As fuel prices soar, have diesel cars stopped making sense?

A spin in a new Skoda Octavia diesel estate reminded me that it’s still possible to buy a new oil-burner, while begging the question: why would you?

The car, a 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG Sportline costing £38,645, can do 60.1mpg. However, its mild-hybrid petrol sibling, the £37,265 1.5 TSI e-Tec 150PS DSG Sportline, can do 54.3mpg, just 6mpg less.