First it was V8s, now Stellantis is bringing back diesel engines in Europe

It’s been a busy 12 months or so at Stellantis, with the automaker reversing a number of decisions taken during the reign of its previous CEO Carlos Tavares.

Since his departure in late 2024, the French-Italian-American automaker has brought back V8 Hemi engines to the Ram 1500 range, axed its Chrysler and Jeep plug-in hybrids, and cancelled the long-delayed electric version of the Ram 1500 pickup.

In Europe it has shoehorned a mild-hybrid drivetrain into the current-generation Fiat 500, which was initially designed to be an electric-only model.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.

Now Stellantis has quietly added some diesel engine options back to its sprawling European range.

Analysis by Reuters has revealed diesel drivetrains have been returned to the Peugeot 308 and DS 4 small cars, as well as the Opel Combo, Peugeot Rifter, and Citroen Berlingo van. It has also launched a diesel option for the van-based Opel Zafira people mover.

In a statement Stellantis said: “We have decided to keep diesel engines in our product portfolio and — in some cases — to increase our powertrain offer. At Stellantis we want to generate growth, that’s why we are focused on customer demand.”

The automaker also confirmed that “in response to sustained customer demand” it will continue to produce diesel versions of the Alfa Romeo Tonale and Stelvio SUVs, and Giulia sedan, as well as the DS 7 SUV.

Not so long ago diesel engines were Europe’s preferred drivetrain, but Volkswagen’s Dieselgate emissions testing affair, which first came into the public consciousness in late 2015, ushered in a period of rapid decline for oil-burners.

The newswire cites numbers from CarGurus showing the number of diesel models in the UK has fallen from 167 in 2020 to 57 last year. Of that number just four were from the Stellantis stable, while back in 2020 the brands that now constitute Stellantis offered 26 diesel models.

It will be interesting to see how much growth Stellantis will be able to generate by reintroducing diesel options to its lineup, but it is a segment of the market where Chinese manufacturers don’t have passenger car offerings, with much of their effort concentrated on pure EVs, plug-in hybrids, and extended-range EVs.

MORE: Stellantis posts A$35 billion loss after failed EV push, shares sink 24 per cent