Five more fast diesels you can buy

There aren’t too many cars that will hit the big top speed leagues and cover 0-62mph in an improbably fast time, while being able to achieve reasonably good MPG figures, are there? For that, you’ll need a diesel. A big powerful one, preferably. With the arrival of Bentley’s first ever car to run on the black stuff, here, in a non-exhaustive list, are more fast diesels you can buy.

Words: Ben Custard

The new Panamera is much better looking than before and now is one of the fastest diesels in the world. With the optional Sport Chrono pack, it’ll hit 0-62 in 4.5 seconds, and go on to a top speed of 177mph from a twin-turbo 4.0-litre engine.

As the name suggests, this packs a whopping 4.2-litre V8 with 380bhp, and will accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.7s, and on to a limited top speed of 155mph. Special mention must go to the fabulous BiTDI engine used in the A6 too; that car will do 0-62mph in five seconds flat.

Another Audi, this time the SQ7, with a mighty 4.0-litre engine that's a bit more powerful than the similar engine in the big Bentley. The two cars have the same torque figure, but despite the power advantage, the Audi gets to 62mph in 4.9 seconds, which is almost tardy, frankly. The engine goes without the third blower, but has an electric compressor to try and alleviate turbo lag. 

The fast diesel X5 shares its 0-62mph and top speed figures with the 535d and even the 330d xDrive. But going from 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds, and onto a limited top speed of 155mph, is arguably more dramatic when you’re so high off the ground.

Spicy name, pretty spicy speeds too. The Cayenne is a lot bigger and heavier than its Panamera cousin, so the 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds and 157mph vmax are significantly lower. Let’s not be under any illusions, though: those stats are mighty impressive for such a large bus.