Small MPV recommendations (Megane Scenic/Xsara Picasso etc)

[leestudd30]

At the moment I'm quite keen on either a Picasso with the 2 litre HDi engine due to the mpg and the cheaper tax (£74 for 6 mths) or a Scenic with 1.6. Anything with a 1.8 upwards costs at least £137 for 6mths tax, more than my 406. What are diesels like to drive compared to petrols, been a long time since I drove one and I've never owned one.

[Welly]

Diesel is much better than Petrol in an MPV, the torque of the Diesel will make driving a breeze even if fully loaded. Petrol engines will seem wheezy and need working hard on these type of cars.

[KozmoNaut]

What are diesels like to drive compared to petrols, been a long time since I drove one and I've never owned one.

The engine will be a bit noisier, and you will feel more vibration through the steering wheel etc., especially when idling. It will also run a bit more rough while cold and take longer to warm up than a petrol engine.

Very few diesels rev to over 4500rpm, but they generally have no power above 4000 anyway. Luckily, most of them will pull almost from idle with no trouble at all, at least in the first three gears. Never going above 2000rpm except for motorway runs is very possible. On the other hand, the throttle response is worse than petrols and you've got a bit of turbo lag to factor in as well. On a 2-litre diesel you will probably never notice, though.

And they don't sound anywhere near as nice as an EW12J4 above 5000rpm with a decent exhaust ;-)