Well fuel penalty is not so bad if you calculate it out, We only do around 10000 miles per year, the additional cost of petrol is close to the lower AP for the petrol car, This will be the first petrol car for many years so we will see. Yes the X1 1.8 s drive is very economical on long runs averaging around 50 mpg, that however drops dramatically if all your running is shorter trips.( somewhere around 40 mpg) Which most of ours are now. plus the problem of DPF filters and EGR valves which dont like short runs.
We are thinking exactly the same. We have run diesels for years as I prefer their mid range torque and the need to refuel them less often. However, now that we are retired and doing around 10k miles a year, the additional fuel cost of a petrol becomes less of an issue. Also, Motability seem to be wacking quite a premium on diesels in terms of AP’s, compared to the petrol equivalents, which will wipe out the difference and may even make the petrol models cheaper to run. As you say, diesels need a good long run regularly or can become problematic, whereas petrols are more forgiving for short journeys. BMW diesels are superb and just as quiet as most other brands petrol engines. Our 2018 diesel Tiguan is gruff and unrefined in comparison hence why, if we get another one next year, it will probably be a petrol and most likely the 190PS 2.0i one, so hopefully won’t feel too lethargic compared to our current diesel.