I don't know about small diesel engines other than the economical drive but here in the states there are tons of 3/4 ton and above diesel pickups with diesel engines. the dodge rams with the cummins gets about 20 miles a gallon usually with an ungodly amount of power. the diesel trucks around here make the petrol V8 obsolete and then some. I was just figuring you do that to a little thing and get similar results

well, i guess if you're talking about 6 - 7 litre diesel engine, compared to a 5 litre petrol, its a wanna-have. But over here putting a 1.6 80hp petrol in a kick does the job. It's funny in a way, over here when modding most buy either a 3.3 diesel for a 2 ton 4x4. And if possible they'd go for a v8 petrol to give it some juice. Most 'havy' pickups are equiped with a 2.8 common rail turbo diesel.

Older lpg setups do give you a loss in power and mpg, but new ones with mulitpoint gas-injection are no thirstyer than running fuel (i got a 1.6 16v suzuki esteem break with lpg injection system)

well, i guess if you're talking about 6 - 7 litre diesel engine, compared to a 5 litre petrol, its a wanna-have. But over here putting a 1.6 80hp petrol in a kick does the job. It's funny in a way, over here when modding most buy either a 3.3 diesel for a 2 ton 4x4. And if possible they'd go for a v8 petrol to give it some juice. Most 'havy' pickups are equiped with a 2.8 common rail turbo diesel.

Older lpg setups do give you a loss in power and mpg, but new ones with mulitpoint gas-injection are no thirstyer than running fuel (i got a 1.6 16v suzuki esteem break with lpg injection system)

normally comparing the 6-7 litre diesels to 5.7 litre or higher petrol V8's. there is no comparison. a diesel like that is the only way to go with a full size truck around here hands down. wierd they'd put such a small motor is a heavy truck there. see, I want some torquey rubber burning turbo diesel power out of my GV. doesn't sound like the little diesels do that too well

well, the heavyest diesel i know of being sold here was a 4.2 in a nissan patrol. But only very few were actually sold, due the very high tax rate, any petrol enigne above 2.0, or diesel above 3.0 is close to unafordable to any common ppl.
for example, the grand vitara 2.7 v6, would cost us a yearly $723 on taxes, a 5.7 litre petrol would cost a huge $2.892 each year, only on taxes.

Take a diesel for example, 4.2 litre diesel engine (the biggest i can find data on)would be at $4 038  YEARLY! Taxes only.

Don't care how you put it, but thats unaffordable to most, and those who can, buy a huge v8 or v12 instead.

a 2.8 diesel is quiet a heavy engine to our standards, as said, we get the GV in either 1.6 petrol or 2.0, no word spoken about a 2.7. The XL7 came out with that engine, but i haven't heard of 1 being sold, so quickly replaced with a 1.9 turbo diesel.

what country do you live in? those taxes suck. to me they should lower taxes on diesels and maybe raise them a tadd on bigger petrol motors to equal it out cause a big diesel usually gets much better mileage than a petrol and if you run biodiesel it's a clean burning machine. for those concerned about emissions and stuff it makes more sense to run diesels to me. I personally don't think we're destroying the environment but I do like fuel eficient and powerful motors and an inline 6 diesel does the trick.

lots of rambling there but I think it's completely unfair to have to pay so many taxes to have a more eficient (in most cases) vehicle

I live in belgium, so lots of mud, few rocks lol.
Those taxes sure sucks, therefor we get all the tiny engines on the market, but on the other hand, the smaller the better, 1 litre of diesel costs $1.4, 1 litre regular petrol (the cheapes) $1.83. (litre to gallon is x3.79)

So appart from the taxes, the fuel costs loads here to,

but using a 1.9 diesel in a gv we do get bout 35-40miles/gallon.

well, at least you get great mileage. I would kill for 40 miles a gallon. I do like my power though and it doesn't sound like those little diesels have it. can't have everything I guess. sucks about the tax situation there.

Well, we get the GV in 2.0 petrol and 1.9 turbo diesel, they're much alike in power, altho the diesel dominates with torque, the petrol has a bit more bhp, so gets better acceleration and top speed, but hardly worth mentioning.

so it's basicly mileage difference with the diesel and 2.0 petrol? I find it interesting that there are no 2.5's there

Indeed.
In costs the diesel would be more expencive, altho cheaper fuel.

I had a talk with my dealer and he could get me a GV 2.7 v6, altho not officially released here, on special order. yay


Take my word for it, even if they take the european diesels to the us, wich would be rediculus, stick with the petrol

well, if I were in the market for a new ride I would have to test drive both anyways just so I know first hand. the jeep liberty (2nd or 3rd gen cherokee there I believe) diesels here seem to be pretty cool. maybe if they put a bigger diesel in vitaras they would be better although 06 and newer vitaras are just honda CRV's on steroids pretty much and I will nevery buy one of those ever