Chevrolet Leads the Way in Light-Duty Diesels for 2018

General Motors’ 2018 offerings comprise nearly 50% of the entire light-duty diesel automotive market.

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when diesel powered cars and trucks looked like the future. With fuel economy ratings and driving ranges far superior to their gasoline-powered brethren, light-duty diesels carried a ton of appeal. But Volkswagen’s “Diesel Gate” scandal effectively stopped this powerplant renaissance in its proverbial tracks. Since then, most automakers are shying away from oil burners. Except Chevrolet and its parent General Motors, that is.

The EPA recently released its 2018 preliminary fuel economy guide, and there are several interesting takeaways from the data. But what caught our eye in particular is the fact that there are only 11 light-duty diesel offerings certified for the coming model year. And a whopping 5 of those come from General Motors. GM’s light-duty diesel burning lineup includes the Chevrolet Cruze, Colorado, and Equinox, as well as the GMC Canyon and Terrain.

Outside of those five vehicles, you’ll have to turn to a foreign luxury nameplate for a light-duty oil burner. Jaguar Land Rover has four choices, and BMW offers two. So you could certainly call GM and Chevrolet trail blazers in this regard, seemingly unafraid of the massive backlash suffered by the VW Group. Well, almost.

Despite the incredible fuel economy ratings touted by GM’s diesel offerings, you won’t catch them bragging about them too much. According to Automotive News, Chevrolet plans to roll out a few magazine ads and maybe a social media promotion or two. But you probably won’t be seeing anything on TV. And that subtle push is a direct result of the black eye Volkswagen’s scandal left on diesel powered vehicles.

Still, you have to give Chevrolet and General Motors credit for having the guts to move forward when others simply won’t. Most likely, consumers will eventually begin to trust diesel offerings again. And when they do, GM will be the most established player in that market. By a long shot.

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.