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Best Diesel SUVs in the UK for 2026

Ranked by UK list price, cheapest first.

Diesel’s reputation has taken a beating, but for one job it remains unbeaten: covering big mileages in a big car. A diesel SUV will tow a caravan up a hill, return 45+ mpg on the motorway and outlast fancier powertrains doing it.

Below, every diesel SUV in our database is ranked cheapest first on UK list price. One caveat: check ULEZ and clean-air-zone compliance before buying — our ULEZ checker tells you in seconds whether a diesel of a given age is compliant.

#1

Land Rover Defender 110 1990

£17,500
- Power: 107 bhp @ 4,000 rpm
- 0–60 mph: 17.8 sec (approx.; factory claim)
Why it ranks: The 200Tdi engine is regarded as one of the toughest diesels Land Rover ever built

Full review →
#2

Jaguar E-Pace 2024

£40,000
- Power: 204PS
- 0–60 mph: 8.1 seconds
- Economy: 40.4 mpg (WLTP combined)
- Boot: 577 litres
Why it ranks: Engaging to drive with sharp, precise steering

Full review →
#3

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 2024

£41,000
- Power: 204 PS
- 0–60 mph: 8.5 seconds
- Economy: 42.8 mpg (WLTP combined)
- Boot: 472 litres
Why it ranks: Stunning design with real road presence

Full review →
#4

Land Rover Discovery Sport 2024

£41,000
- Power: 163 PS (120 kW)
- 0–60 mph: 9.9 seconds
- Economy: 41.5 mpg (WLTP combined)
- Boot: 479 litres (5-seat mode)
Why it ranks: Genuine seven-seat versatility in a compact SUV

Full review →
#5

BMW X3 2024

£48,500
- Power: 197PS
- 0–60 mph: 7.8 seconds
- Economy: 47.9mpg
- Boot: 550 litres
Why it ranks: Best-in-class handling for an SUV

Full review →
#6

Mercedes-Benz GLC 2024

£50,000
- Power: 197 PS
- 0–60 mph: 8.0 seconds
- Economy: 52.3 mpg (WLTP combined)
- Boot: 620 litres
Why it ranks: Supremely comfortable and refined cruiser

Full review →
#7

Land Rover Defender 2024

£60,895
- Power: 249 PS
- 0–60 mph: 7.7 seconds
- Economy: 29.1 mpg (WLTP combined)
- Boot: 786 litres (110, 5-seat)
Why it ranks: Unmatched off-road ability straight out of the showroom

Full review →
#8

Land Rover Discovery 2024

£62,000
- Power: 296hp
- 0–60 mph: 6.5s
- Economy: 32mpg
- Boot: 2,312 litres
Why it ranks: Seven usable seats. Superb off-road. Huge towing ability. Commanding and comfortable.

Full review →

Best Diesel SUVs FAQs

Are diesel SUVs still worth buying in 2026?

For high-mileage drivers and towers, yes — nothing matches diesel for long-distance economy. For low mileages or city driving, petrol or hybrid makes more sense.

Will my diesel SUV be ULEZ compliant?

Diesels registered from September 2015 are generally Euro 6 and ULEZ compliant. Use our ULEZ checker to verify any car by fuel type and year.

Do diesels cost more to tax?

First-year VED follows the same CO2 bands as petrol, though non-RDE2 diesels pay one band higher. Our car tax checker shows the exact figure.

Rankings use live DrivePedia review data and UK list prices. Also try our Smart Car Finder and True Cost calculator.

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