What Car? Q&A - Which Octavia, diesel or petrol?

Q: I want to buy a Skoda Octavia, and I have an average mileage of between 6000 and 7000 per year. Which will be the most economical to run, petrol or diesel?
Ken Handsley

A: If you compare the 2.0-litre petrol version of the Octavia with the 1.9 TDI PD diesel car, both in Ambiente specification, the diesel car is cheaper to run – partly due to the fact that the petrol model has a higher list price.

Many diesel cars, however, are more expensive to buy than their petrol equivalents and, because diesel fuel is more expensive at the pump, there will be a mileage point below which it will cost you more to run a diesel.