8/24/2026 · VIP Cars prodajni tim
Diesel, petrol or hybrid — how to choose
The question of drivetrain is among the most frequent we hear at viewings. The answer depends not on trends but on two figures: how many kilometres you cover annually and on what kind of routes. Below is an overview by drivetrain.
Petrol — the city and shorter routes
If you drive mostly in town and up to roughly fifteen thousand kilometres a year, a modern petrol engine is the simplest choice: cheaper to buy than a comparable diesel, with more affordable regular servicing and without a particulate filter that requires regular open-road driving.
Diesel — for higher mileages
A diesel drivetrain is justified at higher annual mileages: daily commutes, motorway use and twenty thousand kilometres a year or more, where lower consumption and engine flexibility come into their own. A diesel that permanently covers short city routes is exposed to particulate-filter problems, as the filter cannot regenerate in such conditions. With a used diesel the usage history is therefore decisive — fleet vehicles as a rule cover long, steady routes, the most favourable working regime for that engine type.
Hybrid — city economy without a charger
A self-charging hybrid delivers its greatest savings precisely where a diesel suffers: in stop-start city driving, where the electric motor takes over the costliest stretches. An automatic gearbox and quieter drive come with it. A plug-in hybrid makes sense only with regular access to charging — without it you drive a heavier vehicle with an empty battery.
What our fleet offers
All three drivetrains: frugal petrol engines for the city, diesels with a fleet motorway history and newer-generation hybrids. On the vehicle list you can filter the offer by fuel type and compare specific vehicles at specific prices.
What annual mileage justifies a diesel engine?
Around twenty thousand kilometres a year is taken as a rough threshold, with the emphasis on longer routes. Below that, with mostly urban driving, petrol or hybrid power is as a rule the more appropriate choice.
Is hybrid maintenance more expensive?
Regular servicing of a hybrid is comparable to a petrol car, and thanks to regenerative braking the brakes often last longer. What matters, as with any used vehicle, is that the maintenance history is known and documented.
Is the particulate filter a reason for caution with a used diesel?
The particulate filter causes difficulties in diesels that have permanently covered short city routes. Fleet diesels as a rule cover long distances — the most favourable regime for the filter — and the history of our vehicles is known and available for inspection.