Diesel vs Petrol

It depends a lot on how new the petrol engined car is that you are looking at. While you are correct in saying that petrol ones generally used to be a bit low on torque, that doesn't apply to modern petrol engines which can easily match the low end torque performance of a diesel. I am talking here about new models which have appeared on the market during the last five or so years.

Having said that, it's not torque that gets you up the hill, it's power. When you talk about torque (please excuse the pun) I think you mean low engine speed torque.  Even a petrol engine of an older design will get you up the hill if you use enough revs. Power is basically torque times revs. Back in the 90's I towed with a relatively small petrol engined car that needed up to 7000rpm to negotiate really steep hills, but the car never grumbled.

In 2019 I swapped from a Skoda Yeti 2.0L diesel with 110bhp and 250N/m torque to a Audi A3 1.5L petrol with 150bhp and 250N/m torque.

I tow a 1200kg Eriba Triton, which is a low profile, pop-top caravan. I initially returned similar mpg figures but with now over 24,000miles on the clock I find the Audi more economical. Towing I typically return 34/36mpg, but averaged 40mpg in NL this summer and 40mpg on a drive from Merseyside to Devon in Sept. In both cases, particularly the latter as we were moving house, the car and van were both very heavily loaded.

Solo as a daily drive I have recorded a true 76mpg on a long 50/55mph run. Daily non rush hour journeys over 10 miles on hilly Devon roads are typically 45/50mpg.

The Audi petrol tows the caravan with a far greater ease than the Skoda diesel did. The torque in the petrol is available over a rev range twice as wide as the diesel. On the Merseyside to Devon run the car did not drop out of cruise control and 6th until a stage on the M5.

You should not discount a petrol for lighter caravans. My next car will definitely be one, probably same engine with a dsg box in a Skoda Karoq.

 

Colin

Thanks to you both for your replies...I know my dad towed with petrol back in the 80s without an issue, although he did tow with a Austin 1800, it was a good tow car, tackled all the hills for sure.....and those hot summer days when your legs stuck to the plastic seats LOL.   

I now tow with PHEV petrol after 35 years of diesel cars and 10 years of towing with diesel. It is as economical as the best diesel tug I have owned and romps up hills. Not cheap to buy new (or used) but no regrets moving away from diesel. 

Because of DPF problems during the restrictive Covid period with my diesel car plus I fancied a change, I moved over to petrol. Horsepower is 250BHP and has 365 Nm of torque which is available from 1200 RPM right through the wider rev band.

As 'Lutz' says, modern petrols can now match the low end torque of diesels, but power plays a big part also. I'm very happy with how my 250HP tows, but small engined petrols will have to be worked a little harder.

Solo it is on par with my previous diesel car for economy, but towing my caravan is not as economical.

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