A diesel is a big winner in low end torque, so if you're buying a tow vehicle, getting a diesel makes good sense. If you run the freeways putting on 50K per year, a diesel can outlive a gas engine by 2X or 3X assuming the vehicle built around it lasts as long as the engine . . . . but modern gas engines are starting to live as long as the vehicle they came in too. A diesel gets better mileage, but it pollutes more and the fuel costs a bit more. Almost all new diesels now have a urea tank which you have to keep up with, which can get expensive enough to almost offset any fuel cost advantages. For me, if I drove it a LOT and/or if I was buying it primarily to tow a heavy load, I would look to a diesel, otherwise the modern gas engine would get my vote. In actuality, I would rather have an electric vehicle than either one . . . . and I do own three ?
Don