Diesel’s demise: Availability has plummeted by two thirds since 2020 – but one brand still has 16 diesel car options in showrooms today

If you’re a fan of diesel cars, trying to find a new one in showrooms is rapidly turning into a needle in a haystack operation.

That’s because manufacturers are slashing them from their new model line-ups at an alarming rate in a reaction to a shift in consumer appetite and the Government’s green agenda.

‘Dirty diesel’ connotations formed during the emissions cheating scandal a decade ago combined with the transition to electric vehicles has seen the number of available new models dwindle in recent years.

According to market analysis carried out by used car site CarGurus, there are just 57 models from mainstream brands on sale in 2025 with diesel engines under the bonnet.

That’s down from 167 just five years ago, meaning availability has shrunk by 66 per cent.

But while numerous mainstream brands have killed off diesel entirely, there is one brand offering a wide variety in its dealerships today.

If you’re a fan of diesel cars, trying to find a new one in showrooms is rapidly turning into a needle in a haystack operation. We reveal which brands have killed them off entirely – and which luxury German brand has widest availability in 2025

Looking at the statistics, the impact of Volkswagen’s headline-hitting diesel emissions scandal from 2015 on the new car market is abundantly clear.

Before news broke of the German brand installing defeat devices in its diesel cars to manipulate engine performance during official tests, diesels were heavily incentivised by the Government’s emissions-based car taxation (Vehicle Excise Duty) system that rewarded the lower CO2 emissions of diesel cars cheaper annual VED costs for owners.

At the time, there were 202 diesel models available from the 30 most popular brands in Britain.

But numbers have been shrinking ever since. And in a decade drivers have seen availability diminish by 72 per cent. 

Car manufacturers are slashing diesels from their new model line-ups at an alarming rate in a reaction to a shift in consumer appetite and the Government’s green agenda

This latest market review found that just 13 of the UK’s 30 best-selling brands now offer at least one diesel engine option, compared to 28 only five years ago.

This has been accelerated by other factors too, not least Jaguar’s decision last year to wind-up all combustion engine vehicle production as it plots to become an electric-only car maker.

Mitsubishi’s retreat from the UK market in 2021 has also had an impact – though the Japanese brand is rumoured to be making a return.

Among the mainstream brands to have actively culled diesel already includes Dacia, Fiat, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Lexus, MG, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Smart, Suzuki, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volvo. 

Kia, Peugeot, Renault and Seat currently only sell one model with the option of a diesel engine, while Ford merely has two. 

And such a lack of availability is translating to a dramatic fall in sales, too. 

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows diesel car registrations falling from 1.3 million in 2015 to just 123,104 last year – and continuing to decline in 2025.

But while this might suggest that consumer appetite is shifting, the used car market tells a very different story.

The monumental decline in new car registrations isn’t being mirrored by second-hand transactions.

Of the 7.6 million used motor sales last year, almost 2.7 million were diesel – that represents a third (35 per cent) of all used cars to change hands in 2024.

A year earlier, 2.75 million pre-owned diesels found new keepers, which was representative of 38 per cent of the 7.2 million second-hand models bought and sold throughout 2023.

Love a diesel car? This is the brand to go for… 

Despite the overall decline in diesel availability, there is one manufacturer that is still offering several oil-burner options across its model range.

Mercedes-Benz leads the pack of auto makers with 16 diesel models now available across its lineup. 

In fact, the brand added three more diesel models to its showrooms in the last 12 months, all of which are diesel plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Mercedes’ broad range of diesel options is twice as many as the next best, which is Audi with eight.

Land Rover (seven), BMW (six), Skoda (four) and Volkswagen (four) are also yet to turn they back entirely on diesel power. 

Citroen – which has three diesel options – has also introduced updated versions of its diesel engines in the last year, signalling its ongoing investment in cleaner diesel technology.

If you really want a diesel as your next car, you’ll have the best range of options at a Mercedes-Benz dealership…

The German car giant currently has 16 new diesel model options in dealers in the UK, including the C-Class, pictured

Luxury German rival Audi is second in the list of brands with the most new diesel options, but it only has half as many as Mercedes with eight. Pictured: Audi Q5 diesel

Proving that the German premium market is sticking with diesel longest, BMW has the third broadest availability of oil-burning engines in its line-up with seven (X7 pictured)

Chris Knapman, CarGurus editorial director, said: “Our latest research once again highlights the rapid decline in the choice of new diesel cars available to UK drivers. 

‘However, while diesel is clearly no longer the default choice it once was, there remains strong demand in specific segments, particularly among high-mileage drivers and those needing towing capability or long-range efficiency.

‘For these buyers, the used car market continues to offer a broad range of diesel models, including many that meet ULEZ requirements. 

‘For new car buyers, while the choice of diesel models has narrowed significantly, brands like Mercedes are pairing diesel with plug-in hybrid technology for added efficiency and ULEZ compliance.’

Earlier this month – some 10 years after Volkswagen’s ‘Dieselgate’ scandal – a pivotal trial at London’s High Court began with 1.6 million motorists taking legal action against major car makers accused of cheating emissions tests.

More than a dozen car makers have been alleged to have used technology on diesel vehicles made from 2009 onwards to manipulate emissions tests.

The claim is the largest of its kind in English history, with the High Court previously told it is believed to be worth at least £6billion.

The trial will initially focus on diesel vehicles made by Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault and the Stellantis-owned brands Peugeot and Citroen said to have been fitted with unlawful defeat devices.

These devices detected when vehicles were being tested and ensured emissions were kept within legal limits but did not do so when the cars were on the road, the claimants’ lawyers say.

The manufacturers, however, say the claims are fundamentally flawed and reject any similarity with the scandal that erupted in 2015, costing VW billions in fines and compensation.