There was a time when riding diesel represented a real boon. Cheaper at the pump, benefiting from lighter taxation and less consumption, he had established himself as the favorite fuel for motorists. At the top of its glory, in the early 2010s, 70 % of new vehicles sold in France rolled to diesel.
But this golden age is over. In August 2025, the liter of diesel amounted to € 1.64, barely three cents less than that of petrol (€ 1.67). A gap that has become insignificant, where it was about fifteen cents a year ago. Diesel no longer really saves money, except in very specific cases of use.
Costly dependence on import
The decline of diesel is partly explained by geopolitical reasons. Unlike petrol, mostly produced on French territory, diesel is imported at more than 50 %. From the embargo on Russian hydrocarbons, its supply roads have been completely redesigned.
From now on, French diesel comes from the Middle East, India or the United States, resulting in considerable logistical costs. Despite ad hoc reductions in the price of a barrel, the final price of diesel remains high because of the complexity and price of its transport. The absence of investments in infrastructure and the drop in stocks in Europe still aggravate the situation.
Loss of speed in motorists
The other key factor in the degreasing of diesel lies in its progressive disaffection. Dieselgate scandal, low -emission zones (ZFE), fiscal uncertainty and power of electricity ended up boring buyers.
The figures are clear: in the first half of 2025, only 9.4 % of cars sold in Europe are diesel, against 12.8 % the previous year. In France, the fall is even more brutal, with only 4.9 % of purchases. Result: a limited offer, low demand and therefore an increase in price in the liter, even in a declining market. The blow of grace could be carried in 2035, with the ban on the sale of new thermal cars in Europe.
The myth of the economy collapses
Rolling on diesel is no longer financial evidence. Between a cost at the pump almost equivalent to petrol, an often more expensive interview and an increasingly unfavorable taxation, diesel has lost its appeal. It even becomes, for some urban motorists, a real burden.
However, it remains suitable for certain profiles, including large rollers or those who regularly borrow the motorway axes. But for the majority of motorists, hybrid or petrol vehicles are now becoming more judicious in the long term.
To summarize
Diesel is no longer the economic fuel that has been known. In 2025, between prices increase, manufacturers’ disinterest and import dependence, riding diesel cost much more than it seems. The myth collapses.
