Popular plug-in hybrid SUVs could face additional charges of up to £4,480 under a proposed vehicle weight levy from environmental campaign group Transport & Environment.
The proposal would impose a fee of £10 per kilogram exceeding 1,600kg on new petrol, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Battery electric cars would receive a 400kg allowance, raising their threshold to 2,000kg to account for battery weight.
Leasing.com applied the proposed thresholds to 20 of the most-enquired-about models generating half of its SUV enquiries in 2026. The Peugeot 5008 plug-in hybrid produced the highest illustrative charge at £4,480, with a minimum kerb weight of 2,048kg placing it 448kg above the proposed limit.
Other notable examples included the Leapmotor C10 PHEV at £3,500, the Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV at £3,160, the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid at £3,000, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV at £2,830, and the Kia Sportage PHEV at £2,420.
Powertrain Differences Within Same Models
Analysis revealed significant variations in outcomes based on the powertrain type within the same vehicle range. For instance, a petrol-powered JAECOO 7, weighing 1,524kg, would fall below the proposed threshold, while its hybrid counterpart at 1,640kg could incur a £400 charge. The plug-in hybrid version, weighing 1,795kg, might face a £1,950 levy.
Among the nine all-electric SUVs with available weight data, eight remained under the 2,000kg threshold. The BYD Sealion 7, weighing 2,225kg, was the exception and could be subject to a £2,250 charge.
The calculations are based on the minimum kerb weight of the specific vehicles examined. Actual charges would depend on the final policy details, the chosen vehicle variant, and the registered weight.
Mike Fazal, chief executive of Leasing.com, noted that SUVs now account for 74% of all car enquiries on the platform, rising to 78% among electric cars, suggesting a weight-based levy could affect a significant portion of the new-car market.
“We’ve also seen how quickly newer SUV models have resonated with drivers,” Fazal said. “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.”
This proposal is not yet government policy, and there has been no official announcement regarding its inclusion in the Autumn Budget scheduled for October 28.