SALES of new diesel cars may have fallen by more than 300,000 vehicles so far in 2018 but demand for the fuel is proving more popular than ever with those less concerned by lower residual prices.
Research from Vantage-leasing.com shows that enquiries for leasing of diesel cars is up 13% compared with 2017 and remain the most popular for those leasing vehicles.
It believes the increasing popularity of leasing diesel is because the lender or broker takes on ownership of the vehicle, so it is risk free for the customer, allowing them to select the best car for the job without worrying about the future.
James Buttrick from Vantage Leasing, said: “Our latest research shows, many motorists are still keen to benefit from the performance of a diesel vehicle but are looking to leasing as a way of avoiding any falling residual prices.”
The increasing popularity of diesel leasing contrasts sharply with data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) which shows that year-to-date new car diesel sales slumped from 1,008,323 in 2017 to just 707,702 in 2018.
The decline is highlighted further in figures which show that the sale of new diesel cars collapsed from 42.2% market share in 2017 to 31.8% in 2018 year-to-date.
Among the most popular diesel cars to lease are the Range Rover Evoque and Jaguar E-PACE.
Buttrick added: “We’re constantly adding new diesel models to our portfolio to keep up with demand. The surge in diesel popularity shows no sign of letting up as motorists still see the appeal of driving a diesel model, with cheaper running costs and greater torque, among many benefits.
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