Cars that can go 1,000km on a tank of diesel

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.

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