Compare gasoline and diesel Toyota Prado - which one is better to choose?

It is unlikely that anyone will discover the fact that a diesel engine eats up less fuel for the same mileage. But there is another variable - the price of fuel. Let's take the average. One liter of AI92 gasoline costs 45 rubles. Diesel fuel - 49 rubles. Next, let's try to compare two engines with similar characteristics: gasoline 2TR-FE and diesel 1GD-FTV. These are in-line, 4-cylinder engines with a volume of 2.7 liters.

Now some simple math. It turns out that if our Toyota Prado travels 100 kilometers through the city, then it will spend 621 rubles on gasoline. And diesel fuel - for 436 rubles. The benefit is obvious, but you should not draw conclusions on this criterion alone. There are other variables that will significantly reduce this difference.

In addition to the main fuel, the car also consumes oil, more precisely, it needs to be changed from time to time. There are certain standards specified by the manufacturer. According to the technical documentation, you need to change the oil in gasoline units once per 10,000 kilometers. For diesel engines, this figure is half as much - 5000 km. It turns out that servicing a motor with diesel fuel will cost twice as much.

However, Prado owners often neglect this rule, changing the lubricant in the same way as on gasoline models. We will not consider such moments, since we start solely from the conditions of ideal operation.

Due to technical features, the diesel engine has to be made larger. Comparing all the same models 2TR-FE and 1GD-FTV, we see that a car with the first engine weighs 2850 kilograms, and with the second - 2990 kg. The diesel model is almost 150 kilograms heavier. In addition, the 1GD-FTV will produce much more noise and vibrations are inevitable. As the owners of the Toyota Prado car note, the feeling in the diesel version is similar to that of a tractor. Of course, a quality car partially dampens these vibrations and hides the roar of the engine, but they are still noticeable.

The gasoline unit is much more comfortable to drive. It's quiet, doesn't vibrate, and keeps its position on the cushions when accelerating without trying to break away. In terms of comfort, gasoline Toyota is more attractive for both the driver and others. And this is not due to the manufacturer or some design errors. This is how all diesel engines behave. This is their feature and one of the main drawbacks.

Car owners have such a thing as "the engine is stupid." So they say when, when you press the gas, the car does not take off, but seems to rest against an invisible wall. Acceleration occurs, but very slowly and reluctantly. This is due to the features of the machine and the ratio of the weight of the entire structure to the power of the motor.For convenience, consider the 2TR-FE and 1GD-FTV engines again, since they are of the same volume:

It would seem that the winner in the nomination is obvious: diesel is better in terms of parameters, and it is worth choosing it. But you also need to take into account the behavior of the machine in real conditions, and here everything changes dramatically. Diesel is harder to change mode. If he began to accelerate, it is better not to interrupt him. In urban conditions, this is a disadvantage, since you constantly have to maneuver. The petrol unit behaves much more confidently. Yes, the diesel is more powerful, it will pick up the treasured hundred faster, and its speed will be higher, but these aspects are relevant only for driving on the highway. In general, it would be more correct to leave a draw here.

Based on the table from the previous comparison, we can conclude that the diesel is better, especially when it comes to the track. But it is also relevant for off-road. Still, Kruzak is an SUV, and if you decide to conquer virgin lands, then diesel will have no equal here. Due to the high torque and greater engine power, it is able to pull a rather heavy car out of almost any quagmire.

At the same time, increasing the load, the diesel engine practically does not change fuel consumption. While the engine will start to consume much more gasoline. Let's add here the resistance of diesel engines to water. Due to the design features, they are not afraid of even significant immersion. It turns out that if you often operate your Kruzak outside of flat city roads, it is better to choose a diesel engine. Win on fuel, power and patency.

There are legends about the reliability of diesel engines, and they are justified. Despite the complex design, these motors are much more unpretentious and can withstand the most severe loads. Even those that were not originally intended.

Gasoline engines are more gentle. They should be handled with care and respect. Accidental shock, overload and other troubles can cause serious damage that cannot be repaired by yourself. Let's add the security aspect here. As you know, the ignition temperature of diesel fuel is much higher than that of gasoline. Therefore, if your fuel hoses are torn, diesel ignition is almost impossible.

The diesel engine is reliable and has much more hours compared to gasoline. But breakdowns sooner or later happen to everyone, and here the difference becomes obvious. Repairing a diesel will cost a lot more. In addition, not all workshops undertake the maintenance of such motors. If you look at the reviews of car owners on the Internet, it becomes clear that the difference in prices is simply huge. Often a gap of 2-3 times.

It turns out that diesel repair is more expensive, but at the same time, it needs it much less often. The gasoline engine will break down more often, and ordinary maintenance will not hurt it. But it is inexpensive and will not hit the budget much. On average, the value for 10 years of operation will be approximately the same, but it should be understood that for one visit to a diesel service, you will have to pay a much larger amount at a time.

The main disadvantage of diesel fuel is poor frost resistance. It is a lean fuel with a high flash point. Due to the low octane number, it thickens during frost. This process begins at about -5 degrees. Full freezing occurs at -15 degrees. This is a huge problem for all diesel owners and hard to fix. Of course, now there are special additives that eliminate this problem, but so far little has been studied about the damage they cause to the engine. In addition, this is already a third-party invention, and we will not consider it.

Toyota Prado is equipped with a special glow plug. This module heats the diesel fuel before starting the engine. But if you forgot about it, then one winter morning you may encounter the fact that your Kruzak simply does not start. Dancing with a tambourine and long minutes of waiting begin. Here, the diesel definitely loses to the gasoline engine, which does not suffer from such problems.

Since diesel fuel is a lean fuel, when burned, it emits less harmful substances. Diesel engines are considered more environmentally friendly, but it should be understood that this applies to high-tech engines used in the Toyota Prado. For example, ship diesel smokes very strongly, but the fuel used there is different.

Analyzing the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, it would be more correct to consider 4 types of engines, two gasoline and two diesel:

The most environmentally friendly is 1GD-FTV, which runs on diesel fuel. It produces the least emissions.As you can see, gasoline units are dirtier. True, there are some nuances here. If the diesel engine has some problems with the injectors, the fuel begins to burn out incompletely, as a result of which the car produces such an exhaust that its level of pollution leaves even a 6-cylinder gasoline engine far behind.

Now, having considered all the cost factors, we can draw certain conclusions. Let's take the main items of expenditure and try to figure out what is better to choose, gasoline or diesel:

Total draw. In general, the seating of both motors will be approximately the same. Accordingly, one should choose based not on economic, but on technical considerations, which we examined in this article.

In terms of the number of nominations taken, the gasoline engine wins by a small margin, but in terms of the total score, the diesel engine wins. There was a draw in several positions, which is why such a collision was formed. However, this does not matter much, since both nominees went, as they say, head to head, and we failed to identify a clear winner.

You should choose a gasoline engine if you are important:

1. Maneuverability and flexibility when driving around the city;
2. Simplicity and low cost of maintenance and repair;
3. Easy start in cold weather;
4. Comfortable noise level and low vibrations.

A diesel engine is suitable for those who need:

1. patency;
2. Less fuel consumption;
3. Power;
4. Reliability.