Do diesels always run rougher than gasoline?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm in Australia and have been test driving a bunch of 1995-1997 Mitsubishi Delicas and even a Jeep Renegade. All were diesels and all feel like they run rough. More vibration, feels like there's less refinement, feels like I'm driving a very heavy car, etc.

Then I hop into my Subaru Impreza which runs on gasoline and it just drives like butter in comparison. All the shifts are crisp. Acceleration is smooth. Very smooth ride and handling. The same goes for an older gasoline Range Rover that I once drove and all the other gasoline cars I've ever driven.

The roughness of the diesel is a little off-putting. If any of my gasoline cars drove like them I'd be inclined to think that there was something wrong, but is the roughness just the nature of a diesel vehicle?

 

[LTC8K6]

Diesels are compression ignition. Sort of like when a gasoline engine knocks.
Newer tech diesels are much better than older tech diesels in regards to running smooth and noise.

Cars generally ride smoother than vans, trucks, and 4X4 SUVs.

 

[Bartman39]

fuzzybabybunny... I drive a Duramax and it is smooth as silk and quiet when running but being a 3/4 ton truck it rides like heck as compared to a 1/2 ton or a car... Like LTC8K6 said the newer tech diesels run alot smoother than older ones did for sure... Heck I remember a place where I worked at had and older Ford 3/4 ton diesel with no turbo and it idled and ran a whole lot rougher than you would think it should but hey it ran...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Is there a rough year for when diesels started to run smoother? Like only after 2010? Or can I expect some 2005 ones to be smooth? And is there a difference between brands?

I've been test driving late 90s models and they're not smooth or refined.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think you'll notice it right away when you test drive a vehicle with a more modern diesel.

I'm not sure when they were phased in. It probably varies by manufacturer as to when they switched.

In the US it possibly coincides with the introduction of very low sulfur diesel, which was for the more modern engines, I think.

 

[thedarkwolf]

The only time I really notice it in my 04 jetta TDI is at idle.

 

[Bartman39]

Not sure but my Duramax is a 2004.5 but the earlier years 2001 and up are the same (had it now for a little over 10 years) ... Very smooth except when they have issues... Ford I think they got it together around 1999 or so...? Dont know on Dodge...?