Vincentric, the automotive research firm specializing in lifecycle cost measurement, announced its 2013 Diesel Cost-of-Ownership Analysis today, with 12 of 26 diesel vehicles measured having a lower total cost-of-ownership than their gasoline-powered counterparts. This is an increase of four vehicles compared to 8 of 23 vehicles with a cost advantage in the 2012 study, with the percentage of financially cost-effective diesels increasing 11.4 percent, according to the authors of the study.   

The 12 diesel vehicles with lower ownership costs included the Ford F-350, GMC Sierra 3500, all four Mercedes-Benz diesel models measured, along with the Audi A3, BMW X5, and four of five Volkswagen diesel models. The average price premium for a diesel was $5,392, with average fuel cost savings of $2,117. When all costs to own and operate a diesel were taken into account, the average cost-of-ownership for diesels was $1,017 more than their all-gasoline powered counterparts, up $266 from the previous year, with results assuming an annual mileage of 15,000 each year for five years.

Vincentric said it measures eight cost elements for over 3,000 vehicles configurations per model year, including depreciation, financing, fees and taxes, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost and repairs. Each month Vincentric recompiles its database to take into account current vehicle prices, resale values, fuel costs, finance rates and other economic and market factors to ensure that users have access to up-to-date and accurate ownership costs.