Mercedes could drop diesels in U.S. completely

Diesels--for passenger cars--are a complicated and outmoded technology. Hybrids are the ticket.

Hybrids are great for around town or shorter hops. Right now nothing can top a diesel for long range cruising. As a current diesel owner, although soon not via the TDI buyback, I can see both powertrain positives and negatives. For myself, a hybrid likely makes more sense than diesel, although full electric would do fine for me as well. But until electrics are priced better, I would still prefer a diesel. Because of availability, I may end up with a hybrid instead.

I'm on my first diesel (a "Dieselgate" edition :-( ), and aside from the emissions fraud, I love the engine. I averaged a true 51.8 US MPG across 528 miles on my best tank, in a mid-size SUV with a 3.0 L engine. Combine that with 428 Ft-lbs of torque for brisk acceleration, and you get 0-60 mph times of about six and a half seconds. I'm getting an all-time combined city/highway fuel economy of 36.7 MPG (22,000 miles), including cold winters, which cause terrible fuel economy.

As for the "diesel experience": no smoke, no clatter, no smell, no mechanical issues. Massive acceleration on demand, and great fuel economy if driven gently. Love it!

I'm a big fan of my specific diesel engine. Still, I'm MIGHTILY pissed at the Volkswagen/Audi Group for their emissions scandal!

Not according to TheSteve ... it's only a band-aid. But time will tell. It's been only 15 years and only 1.6m have been sold. Sorry, that's Prius. Hybrids sold to date is 4 million. Sorry, that's only hybrids in the US. Only 9 million have been sold. Again, sorry, that's only US and Japan. I guess it's too early to tell whether hybrid is a viable drivetrain. But time will tell.

I like @TheSteve, but hybrid--not diesel with piss injection to make it legal--is the ticket. I predict that not only wull hybrid kill diesel, hybrids will kill turbo too.

nguyenvuminh: Macintosh computers have a bigger market share in personal computing than Hybrids do in the automotive world. That's worth noting.

Hybrids rule in the same way Macs rule: Their fans love 'em, but for the most part, consumers ignore them.

Also, depending on which source you trust, the hybrid market peaked in 2013 at 3.19% share, and has been in decline ever since. Yup, after 15 years, owning about 3% of the market at its high-point, and falling or the past 3 years straight -- sure sounds like "The Future," don't it? (That's sarcasm, by the way).

One of my cars is a 2013 GL350 Bluetek and I love it.

Its a great drive, it averages 23 mpg in mixed driving and I get up to 27MPG on the highway, seats 7 comfortably and with the 'active curve system' it handles great.

However, it has needed about $4,000 in Nox/Ox sensor work (warranty), the check engine light comes on about once a year, so I suspect that they technology that keeps it in compliance with the laws is fragile. After my last service - performance was down and mileage was down slightly - so (call me a cynic) I would guess that MB pushed thru some kind of software update that dials up the emissions controls and dials back performance. No proof - just a suspicion.

Then - every three weeks since July, I receive a letter from MB USA telling me the very generous trade-in (it really is generous) they will give me for my GL350 and the great deal they can offer me on a new GLS450 (gas). I suspect MB is trying to take these off the road for some reason. The letters are kind of insistent and bizarre.

I love my GL350 so much, I bought the extra 3 year warranty for $4,200 - giving me 7 yr/75K warranty. I suspect MB will lose money on that one.

This diesel thing in America is just bizarre.

@TheSteve - who said hybrid was going to replace combustion engine? Everything in the car market are slices of a bigger pie. Hybrid has proven its effectiveness in the effort to improve fuel economy, lower emissions, while utilizing alternative energy source. 3% from 1 brave company, now utilized by many others, is not a band aid. If you don't like it, say it, there's plenty that don't like hybrid, you're not the only one.

re: "...3% from 1 brave company..."

No, that's not correct. When I said Hybrids peaked in 2013 at 3.19% market share, that represents ALL hybrids, from ALL manufacturers, combined.

nguyenvuminh write to me "...If you don't like it [hybrids], say it..."

I think you misunderstand me. I don't believe hybrids are horrible, or an inherently bad idea. In fact, I'm impressed by the Audi A3 eTron, as a complete package! When I was shopping for my current car, I actually looked hard at getting a hybrid. All things considered, the numbers said diesel worked better for me (think more road trips, less city driving).

I'm just not as enchanted with hybrids as some folks are. Hybrids stalled at about 3% market share in 2013 and have been declining over the 3 years since. Meanwhile, pure EVs -- though they have an even smaller share (TINY) -- have been skyrocketing in popularity. Battery technology has made massive improvements in the past 5 years, and the price of batteries and EV-related tech has been falling rapidly. If (big "if") Tesla can rapidly deliver on the 400,000 Model 3 orders + their current production, it'll be a game-changer.

I have to admit my crystal ball is total crap, but if I was going to bet on which will have greater market share in 20 years, EVs or Hybrids, I'd be betting on EVs. That's just what I *think*. I don't actually know what'll happen.

Make sense? I believe you can drop your unnecessary hate-on for me, but you get to choose whatever suits you best.

Just as a data point, I wrote to Mercedes asking about the new GLC SUV, and noticing they no longer offer a diesel engine option. I asked point-blank if diesels are a thing of the past for MB.

Their reply said the issue is that the government is closely scrutinizing diesels for certification, and in doing so, this introduces long delays to get the vehicles to market. According to Mercedes Benz, a diesel-powered GLC SUV will be available for sale in North America in the first half of 2017.

I didn't ask what's beyond, or about other diesel options.

For the record, more recent press, this time from MB themselves, stated they're NOT dropping diesel in the US in 2017.