Diesel powered crossovers are a rare sight in the United States and there’s about to be two less options.
According to Autoblog, General Motors will no longer offer the 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine on the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. The option is being discontinued for 2020 as there wasn’t enough demand to justify keeping the engine around.
There’s no word on how many diesel-powered models the company managed to sell, but GMC spokesperson Stuart Fowle told the publication “A huge majority of our Terrain customers have opted for one of our two gas engines.” That isn’t too surprising as the 2019 GMC Terrain SLE Diesel stated at $32,995 which made it $3,700 more expensive than the Terrain SLE and $6,800 more than the base model.
While the diesel engine wasn’t very popular, the four-cylinder produced 137 hp (102 kW / 139 PS) and 240 lb-ft (325 Nm) of torque. It was paired to a six-speed automatic transmission which enabled the crossover to return an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of up to 28 mpg city / 39 mpg highway / 32 mpg combined.
With its discontinuation, the Equinox and Terrain will now be offered with two engines. The entry-level turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder produces 170 hp (127 kW / 172 PS) and 203 lb-ft (275 Nm) of torque. Customers can also opt for a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 252 hp (188 kW / 255 PS) and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) of torque.
Also Read: 2018 GMC Terrain Brings Much Needed Updates To Aging Model
Diesel fans aren’t entirely out of luck as Mazda’s long delayed 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D engine will be offered on the 2019 CX-5 Signature AWD. It’s more powerful than GM’s mill as the engine produces an estimated 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) and 290 lb-ft (393 Nm) of torque. Unfortunately, it’s not very fuel efficient as the crossover has an estimated fuel economy rating of 27 mpg city / 30 mpg highway / 28 mpg combined. The bad news doesn’t stop there as pricing starts at $41,000 before a destination and delivery fee of up to $1,090.
