Petrol, Diesel or Electric: How Ownership Costs Really Compare

Jul 3, 2026 · 5 min read

Fuel, maintenance, insurance and depreciation — a balanced view of the total cost of ownership beyond the sticker price.

Choosing a powertrain means comparing total cost of ownership, not just purchase price:

Petrol: lowest purchase price, moderate servicing, predictable resale. Maintenance intervals are shorter but inexpensive.

Diesel: best fuel economy on long runs, higher servicing cost (DPF, injectors, AdBlue), and increasingly restricted in some cities.

Electric: cheapest energy per km and dramatically lower servicing (no oil changes, fewer wear parts), but higher purchase price, tire wear from instant torque, and battery degradation considerations.

Hybrid/plug-in hybrid: a middle path — low urban fuel use and most of the range of a combustion car.

Whatever you choose, budget 1–2% of vehicle value per year for servicing on top of fuel. An EV is not maintenance-free — it just maintains different things.