Demand that owners of supersize SUVs, including Range Rovers, pay "pothole tax" (2025)

The colossal cars, many wider than a builder's van and heavier than a small lorry, are chewing up tarmac at an alarming rate and posing a deadly threat to pedestrians and cyclists

Campaigners are calling for a tax hike on Britain's burgeoning fleet of supersized SUVs to help pay for the country's escalating pothole problem. These massive vehicles, often wider than a builder's van and heavier than a small lorry, are wreaking havoc on roads and posing a significant risk to pedestrians and cyclists.

The Clean Cities campaign reports that since 2021, over 4.6 million of these oversized cars, which surpass the dimensions of standard parking spaces, have been sold in the UK. Last year alone saw a staggering 1.2 million cars wider than 1.8 metres purchased.

Critics argue that it's high time these large four-wheelers stopped getting an easy pass. They're advocating for a revamp of vehicle excise duty to benefit smaller, lighter cars – and to financially penalise SUV owners.

"Cars are getting fatter every year while our roads are crumbling," stated Oliver Lord, UK head of Clean Cities. "If you want to drive a tank around town, you should expect to pay for the privilege," reports the Express.

The heaviest cars on UK roads

Make & Model Weight (kg) Width (m)

Range Rover Autobiography 2,510 2.04

BMW X7 2,450 2.00

Mercedes G-Class 2,485 1.98

Audi Q7 2,330 1.97

Tesla Model X 2,420 2.00

Toyota Land Cruiser 2,380 1.98

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2,350 1.96

These beefed-up vehicles spell trouble not just for potholes. A sobering new study has drawn a connection between car weight and fatal accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. The heavier the vehicle, the greater the risk of a lethal crash.

The investigation, conducted by specialists at the University of Huddersfield, discovered that the heaviest cars – those tipping the scales between 2,001 and 2,500kg – were implicated in 26.2 fatal collisions per million cars. In contrast, the lightest vehicles (500-1,000kg) recorded the lowest fatality rates.

But the problems don't stop there. The harm a car inflicts on road surfaces escalates dramatically with its weight.

A two-tonne SUV wreaks an astonishing 16 times more damage than a one-tonne compact, due to the way weight stress rips up tarmac – especially when roads are already compromised by rain. Many modern cars simply can't squeeze into standard parking bays or narrow city streets, resulting in traffic jams, parking pandemonium, and a surge in complaints from local authorities and residents.

Over time, the width of Britain's cars has stealthily expanded, fuelled by consumer demand and stricter safety regulations. Even models traditionally considered 'small' are now far from it.

Cars are getting wider

Model Original Width 2023 Width Difference

Mini (1959) 142cm 176cm +34cm

Ford Fiesta (1989) 155cm 174cm +19cm

Vauxhall Corsa (1982) 153cm 177cm +24cm

Nissan Qashqai (2008) 178cm 184cm +6cm

Currently, road tax or Vehicle Excise Duty is primarily determined by CO2 emissions. However, critics argue that it's high time to introduce a weight-based taxation system as well. In some foreign cities, larger vehicles are charged more for parking – an approach Clean Cities advocates for the UK.

Government officials are feeling the heat to take action before the UK's roads buckle under the strain of our car obsession. Is it time for drivers of oversized SUVs to pay more in taxes?