In 2011 diesel-powered cars outsold petrol-powered cars for the first time ever in the UK - with 981,594 diesel sales compared to 934,203 sales for petrol cars.
While diesel-powered cars tend to be more expensive and less powerful then petrol versions, they are often more efficient and emit less carbon emissions - meaning lower costs in terms of company car tax and road tax, not to mention fewer trips to petrol pumps.
Get a FREE quote on your next
Click below and save up to 30% on a new
Get a FREE quote on your new car
Click below and save up to 30% on a new car
But just which models are doing the most to persuade UK drivers to pick diesel ahead of the previously dominant petrol car? If you're in the market for a diesel-powered car ask yourself whether 20,000 car buyers can be wrong; this data from SMMT amounts to vital peer-review information on which one might suit you best.
Using data from the SMMT, we've compiled the UK's ten best selling diesel cars in the UK in 2011, along with some handy factoids on power, fuel economy and costs for the best-sellers.
Chances are your next diesel car is in this list.
#10 - BMW 1 Series
Cheapest diesel model:
Hatchback 116d ES - £20,195
The BMW 1 Series had the UK's tenth best selling diesel line-up in 2011. The latest hatchback model, launched during 2011, offers a range of 2.0-litre diesels with different outputs of 114bhp, 140bhp, 181bhp or 214bhp.
Whilst not the most efficient, the 214bhp unit is the most powerful of all diesel engines featured in this top ten.
The most efficient option of all however is the 114bhp 1.6-litre 116d, available only on the EfficientDynamics trim. In manual this 1 Series returns 74mpg and emits just 99g/km in CO2 meaning exemption from paying road tax.
Total UK sales in 2011:
21,095
#9 - Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Cheapest diesel model:
Saloon C200 CDI BlueEFF SE - £27,195
The compact executive Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the ninth best selling diesel car in 2011. Sold in saloon, coupe and estate bodystyles, the whole C-Class line-up offers a 1.8-litre CDI diesel and 2.2-litre C200 and C220 CDI diesels with a few different power outputs. There's also a 3.0-litre C350 CDI in automatic transmission.
The cleanest and most efficient option is the 167bhp C220 which on the saloon model returns 64mpg and emits 117g/km in CO2.
The other two C220 units, which deliver 134bhp and 201bhp respectively, both officially return 58mpg on the C-Class saloon. These impressive figures make the C-Class a worthy choice for motorists looking for a more premium diesel car.
Total UK sales in 2011:
22,466
#8 - Nissan Qashqai
Cheapest diesel model:
1.5 dCi Visia Pure Drive 2WD - £17,995
The Nissan Qashqai diesel range was the eight best selling in the UK through 2011, and it's the only SUV-type vehicle to make the top ten. The Qashqai offers three dCi diesel engines, including a 108bhp 1.5-litre unit, a 128bhp 1.6-litre unit and a 147bhp 2.0-litre unit.
The 1.6-litre dCi is the only engine to feature stop-start technology which shuts the unit down when the car is stationary, saving on both fuel and emissions. As a result this engine is also the most eco-friendly, with an official fuel economy of 62mpg and CO2 emissions at just 119g/km.
Total UK sales in 2011:
24,391
#7 - Ford Fiesta
Cheapest diesel model:
1.4 TDCi Studio 3-door - £11,795
While it was overall the highest selling car in the UK during 2011, with 96,112 registrations, the Ford Fiesta had just the seventh best selling diesel range that year. The supermini's range currently features two TDCi diesel engines including a 69bhp 1.4-litre unit, which returns 68mpg and means CO2 emissions of 107g/km.
Better still there's also the 93bhp 1.6-litre Econetic II which records 78mpg and emits as little as 87g/km. Not only does this bring exemption from paying road tax, but the Econetic II is by some distance the cleanest diesel engine of all featured in this top ten.
Total UK sales in 2011:
24,745
#6 - Volkswagen Passat
Cheapest diesel model:
Saloon 1.6 TDI 105 S Bluemotion Tech - £20,080
The Volkswagen Passat's diesel range was the sixth best seller in the UK in 2011. Both the saloon and estate models offer a 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI Bluemotion diesels, the former delivers 103bhp while the latter has two outputs of either 138bhp or 167bhp. The Passat estate also has the biggest boot of any diesel model featured in this top ten, with a minimum capacity of 603 litres.
Both of the 2.0-litre engines officially return 61mpg on the saloon model, while the 167bhp emits slightly more CO2 at 120g/km compared to 119g/km for the 138bhp unit. The 1.6-litre diesel with the Bluemotion trim is the most eco-friendly, returning 68mpg and emits just 109g/km in CO2.
Total UK sales in 2011:
29,157
#5 - Vauxhall Astra
Cheapest diesel model:
Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoflex ES - £17,980
The Vauxhall Astra diesel range was the fifth best selling of all in the UK through 2011. Both the hatchback and Sports Tourer Astra offer several CDTI ecoflex diesels including a 93bhp 1.3-litre unit, a 162bhp 2.0-litre unit and in between a 1.7-litre unit with several outputs.
The picks of the bunch are the 108bhp and 128bhp 1.7-litre units, which in the hatchback Astra officially returns 76mpg and emit 99g/km, meaning exemption from road tax.
Total UK sales in 2011:
30,277
#4 - BMW 3 Series
Cheapest diesel model:
Saloon 316d ES - £24,880
The BMW 3 Series was the fourth best selling diesel car in the UK through 2011. In 2012 the latest saloon model offers four 2.0-litre diesels with power outputs varying from 114bhp to 181bhp.
The most eco-friendly unit can be found on the EfficientDynamics trim, which uses a 160bhp 2.0-litre unit and returns 68mpg, with CO2 emissions at just 109g/km. All other diesel models emit either 118g/km or 120g/km.
Total UK sales in 2011:
32,895
#3 - Ford Focus
Cheapest diesel model:
Hatchback 1.6 TDCi 95 Edge - £17,295
The Ford Focus diesel range was the third best selling in the UK through 2011. The family car in hatchback or estate form offers two diesel units, each with two different power outputs.
Currently available is a 1.6-litre TDCi which can deliver either 93bhp or 113bhp. With either output the 1.6 engine officially returns 67mpg and emits 109g/km in CO2 on the hatchback model.
There's also a 2.0-litre TDCi with 138bhp or 160bhp, again with either performance figure the Focus hatchback returns the same fuel economy and CO2 output figures, which are 56mpg and 129g/km.
Total UK sales in 2011:
35,492
#2 - Vauxhall Insiginia
Cheapest diesel model:
Hatchback 2.0 CDTi 130 ES - £19,570
The Vauxhall Insignia had the second best selling diesel range in the UK in 2011. There are a large number of different diesel powertrains to pick with the Insignia, all featuring a 2.0-litre CDTi engine.
The pick of the bunch is the 157bhp unit with engine stop-start technology, in the hatchback it returns 65mpg and CO2 emissions are just 115g/km. Alternatives power outputs include 128bhp or 192bhp, which offer similar but lower figures for fuel economy and emit more CO2.
Total UK sales in 2011:
38,987
#1 - Volkswagen Golf
Cheapest diesel model:
Hatchback 1.6 TDI 90 S 3-door - £17,280
The UK's best selling diesel car in 2011 was the Volkswagen Golf hatchback. The popular family car is available with a 1.6-litre or 2.0 litre TDi diesel engine with different
The cheapest to run is undoubtedly the 1.6 Bluemotion unit which has a combined fuel economy of 74mpg while CO2 emissions are just 99g/km, which means owners are exempt from paying road tax.
Total UK sales in 2011:
46,714