Large car / SUV: carbon footprint per km
Live factor value
0.2277 kgCO2e per km
Source: UK DESNZ greenhouse-gas conversion factors, 2026 (revision 2). Factor set desnz-2026-r2.
A large car — the band covering big saloons and most SUVs — emits about 37% more per kilometre than the UK average car on the official DESNZ 2026 figures, shown live below. Weight and aerodynamic frontal area are physics the drivetrain cannot argue with.
The market shift toward SUVs has been one of the quiet headwinds against falling transport emissions: it offsets a meaningful slice of what engine efficiency and electrification gain each year. If a large petrol SUV is the family car, its per-km figure approaches double a small car's — visible immediately in the calculator's size options.
Worked example
Typical UK annual mileage (~10,000 km): 10,000 × 0.2277 = 2,277 kgCO2e.
Measure your own with the free travel calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- How much more does an SUV emit than a small car?
- The large-car band runs roughly 60% above the small-car band per km on DESNZ 2026 unknown-fuel figures — approaching double for the biggest petrol models against the smallest superminis.