Ford has updated its line-up, which includes diesel engines being dropped from the majority of its passenger car range. 

The most notable change is on the Kuga – one of Ford’s best-sellers and a hugely popular model in the family SUV class. The latest generation launched last year, with buyers having a choice of petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains to choose from. However, as the demand for diesel cars drops, Ford has taken the decision to discontinue models powered by the fuel, with 1.5- and 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engines only available on used examples. 

A choice of petrol engines remain available, though, along with a standard hybrid and plug-in hybrid – the latter of which offers seriously impressive efficiency figures thanks to its 35-mile electric range. The electrified models in Ford’s line-up are also proving increasingly popular.

Elsewhere, Ford has now made three of its core products hybrid-only, which not so many years ago would nearly have always been supplied with a diesel engine. These include the soon-to-be-discontinued Mondeo, as well as the spacious S-Max and Galaxy MPVs. 

Diesel sales have continued to fall in recent years, with models powered by the fuel making up less than 10 per cent of all new cars registered in November, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. In fact, almost twice as many EVs were registered in the same month. 

With the fuel dropping in popularity on the new car market, many manufacturers are reducing their diesel offerings. Mini, for example, now sells no diesels, while Renault only offers the fuel on its commercial models, and not on its conventional car range.