Popular plug-in hybrid SUVs could lead to hikes of up to £4,480 under a vehicle weight levy proposed by environmental campaign group Transport & Environment.
The group has called for new petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars weighing more than 1,600kg to be charged £10 for every kilogram above the threshold.
Battery electric cars would receive a 400kg allowance, taking their proposed threshold to 2,000kg to reflect the additional weight of their batteries.
PHEV models face highest charges
Leasing.com applied the proposed thresholds to examples of the 20 most-enquired-about models which generated half of its SUV enquiries during 2026.
The Peugeot 5008 plug-in hybrid produced the highest illustrative charge. Its minimum kerb weight of 2,048kg placed it 448kg above the proposed threshold, creating a potential levy of £4,480.
The Leapmotor C10 PHEV could attract a £3,500 charge while the Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV could face £3,160.
Other examples included £3,000 for the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid, £2,830 for the Hyundai Tucson PHEV and £2,420 for the Kia Sportage PHEV.
The modelling also demonstrated how different powertrains within the same model range could produce substantially different outcomes.
A petrol JAECOO 7 weighing 1,524kg would remain below the threshold. The 1,640kg hybrid could attract a £400 levy while the 1,795kg plug-in hybrid could face £1,950.
Most electric SUVs avoid levy
Eight of the nine all-electric SUV examples for which Leasing.com had weight data remained below the proposed 2,000kg threshold.
The exception was the 2,225kg BYD Sealion 7, which could attract an illustrative charge of £2,250.
The calculations use the minimum kerb weight of the specific offers analysed. Actual liabilities would depend on the final design of any policy, the vehicle derivative selected and the weight recorded for registration.
Mike Fazal, chief executive of Leasing.com, said: “SUVs now account for 74% of all car enquiries on Leasing.com, rising to 78% among electric cars, so a weight-based levy could have implications for a significant part of the new-car market.
“We’ve also seen how quickly newer SUV models have resonated with drivers. The JAECOO 7 and revived Vauxhall Frontera, both relatively recent additions to the UK market, are now our two most enquired about SUVs this year. They are just two examples of the many new SUV models that have arrived in recent years as manufacturers respond to changing consumer preferences.
“What’s clear from our analysis is that the higher 2,000kg threshold would keep many of the most popular electric SUVs outside the proposed levy. But not all of them would escape it, and for heavier models the additional cost could still run into the thousands.”
The proposal is not Government policy and no announcement has been made that it will be included in the Autumn Budget on October 28.
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