fuel economy than petrol, typically around 15 to 20 per cent more efficient and sometimes higher for motorway use. Very strong torque at low revs makes diesels ideal for long motorway journeys, larger cars and SUVs, and regular towing of caravans or trailers. Diesels also produce lower CO₂ per mile than petrol equivalents.
Cons: Higher nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions have driven negative publicity and tighter urban restrictions. Diesel particulate filters need regular high-speed runs to stay healthy, so constant short trips can lead to clogging and expensive repairs. Diesel cars usually cost more to buy or lease than comparable petrols, and diesel fuel is often slightly more expensive at the pump.
Hybrids
Pros: Hybrids are noticeably more fuel efficient than conventional petrol, especially in towns, where the electric motor handles low-speed manoeuvring and stop-start traffic. Lower CO₂ and nitrogen oxide emissions than pure petrol or diesel make them good for both the climate and local air quality. No need to plug in means minimal lifestyle change, and the driving feel is very smooth and relaxed at low speeds.
Cons: More expensive to buy or lease than non-hybrid petrol equivalents. Typically less boot space due to battery placement. On long motorway runs, efficiency gains versus an efficient petrol or diesel can be modest.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)
Pros: If you keep the battery topped up, many daily commutes and school runs can be done almost entirely on electricity with very low fuel costs. For longer trips, the petrol or diesel engine removes range anxiety and the need to plan charging stops. Very attractive official CO₂ figures mean low benefit-in-kind tax for business users and often lower Vehicle Excise Duty than equivalent traditional models.
Cons: They are heavier and more complex than standard cars, which can blunt performance and real-world economy once the battery is flat. If you rarely plug in, fuel consumption can actually be worse than a normal petrol or diesel because the engine has to haul around a depleted battery and electric motor. Plugin hybrid lease prices tend to be higher than equivalent full hybrids or conventional cars.
Fully electric vehicles (EVs)
Pros: Very low running costs when charged efficiently. One example suggests a typical EV costs around £8 to charge for roughly 250 miles, often making fuel eight times cheaper than an equivalent diesel. Exempt or heavily favoured in ULEZ and clean air zones, plus very low or zero Vehicle Excise Duty under current rules. For company car drivers, very low benefit-in-kind tax compared with petrol or diesel.
Cons: They tend to have higher upfront costs than petrol or diesel, though EV leasing can offset this by focusing on the monthly cost rather than the list price. Range is still shorter than a full tank of petrol or diesel, and rapid charging takes longer than filling with fuel. Public charging networks are growing fast, but can still be patchy or busy in some areas, and home charging is not possible for everyone.
How cars2buy Can Help You Choose the Right Fuel Type
Leasing makes it easier to try an EV, hybrid or any other fuel type for two to four years without worrying about long-term battery life or resale values. You avoid being locked into an older technology as regulations and charging infrastructure change.
Browse our full range of personal lease deals today, and you could be driving away in a car that perfectly matches how you actually drive, sooner than you think.