there are many to the benefits of diesel
-the motors are around 30% more efficient over gas meaning less does more
-maintenance how does oil change, fuel filter, and air filter sound... no spark plugs or wires no throttle body
-the fuel mileage is incredible (my TDI gets 49.** on the freeway)
-a diesel can have a ton of performance mods with a heavy tune and still return near factory fuel mileage if not better
-gets better fuel mileage than hybrids on freeway
-a new half ton puck up gets roughly 17-19 mpg freeway if you are lucky.. a 3/4 diesel gets about the same and can tow 17,000 pounds if needed. the dodge ecodiesel v6 gets 25mpg and can tow 9200 actual owners report higher MPG about 27 and few with a tune reporting low 30's
GM pulled the plug on the chevy cruze diesel and the only diesel they offer in the US in the duramax that I know of.. jeep had a 4cyl common rail diesel in the liberty, but also pulled the plug on that for what I recall was for new emission laws but said they were going to rerelease it later on, but still have not...
diesel has its advantages and disadvantages...
-the motor being more efficient it takes forever to warm up... so heater in the winter takes longer.. many have not added an electric heater for the cab until motor gets warm enough.
-short drives are not great for the motor
-city MPG is not anything to brag about a hybrid is better if you are stuck in traffic.
-cost of the diesel option is a consideration..
-don't trust anyone to fill your tank you will get gas really quick
-a trashed fuel system by gas will cost roughly $4000 to fix
-the new emission DPF filters and egr filters cause all sorts of problems.
-the DPF exhaust filter is a filter not a catalyst and has to be replaced when full which is currently in the $2500 range.