http://driving.ca/mazda/auto-news/ne...-north-america

Based on my experiences with these things in Europe, I'd buy a diesel RVR/OS in a heartbeat. Half a heartbeat if I could get a 5 or 6 speed manual AWD.

 

I would have loved a diesel OS

 

Well, considering Mitsu already produce 1.8L diesel OS's in other Euro countries, it shouldn't take all that much to introduce them here.

 

While I have owned a diesel car in the past (and liked it) I would like to bring a couple of major problems that diesel cars would bring (and already brought to other markets)
1. Lower CO2 emission standards,
2. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission,
3. Particulate emission,
4. Driving dynamics,
5. Cost of buying/owning
--------------------------
1. Lower CO2 emission standards
With the introduction of the Euro 6 standards, the manufacturers have to reduce their CO2 emissions. In this sense the tax brackets (bands in the UK) are good indicators, as to how individual cars can cope with this. Closer to the beginning of the alphabet the designation is better the emission of the vehicle should be. Mitsubishi's own 1.8L (115 or 150HP) and 2.2L (150 HP) engines are not flaring particularly well (ASX 2.2L turbo diesel is a G class). Mazda's 2.2L diesel (155HP) is currently C or E, whether it is 2WD or AWD, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, Mercedes GLA (200D) is in B band (2WD) or D-band (4matic). To improve something the ASX is now available with a new 1.6L turbodiesel version (112 HP), which jumps it up to E-band. Lower CO2 emission standards may not come here but the NOx problem is certainly here already.
http://www.nextgreencar.com/car-tax/...itsubishi/asx/

2. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission
Mazda is unable to meet the new standards yet and must introduce the AdBlue technology:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...ftertreatment/.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dalebuss...nox-emissions/.
With other diesel manufacturers Mazda, Mercedes and Honda, and our beloved Mitsubishi are also tainted with the VW alike problem:

http://www.hybridcars.com/eu-researc...rld-emissions/. With these problems I do not think that we are going to see new diesels soon.

3. Particulate emission
Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) has already bittered the life of many diesel ASX owners. The 1.8 L diesel supposed to clean its own filer periodically. When this happens the car goes into some kind of a creeping mode (reduced performance) and apparently the cleaning is not effective enough (clogging is an every day struggle) and it is not restricted to Mitsubishi diesels:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...ith-a-DPF.html Repair may cost from £90 (cleaning) to a £1,000 (replacement).
See some posts and desperation from our ASX Owners Club about DPF:
http://www.asxownersclub.com/forum/s...&childforums=1
Just a comment, I think soon particulate filters will be required in cars equipped with direct injection gasoline engines (just wipe the tail pipe of any (except Skyactiv) GDI engine and you will find "healthy" amount soot on your towel/finger). Repair costs (for cleaning) in these engines are already reality here in North America.

4. Driving Dynamics Everybody praises the low end torque available in diesels but both the 1.8L (no longer in production) and the 2.2L Mitsubishi diesel ASX cars are (were) ~11 s cars when it comes to 0-60, while the smaller 1.6 L is another half a second slower (2WD only)
http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/mitsubishi/asx. North Americans do not take these numbers lightly.


5. Costs
There is about 15-20% premium in the purchase price over a 2.0L gasoline variant (Australia is the only market where both the 2.0L gasoline and the 2.2 TD are avilable):
http://www.caradvice.com.au/compare-...itsubishi-asx/
Generally the service periods are shorter for diesels and the warranty is certainly not for 10 years (just like it is shorter for Ralliart and EVO even here).
Given, how much I drive annually and the above issues I will certainly pass even if they come here.
I have not even mentioned the noise levels yet (Mitsubishi diesels were developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Division and are known to be noisy (go to 5:50 in the video below):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DavPAEvKiDI