What Car? Q&A - Can low mileage damage a diesel?

Q: Could you tell me if driving a diesel car between 6000 and 7000 miles per year will damage the engine? I am thinking of buying a new diesel next year and this is the approximate mileage I cover. Diesels seem to be 'greener' than petrols, hence my interest.
Mr G. Smith

A: You won't damage a diesel engine by doing a small number of miles each year, but you'll probably hurt your wallet.

Diesel cars generally cost more to buy than petrol equivalents. The reason they often end up cheaper in the long run is due to better fuel economy, which saves owners money on fuel.

You'll need to cover a lot of miles to make back the extra purchase cost in fuel savings, though.

Because of this, we generally only recommend a diesel to drivers doing more than 15,000 miles a year - but this will depend on the type and cost of the car you're looking to buy.

Diesel cars emit less carbon dioxide than equivalent petrols, so they are often the 'greener' option. The lower CO2 emissions often mean they are cheaper to tax, too.

A hybrid car could also be an option. A Toyota Prius, for example, runs on both petrol and generated electricity, and emits just 106 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

It's reasonably expensive to buy, starting at £17,777 (or £16,614 with a bit of haggling), but won't cost you anything to tax and should average over 65mpg.