http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/ Autoblog Comments for http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
Time to start thinking. Ugly and slow Prius, or fast, brilliantly shaped 5 series, hmm...]]>Mar 23rd 2008 12:12PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
This test is proof that you can alter the conditions of any situation to get the outcome you desire. So a diesel gets good mileage on the highway. No surprise there. Too bad there are so few diesel cars in the U.S. and the fuel's outrageous.]]>Mar 23rd 2008 12:33PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
First, BMW is much more expensive.

Second, why did they only add 100 miles urban driving? Just felt pity for Toyota? If 460 miles were driven on BMW's strong point, then at least 350 miles should have been driven on Toyota's strong point (urban).]]>Mar 23rd 2008 12:42PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
Diesels can give you better mileage without making you feel like you're sacrificing your driving experience in some world-saving crusade.]]>Mar 23rd 2008 1:01PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
If you're comparing diesel vs gas hybrids, you need to take into account the additional energy-per-liter/gallon, and you need to look at CO2 emissions.

The fact that the Prius had significantly better CO2 emissions is an important stat.

The end result is: they're both great cars, they have different advantages, and they serve different purposes.]]>Mar 23rd 2008 1:19PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
I would love to have a BMW diesel, don't get me wrong, but the Prius still has that crown as an affordable "green" car that gets good gas mileage with midsized car room and hatchback versitility.
]]>Mar 23rd 2008 1:39PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
"Diesel contains about 10% more energy by volume than gas and therefore produces about 10% more CO2 by volume when burned."

Just to clarify: diesel contains more energy because it weighs more. It weighs more because it physically takes more crude oil to make a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gasoline: depending on estimates, it's between 15-25% more crude per gallon.

Then there's the high-strength block, high-pressure injectors, turbocharger and emissions control system. Granted, not quite as complex as a parallel hybrid, but not as simple as a naturally-aspirated gas engine, either.

Compression ignition is a good technology, but I think there's a bias amongst gearheards towards diesel, and it's one that conveniently glosses over the true fuel requirements and complexity inherent in a modern TDI.

]]>Mar 23rd 2008 3:59PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/
While diesel engines are more expensive to manufacture for the reasons you mention, hybrids of course also add complexity. In addition, the diesel, properly maintained, should provide a more consistent level of performance over it's lifecycle than will a battery-assisted gasoline engine (which won't be reaching the same mileage numbers after 100k-200k miles).

There's tradeoffs for both. And this is really an apple-oranges comparison since the 5 series isn't really in the same size or price class as the Prius. I don't think many people are going to be cross shopping a $45k+ mid-sized sedan against a $24k compact.]]>Mar 23rd 2008 4:48PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/Prius 65mpg (imperial), 109g/km
118d 62mpg (imperial), 119g/km

I'd bet that under a real world test the 118d would substantially beat a Prius. The offical figures for a 520d are:
55.4mpg (imperial), 136g/km

It must be noted that the co2/km figure is calculated from the combined cycle fuel economy figure so any test that over states economy will understate co2 emissions.]]>Mar 23rd 2008 7:16PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/Mar 23rd 2008 9:36PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/23/bmw-520d-beats-prius-in-gas-mileage/Mar 25th 2008 3:58PM