The car owners to be 'disproportionately affected’ as new £460 charge could be weeks away
SUV owners are set to be one of the most affected groups if petrol and diesel fuel duty rates are increased in the Autumn Budget.
Drivers with the keys to popular SUV models such as Range Rover machines are set to be “disproportionately affected" by new motoring charges expected to launch in weeks.
It is highly anticipated that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will increase petrol and diesel fuel duty rates in her Autumn Budget on October 30.
At least a 5p fuel duty rise is likely with the Conservatives 5p cut introduced in 2022 set to face the axe.
This move would see rates set at 57.95p for the first time in two years - but a higher 10p increase, raising charges to 62.95p per litre, is still possible.
Any increase will add hundreds to motorists' annual fuel bills with owners of gas-guzzling SUVs likely to feel the sting.
Majid Ismailzada, Marketing Director at GM Direct Hire, has warned motorists with “larger vehicles” will be among the hardest hit.
Majid said: “Fuel duty increases will disproportionately affect drivers of larger vehicles like SUVs, and we encourage our customers to plan for this possibility in their budgets.”
It is believed that SUVs are generally around 15-30 percent “less fuel efficient” than passenger vehicles.
Part of this reason is because SUVs are larger and heavier with less wind resistance than smaller models.
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Carverse explains: “SUVs with bigger engines and heavier gross weights could be less fuel efficient than some hatchback cars, which is something to consider for those who drive a lot.”
Many SUVs also tend to be fitted with larger engines which suck up more fuel to run effectively.
Larger SUVs have fuel tanks around 89 litres, meaning a 5p fuel duty rise would add £4.45 to the total cost of filling to the brim.
Filling up once a week over a year would set owners back over £230.40 every 12 months.
A 10p per litre increase would see charges doubled with owners forced to splash out £460.80 more every 12 months.
In comparison, owners of family cars with 50-litre fuel tanks may expect to pay £2.50 per trip or £130 per year with a 5p rise.
This would be doubled to around £260 every year if fees went up by 10p per litre.
