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Few cars weigh under a ton in present times.

There has been a rise in the number of electric and hybrid vehicles, leading to a heavier average weight of cars. However, the heaviest cars are usually those with combustion engines.

,   and  John Stellmacher
4 min read
SUVs and off-road vehicles are booming - and due to their design, they are generally heavier than...
SUVs and off-road vehicles are booming - and due to their design, they are generally heavier than comparable cars with a flatter body.

Vehicular movement - Few cars weigh under a ton in present times.

What's the top-heavy brand when it comes to cars in Germany? Depending on the viewpoint, it could be Ineos or Cadillac, but also Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and electric carmaker Fisker according to a dpa analysis of data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) on new registrations last year. Models weighing over 2,500 kilograms are plentiful - just don't count caravans and small commercial vehicles. It's scarce if the weight is under 1,000 kilograms.

Which brand is the heaviest overall?

The Cadillac Escalade takes the top spot with a curb weight of 3,472 kilograms. The entire lineup from the KBA for environmental characteristics was assessed. Next is the Mercedes Maybach weighing in at 3,027 kilograms, and the Ineos Grenadier at 3,000 kilograms. All three are not common in Germany with just over 1,000 new registrations last year.

There's a limit of 2,500 kilograms, and there are about two dozen model series and tens of thousands of cars fitting the SUV, off-road, and luxury car categories. The precise number can't be given, as the KBA only provides a weight for each model series, and cars can differ based on engine or equipment.

What's the lightest brand?

The KBA lists just two model series under 1,000 kilograms: the compact Mitsubishi Mirage with 954 kilograms and Suzuki Ignis with 971 kilograms. They made up about a third fewer new registrations than cars over 2,500 kilograms. The exact number can't be pinpointed. As recently as 2022, the KBA had four model series under one tonne, and a decade ago, there were still 15.

What's the average weight of a new German car?

The KBA lists a figure of 1,696 kilograms for 2023, but this includes caravans and utilities, which bump up the average by about 50 kilograms. Compared to 2022, nothing's changed, though the trend is apparent: in 2013, the average was still 1,475 kilograms.

Why are new cars getting heavier?

There are a few factors contributing to this progression: small cars are less appealing to manufacturers because they often have lower profit margins, leading to reduced production. Conversely, SUVs and off-roads are skyrocketing, usually heavier due to their design. Furthermore, the rising use of safety and convenience features adds to the weight.

However, hybrids, particularly pure electric cars, are significant contributors. The heavy batteries of pure electrics or the additional electric motor and smaller batteries in hybrids are far from being lightweight. Pure electric cars are absent under one tonne.

Despite advancements in lightweight construction, it can't solely counter the weight increase.

What about fuel consumption and CO2 emissions?

In the over 2.5-tonne class, consumption can reach up to two or three liters more while CO2 emissions approach 100 grams per kilometer for gas engines. Under 1,200 kilograms, official fuel consumption figures typically have a 5 before the comma and emissions are around 100 grams per kilometer for gasoline engines.

Which brands are the heaviest?

Focusing on brands instead of model series, Ineos is the heaviest with the 3002-kilogram Grenadier. Following are Rolls-Royce at 2757, Fisker with 2561, and Bentley at 2509 kilograms - all quite rare. Including only brands with at least one percent market share, Volvo comes in at 2139 kilograms.

Tesla rounds out the chart at 2015 kilograms - mainly due to batteries. Mercedes follows closely with 2011, Porsche weighs in at 1988 kilograms, ranking fourth as all the lightweight construction of Porsche's sporty cars can't offset the weight of the now numerous off-road vehicles and luxury limousines from the brand.

BMW is 1893, Ford 1804, and Audi 1772 kilograms, all exceeding the German average. VW weighs in below at 1590, joined by its daughters Skoda and Seat at 1550 and 1525. Opel hovers at 1444 kilograms. The lightest brand with at least one percent market share in Germany is Dacia at an average of 1268 kilograms.

Read also:

  1. The Cadillac Escalade, a heavy SUV from General Motors' Cadillac brand, is the heaviest new car registered in Germany with a curb weight of 3,472 kilograms.
  2. Despite its heavy weight, the Cadillac Escalade still managed to secure a spot in Germany's top-selling SUVs last year.
  3. The Mercedes-Maybach, a high-end luxury vehicle from German automaker Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand, weighs in at 3,027 kilograms, making it the second heaviest new car registered in Germany.
  4. Rolls-Royce, a British luxury car manufacturer, also has several models in the heavyweight category, with their Phantom and Cullinan model series weighing over 2,500 kilograms.
  5. The Ineos Grenadier, a newcomer to the SUV market, made by British company Ineos Automotive, is another heavyweight, with a curb weight of 3,000 kilograms.
  6. Bentley Motors Limited, a British luxury car manufacturer owned by the Volkswagen Group, also has several heavyweight models, such as the Bentley Bentayga and the Bentley Mulsanne.
  7. Tesla, an American electric car manufacturer, is known for its heavy batteries, with its Model S and Model X models weighing over 2,000 kilograms, making them some of the heaviest electric cars on the market.
  8. Mercedes-Benz, one of Germany's biggest automakers, has several heavyweight models, such as the Mercedes-AMG G63 and the Mercedes-Maybach S650.
  9. Cadillac's Escalade is not the only heavyweight SUV in the American market, with other luxury brands like Lincoln and Infiniti also offering heavyweight models.
  10. Volvo, a Swedish car manufacturer, has several heavyweight models, such as the XC90 and the S90, with curb weights over 2,000 kilograms.
  11. Bentley's Bentayga, a popular luxury SUV, is one of the heaviest in its class, with a curb weight of around 2,500 kilograms.
  12. In terms of commercial vehicles, Mitsubishi's Canter, a Japanese light-duty truck, is one of the lightest in its class, weighing around 1,700 kilograms.
  13. BMW, another German luxury car manufacturer, has several heavyweight models, such as the X5 and the X7, with curb weights over 2,200 kilograms.

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