Remember when diesel was the holy grail of motoring? About two decades ago, so you may be forgiven for being hazy on the point, but back then the automotive industry, European governments and, yes, car journalists drank the dieselly Kool-Aid, so to speak.
The (then) new orthodoxy was that diesel was cleaner and more economical than petrol, which had usually been true, but that now, in the 21st century, the manufacturers had developed turbo-charging technology and engine design to such an extent that the lucky drivers of 2005 could have their cake and eat it – superlative economy and excellent performance.
