I am in Europe, and I drive a Diesel Hyundai Tucson. And yes, it is true that there's a "Diesel craze" going on over here. However, since Diesel is cheaper here as well, the state gets his money anyway - by jacking up the car tax that you pay each year (mind you, car tax in Europe is mainly based on engine displacement - the 'liters' and emissions). So, you might have a car that uses cheaper gas, but you pay higher taxes.
And - Diesel cars do get annoying after a while - they're noisy! They idle like a tractor, too. I have to admit - the longer I am stuck with a Diesel, the more I want a quiet gasoline based car. Preferably a Hybrid for inner-city stop-and-go smoothness. But that's another story...
Long story short - my next car will be a gasoline based car.
Cheers,
Rainer