Buyers are getting more and more concerned with the cost of motoring, and with fuel prices rising, it’s making the most of the go-go juice that is currently focusing their minds.

The great news for buyers is that they can save on the purchase price of their used car – and its running bills. But it is key for consumers to understand their car driving needs.

Diesels seem the obvious place to start, and with a rising number of diesel cars passing out of the fleet networks and into dealers, it would seem that now is the time to buy.

However, for short journeys and urban driving, a diesel-powered car is unlikely to offer significant savings. It’s on motorways and over long distances when a diesel really comes into its own.

The trump card going for diesels is the sheer diversity of cars that are on sale. Want a funky supermini? Then try the Mini One D. All the style of a Mini but with nearly 60mpg from the 1.4-litre diesel.

Going prestige is no problem either, with all the German marques offering excellent diesel engines, and even stylish coupés come with oil burners, such as Peugeot’s 406 coupé and Mercedes’ C-class coupe.

However, buyers should consider that diesel engines need servicing more regularly and it can be costly. What’s more, many of the latest, small-capacity petrol engines fitted to city cars are offering decent power and barely sip the octane juice, too.