Petrol, diesel or electric in 2026?

28 May 2026 · The Carnado team

"What should I buy?" is the most common question when choosing a used car. The answer doesn't depend on trends but on your annual mileage and the way you drive. Let's take a practical look.

Short trips, city driving (up to 12,000 km a year)

Petrol is usually the most sensible choice — lower purchase price, simple maintenance.
Diesel doesn't cope well with short city trips (the particulate filter clogs up).
Electric makes sense if you can charge at home.

Lots of motorway driving (25,000+ km a year)

Diesel still leads over long distances thanks to its fuel economy and range.
Electric can handle motorways too, but plan your charging stops.

What to check for each powertrain

Petrol: condition of the timing gear; for turbocharged engines, the turbo's service history.
Diesel: DPF (diesel particulate filter), injection system, EGR valve.
Hybrid: health of the traction battery and condition of the brakes (regenerative braking spares them).
Electric: battery SOH (State of Health) — the key figure for its condition.

Total cost, not just the price tag

The cheapest car in the listings isn't necessarily the cheapest one after three years. Factor in fuel or electricity, maintenance, insurance and the expected resale value.

Once you know which powertrain you're after, set the filter on Carnado and compare offers across all the marketplaces at once.