- Frugal diesel-burners
- Audi A6 40TDI/45TDI – 1,126 to 1,404km
- Audi Q5 40TDI Quattro – 1,048km
- BMW 220d Coupe M Sport – 1,063km
- BMW 320d – 1,180km
- BMW 420d – 1,229km
- BMW 520d – 1,269km
- BMW 740d – 1,073km
- BMW X1 sDrive18d – 1,080km
- BMW X3 sDrive18d/xDrive20d/xDrive30d – 1,030 to 1,308km
- BMW X4 xDrive20d – 1,214km
- BMW X5 xDrive30d – 1,026km
- BMW X6 xDrive30d M Sport – 1,026km
- BMW X7 xDrive40d – 1,000km
- Ford EcoSport 1.5TDCi Ambiente – 1,130km
- Ford Everest 2.0 Bi-Turbo – 1,013km
- Ford Ranger 2.0 Single-Turbo/Bi-Turbo – 1,039 to 1,159km
- Isuzu D-Max Gen 6 250C/250 – 1,013 to 1,053km
- Isuzu D-Max 1.9TD – 1,027 to 1,070km
- Isuzu Mu-X 3.0TD – 1,053km
- Jaguar E-Pace D200 – 1,226km
- Jaguar F-Pace D200 – 1,017km
- Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi – 1,059km
- Kia Sorento 2.2CRDi – 1,177km
- Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi – 1,102km
- Land Rover Defender D250/D300 – 1,072 to 1,113km
- Land Rover Discovery D300 – 1,141km
- Land Rover Discovery Sport D200 – 1,066km
- Lexus LX500d – 1,325km
- Mahindra Pik Up 2.2CRDe – 1,013km
- Mazda BT-50 1.9TD – 1,152km
- Mazda CX-5 2.2DE AWD Akera – 1,018km
- Mercedes-Benz C220d – 1,404km
- Mercedes-Benz CLA220d – 1,159km
- Mercedes-Benz E220d – 1,269km
- Mercedes-Benz G400d AMG Line – 1,042km
- Mercedes-Benz GLB220d – 1,091km
- Mercedes-Benz GLC220d/300d – 1,100 to 1,200km
- Mercedes-Benz GLE300d/400d – 1,067 to 1,250km
- Mercedes-Benz GLS400d – 1,139km
- Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 DI-D Double Cab Manual 4×2 – 1,000km
- Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi – 1,053 to 1,111km
- Range Rover Evoque D200 – 1,121km
- Range Rover Sport D350 – 1,081km
- Range Rover Velar D200 – 1,051km
- Range Rover D350 – 1,081km
- Renault Duster 1.5dCi Automatic – 1,042km
- Toyota Fortuner 2.4GD-6/2.8GD-6 – 1,013 to 1,177km
- Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6/2.8GD-6 – 1,000 to 1,127km
- Toyota Land Cruiser 76 4.5D-4D V8 – 1,121km
- Toyota Land Cruiser 78 4.2D – 1,513km
- Toyota Land Cruiser 79 4.2D/4.5D-4D – 1,000 to 1,552km
- Toyota Land Cruiser 300 3.3D – 1,236km
- Toyota Prado 2.8GD – 1,765km
- VW Amarok 2.0TDI/Bi-TDI – 1,039 to 1,159km
- VW Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI – 1,268km
There are over 50 diesel-powered cars on the South African market with the fuel-efficiency chops to surpass the impressive 1,000km milestone on a single tank.
Diesel is known for its better economy when compared to petrol, making this fuel type an attractive option for buyers who want to spend as little time as possible visiting filling stations.
They are also better for applications where more torque is needed than power, such as hauling heavy loads or climbing rocky 4×4 trails, resulting in several large bakkies and SUVs being equipped with diesel-burning motors.
While all of the vehicles on the list below are capable of driving over 1,000km on one refill, they have vastly differing shapes, powertrains, and target markets, with everything from luxury sedans to budget crossovers also being in the mix.
To illustrate just how different they are, the model with the smallest motor and tank is the Renault Duster with a 1.5-litre mill and 50-litre fuel cell, returning a combined consumption of 4.8l/100km.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 has a 4.2-litre unit and two massive 90-litre tanks, as a result sipping 13 litres of fuel for every 100km driven.
At July’s prices of R19.82/litre of Diesel 50ppm at inland rates, this is how much it will cost to refill the varying tank sizes found in most diesel vehicles.
Tank | Price to refill |
---|---|
50 litres | R991 |
60 litres | R1,189 |
70 litres | R1,387 |
80 litres | R1,586 |
90 litres | R1,784 |
100 litres | R1,982 |
110 litres | R2,180 |
120 litres | R2,378 |
130 litres | R2,577 |
140 litres | R2,775 |
150 litres | R2,973 |
160 litres | R3,171 |
170 litres | R3,369 |
180 litres | R3,569 |
Frugal diesel-burners
The list below details the diesel-burning autos you can buy with a claimed range in excess of 1,000km.
It’s worth mentioning that in some instances, only one unit in a particular range was capable of eclipsing 1,000km on a tank, in which case the specific model name was provided.
In others, the majority of the line-up can achieve the feat, in which case the vehicle and engine combination was provided.
Click on the underlined prices for more information.
Audi A6 40TDI/45TDI – 1,126 to 1,404km
- Fuel cons. – 5.2l/100km
- Tank size – 73 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm; 183kW/600Nm
- Starting price – R1,051,500
Audi Q5 40TDI Quattro – 1,048km
- Fuel cons. – 6.2l/100km
- Tank size – 65 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R982,900
BMW 220d Coupe M Sport – 1,063km
- Fuel cons. – 4.8l/100km
- Tank size – 51 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R894,706
BMW 320d – 1,180km
- Fuel cons. – 5.0l/100km
- Tank size – 59 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R935,768
BMW 420d – 1,229km
- Fuel cons. – 4.8l/100km
- Tank size – 59 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R994,858
BMW 520d – 1,269km
- Fuel cons. – 5.2l/100km
- Tank size – 66 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R1,081,376
BMW 740d – 1,073km
- Fuel cons. – 6.9l/100km
- Tank size – 74 litres
- Power – 210kW/650Nm
- Starting price – R2,358,207
BMW X1 sDrive18d – 1,080km
- Fuel cons. – 5.0l/100km
- Tank size – 54 litres
- Power – 110kW/360Nm
- Starting price – R815,617
BMW X3 sDrive18d/xDrive20d/xDrive30d – 1,030 to 1,308km
- Fuel cons. – 5.2-6.6l/100km
- Tank size – 68 litres
- Power – 110kW/350Nm; 140kW/400Nm; 195kW/620Nm
- Starting price – R981,224
BMW X4 xDrive20d – 1,214km
- Fuel cons. – 5.6l/100km
- Tank size – 68 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R1,187,894
BMW X5 xDrive30d – 1,026km
- Fuel cons. – 7.8l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 210kW/650Nm
- Starting price – R1,706,850
BMW X6 xDrive30d M Sport – 1,026km
- Fuel cons. – 7.8l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 210kW/670Nm
- Starting price – R1,826,850
BMW X7 xDrive40d – 1,000km
- Fuel cons. – 8.0l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 250kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R2,017,457
Ford EcoSport 1.5TDCi Ambiente – 1,130km
- Fuel cons. – 4.6l/100km
- Tank size – 52 litres
- Power – 74kW/205Nm
- Starting price – R322,500
Ford Everest 2.0 Bi-Turbo – 1,013km
- Fuel cons. – 7.5l/100km
- Tank size – 76 litres
- Power – 154kW/500Nm
- Starting price – R848,300
Ford Ranger 2.0 Single-Turbo/Bi-Turbo – 1,039 to 1,159km
- Fuel cons. – 6.9-7.5l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 125kW/405Nm; 154kW/500Nm
- Starting price – R494,400
Isuzu D-Max Gen 6 250C/250 – 1,013 to 1,053km
- Fuel cons. – 7.7–7.9l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 58kW/176Nm; 100kW/320Nm
- Starting price – R357,300
Isuzu D-Max 1.9TD – 1,027 to 1,070km
- Fuel cons. – 7.3-7.4l/100km
- Tank size – 76 litres
- Power – 110kW/350Nm
- Starting price – R431,800
Isuzu Mu-X 3.0TD – 1,053km
- Fuel cons. – 7.6l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 140kW/450Nm
- Starting price – R800,000
Jaguar E-Pace D200 – 1,226km
- Fuel cons. – 5.3l/100km
- Tank size – 65 litres
- Power – 147kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R1,187,900
Jaguar F-Pace D200 – 1,017km
- Fuel cons. – 5.9l/100km
- Tank size – 60 litres
- Power – 150kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R1,480,100
Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi – 1,059km
- Fuel cons. – 6.8l/100km
- Tank size – 72 litres
- Power – 148kW/440Nm
- Starting price – R869,995
Kia Sorento 2.2CRDi – 1,177km
- Fuel cons. – 6.8l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 148kW/440Nm
- Starting price – R879,995
Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi – 1,102km
- Fuel cons. – 4.9l/100km
- Tank size – 54 litres
- Power – 100kW/320Nm
- Starting price – R609,995
Land Rover Defender D250/D300 – 1,072 to 1,113km
- Fuel cons. – 8.0-8.3l/100km
- Tank size – 89 litres
- Power – 183kW/570Nm; 221kW/650Nm
- Starting price – R1,515,100
Land Rover Discovery D300 – 1,141km
- Fuel cons. – 7.8l/100km
- Tank size – 89 litres
- Power – 221kW/650Nm
- Starting price – R1,772,300
Land Rover Discovery Sport D200 – 1,066km
- Fuel cons. – 6.1l/100km
- Tank size – 65 litres
- Power – 147kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R1,305,400
Lexus LX500d – 1,325km
- Fuel cons. – 8.3l/100km
- Tank size – 110 litres
- Power – 225kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R2,507,600
Mahindra Pik Up 2.2CRDe – 1,013km
- Fuel cons. – 7.9l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 103kW/320Nm
- Starting price – R258,999
Mazda BT-50 1.9TD – 1,152km
- Fuel cons. – 6.6l/100km
- Tank size – 76 litres
- Power – 110kW/350Nm
- Starting price – R630,400
Mazda CX-5 2.2DE AWD Akera – 1,018km
- Fuel cons. – 5.7l/100km
- Tank size – 58 litres
- Power – 140kW/450Nm
- Starting price – R778,700
Mercedes-Benz C220d – 1,404km
- Fuel cons. – 4.7l/100km
- Tank size – 66 litres
- Power – 147kW/440Nm
- Starting price – R1,072,599
Mercedes-Benz CLA220d – 1,159km
- Fuel cons. – 4.4l/100km
- Tank size – 51 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R944,198
Mercedes-Benz E220d – 1,269km
- Fuel cons. – 5.2l/100km
- Tank size – 66 litres
- Power – 143kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R1,066,926
Mercedes-Benz G400d AMG Line – 1,042km
- Fuel cons. – 9.6l/100km
- Tank size – 100 litres
- Power – 243kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R3,032,023
Mercedes-Benz GLB220d – 1,091km
- Fuel cons. – 5.5l/100km
- Tank size – 60 litres
- Power – 140kW/400Nm
- Starting price – R998,388
Mercedes-Benz GLC220d/300d – 1,100 to 1,200km
- Fuel cons. – 5.5-6.0l/100km
- Tank size – 62-66 litres
- Power – 143kW/400Nm; 162kW/440Nm; 180kW/500Nm; 215kW/550Nm
- Starting price – R1,156,053
Mercedes-Benz GLE300d/400d – 1,067 to 1,250km
- Fuel cons. – 6.4-7.5l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 180kW/500Nm; 243kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R1,623,789
Mercedes-Benz GLS400d – 1,139km
- Fuel cons. – 7.9l/100km
- Tank size – 90 litres
- Power – 243kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R2,041,243
Mitsubishi Triton 2.4 DI-D Double Cab Manual 4×2 – 1,000km
- Fuel cons. – 7.5l/100km
- Tank size – 75 litres
- Power – 133kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R629,990
Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi – 1,053 to 1,111km
- Fuel cons. – 7.2-7.6l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 120kW/403Nm; 140kW/450Nm
- Starting price – R406,500
Range Rover Evoque D200 – 1,121km
- Fuel cons. – 5.8l/100km
- Tank size – 65 litres
- Power – 146kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R1,258,100
Range Rover Sport D350 – 1,081km
- Fuel cons. – 7.4l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 258kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R2,283,700
Range Rover Velar D200 – 1,051km
- Fuel cons. – 5.9l/100km
- Tank size – 62 litres
- Power – 146kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R1,660,600
Range Rover D350 – 1,081km
- Fuel cons. – 7.4l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 258kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R3,246,100
Renault Duster 1.5dCi Automatic – 1,042km
- Fuel cons. – 4.8l/100km
- Tank size – 50 litres
- Power – 80kW/250Nm
- Starting price – R421,999
Toyota Fortuner 2.4GD-6/2.8GD-6 – 1,013 to 1,177km
- Fuel cons. – 6.8-7.9l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 110kW/400Nm; 150kW/500Nm
- Starting price – R673,100
Toyota Hilux 2.4GD-6/2.8GD-6 – 1,000 to 1,127km
- Fuel cons. – 7.1-8.0l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 110kW/400Nm; 150kW/500Nm; 165kW/550Nm
- Starting price – R387,000
Toyota Land Cruiser 76 4.5D-4D V8 – 1,121km
- Fuel cons. – 11.6l/100km
- Tank size – 130 litres
- Power – 151kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R1,022,100
Toyota Land Cruiser 78 4.2D – 1,513km
- Fuel cons. – 11.9l/100km
- Tank size – 180 litres
- Power – 96kW/285Nm
- Starting price – R868,100
Toyota Land Cruiser 79 4.2D/4.5D-4D – 1,000 to 1,552km
- Fuel cons. – 11.9-13.0l/100km
- Tank size – 130-180 litres
- Power – 96kW/285Nm; 151kW/430Nm
- Starting price – R796,600
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 3.3D – 1,236km
- Fuel cons. – 8.9l/100km
- Tank size – 110 litres
- Power – 225kW/700Nm
- Starting price – R1,458,900
Toyota Prado 2.8GD – 1,765km
- Fuel cons. – 7.9l/100km
- Tank size – 150 litres
- Power – 150kW/500Nm
- Starting price – R1,145,500
VW Amarok 2.0TDI/Bi-TDI – 1,039 to 1,159km
- Fuel cons. – 6.9-7.5l/100km
- Tank size – 80 litres
- Power – 110kW/350Nm; 125kW/405Nm; 154kW/500Nm
- Starting price – R499,000
VW Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI – 1,268km
- Fuel cons. – 7.1l/100km
- Tank size – 90 litres
- Power – 190kW/600Nm
- Starting price – R1,365,100
Keyword: Cars that can go 1,000km on a tank of diesel