Reading time: 6 minutes
Last updated: October 2026
Written by: The Motodan Team
Category: Buying Advice
One of the first decisions you'll face when looking for a used car is what type of powertrain you actually want.
Petrol? Diesel? Hybrid? Electric?
There are plenty of opinions about which is "best", but the truth is that there isn't one answer that works for everyone.
The right choice depends on how you use your car, the journeys you make, where you park, how much you want to spend and what you feel comfortable with.
So rather than telling you what you should buy, let's look at what each option could mean for you.
1. Start with how you actually use your car
Before worrying about fuel type, think about your everyday driving.
Ask yourself:
- How many miles do I normally drive?
- Are most of my journeys short or long?
- Do I mainly drive around town?
- Do I regularly use motorways?
- How often do I make longer journeys?
- Do I have somewhere to charge an electric car?
- Do I need to tow?
- How long am I planning to keep the car?
This is exactly why we always recommend starting with your lifestyle rather than the car itself.
If you haven't already read it, our guide How to choose the right used car for your lifestyle is a good place to start.
Once you understand how you actually use your car, choosing between petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric becomes much easier.
2. Petrol – A straightforward all-rounder
Petrol cars remain a popular choice for used-car buyers.
They can make sense for people who do a mixture of town driving, commuting and occasional longer journeys, particularly if their annual mileage isn't especially high.
Petrol could suit you if:
- You mainly do shorter or mixed journeys
- You don't regularly cover very high annual mileage
- You want plenty of choice on the used-car market
- You want a straightforward refuelling routine
- You don't have access to home charging
Petrol cars are also available across a huge range of sizes, ages and prices, so there is plenty of choice when shopping for a used car.
What should you consider?
Fuel economy can vary significantly between petrol cars.
A small petrol hatchback used mainly around town is going to have very different running costs from a large petrol SUV.
So don't just look at the fuel type - look at the individual car.
3. Diesel – still worth considering?
Diesel has had a lot of negative headlines over the years, but that doesn't mean every diesel car is suddenly a bad choice.
For some drivers, a diesel can still make sense.
Diesel cars have traditionally been particularly popular with people who cover higher mileages and spend a lot of time on longer journeys.
Diesel could suit you if:
- You regularly cover higher mileages
- You frequently drive on motorways
- You regularly make longer journeys
- You want strong long-distance fuel economy
- You need a car suited to heavier use
But if most of your driving consists of very short trips around town, a diesel may not be the most suitable choice.
Modern diesel cars can have additional emissions-control systems and components that need to operate correctly, so how the car is used matters.
That's another reason not to choose a diesel simply because somebody tells you that it's "more economical".
You need to consider whether it suits your type of driving.
4. Hybrid – what does "hybrid" actually mean?
This is where things can get a little confusing.
"Hybrid" covers several different types of vehicle.
A conventional hybrid uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The battery can be charged through the vehicle's systems, including energy recovered during braking, rather than being plugged into the mains.
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can also be connected to an external electricity supply and has a larger battery that can provide electric-only driving for a limited distance.
There are also mild hybrids, where a small electric motor assists the petrol or diesel engine but doesn't drive the car independently in the same way as a full hybrid.
So if you're looking at a hybrid, it's worth finding out what type of hybrid it actually is.
A hybrid could suit you if:
- You do a mixture of town and longer driving
- You want to use electric assistance without going fully electric
- You do lots of stop-start driving
- You like the idea of using less petrol in certain driving conditions
- You aren't ready to make the move to a fully electric car
A hybrid can be an interesting middle ground, but again, the individual vehicle matters.
5. Electric – could an EV work for you?
Electric cars are becoming an increasingly common option on the used-car market.
Instead of using petrol or diesel, a fully electric vehicle is powered entirely by electricity stored in its battery.
For some drivers, an EV can be a very convenient way to run a car.
An electric car could suit you if:
- You can charge at home
- Most of your journeys fit comfortably within the car's usable range
- You mainly drive locally or have predictable longer journeys
- You are comfortable planning charging stops for longer trips
- You like the idea of a quieter driving experience
- You want to move away from petrol or diesel
One of the biggest questions to ask yourself is: Where will I charge it?
If you have off-street parking and can charge at home, an electric car can be particularly convenient.
Home charging can also be considerably cheaper than relying entirely on public charging. Current government advisory rates from September 2026 put home EV charging at 7p per mile, compared with 15p per mile for the public charging rate used for advisory purposes.
Public charging networks are continuing to expand, but if you don't have access to home charging, it's worth thinking carefully about how convenient public charging will be for your routine.
6. What about longer journeys?
This is where your normal driving pattern becomes particularly important.
If you regularly drive long distances, think about:
- How far you normally travel
- How often you stop
- Whether your chosen EV has enough usable range
- Where you could charge along your route
- How long you're comfortable spending charging
- Whether you have access to charging at your destination
An electric car doesn't necessarily mean you can't take long journeys.
It simply means charging becomes part of the journey planning.
For someone who regularly drives hundreds of miles and doesn't want to think about charging, petrol or diesel may feel more straightforward.
For someone who mostly commutes locally and can charge at home, an EV may fit very comfortably into their routine.
7. Think about the cost of running the car – not just buying it
It's easy to concentrate on the purchase price.
But the cost of owning a car includes much more than what you pay for it.
Think about:
- Fuel or electricity
- Insurance
- Vehicle tax
- Servicing
- Tyres
- Brakes
- MOT
- Repairs
- Charging equipment, if required
- Your typical annual mileage
The cheapest car to buy isn't necessarily the cheapest car to run.
And the opposite can also be true.
A car with a higher purchase price may make sense for one driver but not another.
It's worth looking at the whole cost of ownership rather than one number.
8. Don't forget about home charging
If you're considering an electric car, ask yourself a very simple question: Can I realistically charge it at home?
If the answer is yes, think about:
- Where the car is parked overnight
- Whether you can have a home charger installed
- How often you'll actually need to charge
- Whether your electricity tariff offers cheaper overnight charging
If you don't have off-street parking, don't automatically rule out an EV - but you should think carefully about how public charging fits into your life.
Public charging can be more expensive than charging at home, so relying on public chargers for every journey may change the running-cost calculation.
9. What about vehicle tax?
It's also worth checking the current vehicle tax position before buying.
The old assumption that electric cars are automatically "tax free" is no longer correct.
From 1 April 2025, electric cars became subject to Vehicle Excise Duty, and the current rates for 2026/27 depend on when the vehicle was first registered.
This is a good example of why it's worth checking the current costs for the specific car you're considering, rather than relying on something you heard a few years ago.
10. So which one should you choose?
This is the bit where we're supposed to tell you which one is best.
But we're not going to. ?
Because there isn't one "best" fuel type for everyone.
Instead, think about your driving:
Mostly short journeys and everyday driving?
Petrol or hybrid could be worth considering.
Lots of motorway miles and longer journeys?
Petrol or diesel could make sense, depending on your mileage and the individual vehicle.
Lots of local driving with somewhere to charge at home?
An electric car could be worth considering.
Want electric driving but still want an engine for longer journeys?
A plug-in hybrid may be worth looking at.
But these aren't hard rules.
They're simply starting points.
The right choice depends on your individual circumstances and the particular car you're looking at.
Buying With Confidence
Don't choose a fuel type because somebody told you that it's the "best".
Choose based on how you actually use your car.
Think about your normal journeys, annual mileage, charging situation, budget and how long you plan to keep the vehicle.
Then look at the individual car.
Its condition, service history, mileage and overall running costs still matter - regardless of whether there's a petrol engine, diesel engine, hybrid system or electric motor underneath the bonnet.
Before you buy – a quick fuel type checklist
☐ How many miles do I normally drive each year?
☐ Are most of my journeys short, long or a mixture?
☐ Do I regularly drive on motorways?
☐ Do I have somewhere to charge an electric car?
☐ If considering an EV, what is its real-world range likely to be for my driving?
☐ How much would fuel or electricity cost me?
☐ What are the insurance, tax and servicing costs?
☐ Does the vehicle suit the journeys I actually make?
☐ Am I choosing the car because it suits me — or because somebody told me it was the "best" option?
Motodan's honest tip
Don't start with the fuel type. Start with your journeys.
Think about what you actually do in your car on a normal week.
Once you understand that, it's much easier to work out which type of car is likely to suit you.
Motodan fact
"Hybrid" doesn't mean just one type of vehicle.
There are mild hybrids, conventional/full hybrids and plug-in hybrids, and they don't all work in the same way.
If you're considering a hybrid, make sure you understand exactly what type you're looking at.
Motodan's final word
There isn't one right answer.
Petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars can all make sense for different drivers.
The important thing is finding the one that fits your life, your journeys and your budget.
Don't choose a car simply because someone tells you it's the future, the cheapest to run or the most economical.
Choose the car that makes sense for you.
And remember:
Don't start with the car. Start with your lifestyle.
Spidersnet