10 of the Best Diesel SUVs in Australia

Diesels have proven themselves as one of the best engine choices for a large SUV package thanks to their plentiful and accessible torque and solid fuel efficiency over a comparable petrol engine.

Manufacturers are well aware of just how well the combination works, offering no shortage of medium and large SUVs packages with a turbo-diesel engine to keep your family moving around town or off the beaten track.

To help you out with your search for a new, diesel-powered SUV, we’ve mapped out ten of our favourites currently on sale here in Australia in 2025.

Isuzu MU-X 3.0L 4x4

Isuzu’s MU-X has been updated for 2025, with a fresh styling makeover joined by an updated safety and infotainment technology suite and a rejigged rough terrain mode for even more off-road potential.

These days, the MU-X is a pretty well-mannered daily driver around town with strong towing capabilities and a versatile nature that is perfect for adventurous Aussie families, with the added bonus of a cost-effective 1.9-litre turbo-diesel offered alongside the flagship 3.0-litre unit and choice of both 4x2 and 4x4 systems.

• Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

• Transmission: Six-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 140kW / 450Nm

• Fuel Economy: 7.8 - 8.3L/100km (4x2 vs 4x4)

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Seats: 7

• Boot Size: 311 - 1,119 - 2,138L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)

• Warranty: Six-year/150,000-kilometre

Ford Everest 4x4 bi-turbo

The Ford Everest stacks up as another almighty option for adventurous Aussie families, with its turbo-diesel beating heart and rock-solid platform shared with the Ranger giving it a wide range of abilities on and off the road.

The Everest range is offered with a choice of two diesel engines, including a 2.0-litre bi-turbo unit at the base of the range and a more powerful 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged unit that throws out 600Nm of torque.

• Engine: 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel

• Transmission: Ten-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 154kW / 500Nm

• Fuel Economy: 7.1 - 7.2L/100km (4x2 vs 4x4)

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Seats: 5 - 7

• Boot Size: 259 - 898 - 1,818L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre

Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is a wonderful midsize SUV package that offers tonnes of tech, a super practical cabin and the choice of four engines, including a lovely turbo-diesel across every trim level.

Kia’s turbo-diesel engine is smooth and civilised around town, offering a healthy 416Nm of torque with just a wiggle of your right toe, all-wheel drive confidence on the road and solid fuel economy figures.

• Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

• Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 137kW / 416Nm

• Fuel Economy: 6.3L per 100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 1,900kg

• Seats: 5

• Boot Size: 542 - 1,829L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)

• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre

Mazda CX-70 D50e

The Mazda CX-70 is a lovely family car that debuted with a choice of silky smooth inline-six petrol and diesel powertrains - the latter of which offers tonnes of power and solid fuel efficiency figures.

The CX-70 rides on a massive platform shared with the flagship CX-90 and offers sublime interior space and a monstrous boot to keep up with any family.

While we’ve listed the CX-70 specifically, any of Mazda’s latest-generation large SUVs like the CX-60, CX-80 and the CX-90 are offered with the lovely inline-six diesel unit - just pick the platform that best suits for family needs.

• Engine: 3.3-litre turbocharge inline six-cylinder diesel + 48V mild hybrid assist

• Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 187kW / 550Nm

• Fuel Economy: 5.4L/100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 2,500kg

• Seats: 7

• Boot Size: 923 - 2,015L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Unrated

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre

Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai’s flagship SUV is an incredibly comfortable, premium and practical family mover that is offered with both a V6 petrol and a turbo-diesel beating heart.

With an eight-seat layout, tonnes of space across its three-row cabin and a lengthy equipment list, the Palisade is hard to beat if you’ve got a large family and you’re looking for a more road-focussed SUV package with a diesel engine.

• Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

• Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 147kW / 440Nm

• Fuel Economy: 7.3L/100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 2,200kg

• Seats: 7 - 8

• Boot Size: 311 - 704 - 1,297L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre

Land Rover Defender D300

The latest-generation Defender lineup is one of the most luxurious yet hardcore off-roaders that provides a first-class experience inside the cabin while remaining silky smooth on the road.

The Defender 130 comes with a three-row, eight-seater cabin that provides ample space for large families while tackling the Great Outdoors thanks to its powerful turbo-diesel engine, lofty ground clearance and aggressive approach angle.

• Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder diesel

• Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 221kW / 650Nm

• Fuel Economy: 7.9L/100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Seats: 5 - 8

• Boot Size: 389 - 1,232 - 2,291L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2020)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre

Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series

The almighty Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series remains one of the leading options in the world of large, diesel-powered SUVs thanks to its immense pulling power, spacious interior layout and hardcore underpinnings.

Whether you’re lugging a caravan around Australia, tackling an off-road trail or simply dropping the kids off to school, the 300 Series is an incredibly tough yet user-friendly package that offers incredible versatility and a monstrous 700Nm of torque from its turbo-diesel beating heart.

• Engine: 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel

• Transmission: Ten-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 227kW / 700Nm

• Fuel Economy: 8.9L per 100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Seats: 5 - 7

• Boot Size: 1,153 - 2,502L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre (can extend to seven-years)

Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series

Toyota’s latest-generation 250 Series LandCruiser Prado is one of the best-selling diesel SUVs in its segment of the market, providing a wide-range of off-road abilities with a more user-friendly set of manners when driving on the sealed stuff.

With a platform carried over from the 300 Series, the latest Prado is a beast off-road while impressing on the street with its new, funky styling package, with Toyota adding some mild-hybrid assistance to the trusty 2.8-litre turbo-diesel powertrain.

• Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel + 48V mild-hybrid assist

• Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 150kW / 500Nm

• Fuel Economy: 7.6L per 100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Seats: 5 - 7

• Boot Size: 182 - 906 - 1,829L (seven-seater)

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre (can extend to seven-years)

Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is a fabulous family car, with a three-row cabin making light work of a family of seven thanks to some clever interior packaging and a lovely turbo-diesel engine option.

Kia offers the Sorento with a turbo-diesel, all-wheel drive version across each model variant which is a particularly nice touch for price-conscious buyers that don’t need to upgrade to the GT-Line to get the extra torque and better fuel economy over the base petrol engine.

• Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

• Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 148kW / 440Nm

• Fuel Economy: 6.1L/100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 2,000kg

• Seats: 7

• Boot Size: 179 - 608 - 1,995L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2020)

• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre

GWM Tank 300

Our list wraps up with the GWM Tank 300, a package that offers unique styling, solid turbo-diesel power and outstanding value for money in the segment.

With a fun-loving nature and impressive set of abilities off-road thanks to its 224mm of ground clearance and 33 degree approach angle, the Tank 300 doesn’t shy away from a challenge while over-delivering in terms of features for the money, all of which is backed by a seven-year warranty.

• Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel

• Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

• Power & Torque: 135kW / 480Nm

• Fuel Economy: 7.8L per 100km

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,000kg

• Seats: 5

• Boot Size: 400 - 1,635L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)

• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre

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