Only speaking for myself. I owned both a 2010 Golf TDI and 2013 Beetle TDI. I had the Golf because at the time I needed something with four doors and carry capacity but didn't want a CUV/SUV and the diesel was a good deal. I had the Beetle as a TDI based on the Golf experience and wanted a convertible with good mileage.

To be frank, I went with the diesels because the mileage was very good just looking at the EPA numbers which are when the emissions system is supposedly working. At first I was worried about smell but the only smell I encountered was the fuel itself.

I have no problem buying another diesel should it fit my needs at the time. Yet the advances in gasoline engines more than make up for the advantage diesels have. I know with my 4cyl turbo Z4 I am getting sufficient mileage (32 lifetime, 40 on pure highway) that I have no reason too go back.

Now for larger vehicles the mileage improvement is about the only way to go; that being pickups and SUVs. There really aren't any hybrid trucks about and the few SUVs that are do work but diesels seem to offer better highway.