Great points so far.... I'd add as a reason the crappy, rattling, smoking, soot stained diesels that Ford and Chevy/GMC rolled out in the mid-80s.
Those things were an absolute embarrassment. Americans were left with such a sour taste about anything diesel that it's taken 3+ decades to try it again.
I drove a Duramax for 6 years and loved it. I'd gladly own another diesel and am excited to seem them trickling in to some passenger vehicles. Tow-vehicle aside, those BMW and Audi SUV diesels sure look nice. It's no coincidence they are European. Hopefully, USA will catch up soon and get in the mix. Although, American automakers seems to be going more towards the electric/hybrid route.
