Which Is More Efficient: Diesel Vs Hybrid

LeonSci/Tech2025-07-071690

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Which Is More Efficient: Diesel Vs Hybrid

The debate about the benefits and drawbacks of diesel vs gasoline cars has been going on for a long time. But a YouTuber decided he wanted to make things even more interesting, testing out a small diesel powertrain on his car versus the native gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain to see which is more efficient.

Cars just keep getting more expensive.

We love crazy experiments like this, so naturally this hooked us from the get-go. The car in question is an old Honda Insight. It’s the hybrid hatchback most people seem to have forgotten existed because it was completely upstaged by the Toyota Prius when that arrived in the US.

YouTuber Robot Cantina installed a 719cc Kubota diesel engine with a turbocharger bolted up. While the guy says this and all of his past engine swaps have had nothing to do with efficiency. He admits to choosing the Insight because it’s so lightweight and aerodynamic, one could install just about any engine in it and the thing would still drive at least decently.

In other words, this is jus a guy having fun. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be interested in how the turbo-diesel engine stacks up against the original hybrid powertrain when it comes to fuel efficiency. And Robot Cantina plays into that, we guess because it’s fun and interesting.

He has to work through an exhaust leak that’s robbing the turbo of boost pressure, as well as fine tuning a few other items. Builds like these, even though this is a relatively simple one, are never problem free.

After everything is buttoned up, he takes the diesel-powered Insight for a test drive and measures fuel consumption.

On a regular Honda Insight with the hybrid powertrain, fuel economy is 62.7 mpg, according to Robot Cantina. But the turbo-diesel he built achieved an impressive 70.1 mpg, besting the hybrid. Does that surprise you?

Watch the test video for yourself here.

Image via Robot Cantina/YouTube

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