The 5 best diesel engines of 2023

The diesel engine continues to be the preferred option for many drivers, especially those who do many kilometers annually. These are the best of 2023.

Although the diesel engine has suffered (unfair) demonization in the last decade and manufacturers have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated their offer, there are still many users who bet on this type of mechanics. Therefore, we are going to show you the five best diesel engines of 2023.

In the early 1990s, diesel began to proliferate as the main option. Soon, more than half of the new cars sold in Spain were diesel engines.

Things continued to escalate in the first decade of the 2000s until it was discovered that diesel engines were especially polluting and harmful to health. The Volkswagen scandal, known as 'Dieselgate', was the finishing touch.

Since then, the sales of diesel cars have not stopped declining, to the point that, currently, more hybrid cars are sold than diesel. In 2022, 139,599 diesel vehicles were sold in Spain, which represented a market share of 17.16%, compared to almost 30% for hybrids.

This figure represents a drop of 18.44%, compared to 2021 and it is expected that the downward trend will continue in 2023.

Fewer diesel engines on the market

This drop in diesel car sales has led many brands to reduce their offer and, in some cases, even eliminate it outright. Until a few years ago, we could find diesel mechanics in small segments and today they have practically disappeared.

Despite everything, the diesel engine continues to be the preferred option for many drivers, especially those who drive many kilometers annually, since this technology continues to have the lowest cost per kilometer on the market.

No matter how much negative propaganda is spread, diesel engines are the kings of autonomy, those with the lowest consumption, and those that offer the best response at low revs. It is also the best engine for those who need a good towing capacity, such as trailers or cargo transport.

Mercedes 2.2 engine

Let's go with the first of the best diesel engines of 2023, the 2.2-liter turbodiesel from Mercedes, with 200 hp and available in various models in the range, such as the C-Class and the E-Class, in the 220 d version.

This engine offers a great balance between power, acceleration capacity, and adjusted consumption and allows the car to move with agility. In addition, it is quite silent and has a micro-hybrid system, which earns it the ECO label.

Mazda e-Skyactiv D engine

One of the best diesel engines of this 2023 is found in Mazda. The Japanese brand is characterized by going against the hegemonic line of the industry and they have been doing so for many years.

They have already distanced themselves from the Downsizing trend, which was followed by practically all the manufacturers and, now, they have just released a new diesel engine that seems to come out of the early 90s due to its configuration and large displacement.

This is the e-Skyactiv D engine, made up of a 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder block, together with a 48-volt M Hybrid Boost light hybrid system that improves consumption and also allows it to display the ECO label of the DGT. Currently, it is offered on the Mazda CX-60.

This engine is available in two power levels, 200 and 254 hp, and is connected to an automatic gearbox. The less powerful version is rear-wheel drive and the 254 hp version is associated with an i-Activ AWD all-wheel drive system.

BMW 2.0 engine

One of the references in diesel engines is the 2.0 that BMW mounts in several of its models, from the 1 Series to the 5 Series, being the most popular of all the 320d. It's a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder block that now includes a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to contain emissions. Therefore, it also has the ECO label.

This engine develops 190 HP and 400 Nm of maximum torque and has two overhead camshafts, common rail direct injection, variable intake, and variable geometry turbo.

Stellantis 1.6 BlueHDi engine

The former PSA Group, now part of the Stellantis conglomerate, developed one of the best diesel engines currently on the market due to its refined operation, elasticity, and immediate power delivery.

We are talking about the 1.6-liter BlueHDi engine with 130 hp and 300 Nm of torque, associated with an EAT8 automatic gearbox. An engine that, in addition to what was said before, also stands out for its low noise at a constant speed.

Mercedes plug-in hybrid diesel engine

We finish this list of five best diesel engines for 2023 with a very peculiar one, for being the only one on the market with plug-in hybrid technology based on a diesel engine.

Plug-in hybrid systems are widespread, but they all rely on a gasoline combustion engine. Many years ago, several brands tried this same solution, but using a diesel engine and the adventure did not end well. However, it works for Mercedes.

It is a 300 engine and is offered in the GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE, GLE Coupé, and E-Class models. It combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with 197 hp and a 136 hp electric motor. In total, they add 333 CV and 750 Nm of torque.

The system is completed with a 31.2 kWh capacity battery, which provides no less than 127 kilometers of electrical autonomy. And, of course, the DGT ZERO label.