Market Watch: Buy These Cool Pre-Owned Diesel Cars In Singapore Today

Singapore’s stance is clear - new registrations of diesel cars and taxis have ceased since the start of the year. And while current diesel units can still be driven beyond their current COE lifespan, they’ll be subjected to higher road tax.

It’s a pity, really, but understandable from a bird’s eye view standpoint. Our push for electrification comes at the cost of deterring usage of combustion engines, and diesels are flagged out way sooner than petrol-powered variants.

We’re always in favour of more vehicle diversity on local tarmac - pure ICE, mild hybrids, PHEVs and EVs - there’s different strokes for different folks. It’s also safe to infer that diesels within the pure ICE community itself might draw varied opinions. But with the spotlight increasingly cast on EVs and more recently PHEVs, perhaps we can also give some airtime on this near-extinct form of propulsion. This trio has the personality to match its atypical drivetrain in the local context.

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC250d AMG Line 4MATIC

Depreciation: S$24,500 per year

To opt for a diesel GLC (presumably parallel imported) back in 2017 in Singapore when petrol and PHEVs were offered sounded like a bold move. But we reckon that diesels truly thrive in coupe SUV format.

500Nm from a 2.1-litre turbodiesel trounces 350Nm found in the GLC250 petrol, and nearly matches the 520Nm available in the full-fat V6 turbo GLC43 AMG. There was also a GLC220d powered by 400Nm of thrust back in the day, but we can’t deny the appeal of bringing into action a torque-rich behemoth in 2025.

2017 Maserati Levante Diesel 3.0 V6

Depreciation: S$36,500 per year

Given its association with Ferrari, the temptation to drive a Maserati powered by a high revving petrol is always evident. But back in 2016 when it was launched, right hand drive Maserati Levantes were only offered as a diesel.

Petrol variants soon followed, but if you were after a mid-sized crossover SUV form factor, a 600Nm diesel-powered Levante sounded intriguing. A claimed 13.8km/l fuel efficiency was magical alongside a petrol V6 Modena’s 8.6. Stylish grocery runs can be rather economical, too.

2017 Infiniti Q30 Diesel 1.5T

Depreciation: S$11,900 per year

Choices are numbered if you’re after a hatchback. A dual clutch, diesel-propelled hatchback makes it a near impossible find, unless you’re sourcing from the now-defunct Nissan, Renault and Mercedes partnership. The Infiniti Q30 hatchback looks sharp and appears competitive on paper, but due to its drivetrain choice and rarity working against its favour, pre-owned examples have taken a free-fall, which in turn benefits used car buyers.

108hp and 260Nm will make city drives a brisk affair, and 20km/l claimed fuel efficiency ensures that diesels sign off with one final flourish. It’s yours for less than S$1,000 depreciation monthly.

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