Carbon footprint of cars in in the UK 2023, by market segment and fuel type

The carbon footprint of cars in the UK varies greatly depending on the type of car it is, as well as the fuel type it uses. On average, luxury cars with petrol engines had the highest carbon footprint of all car types in 2023, emitting the equivalent of 318 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer (g CO₂e per km). Meanwhile, diesel powered luxury cars emitted roughly 211 g CO₂e per km. On average, petrol cars and diesel cars had a similar carbon footprint, at roughly 170 g CO₂e per km. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) produce considerably less emissions than their fossil fuel powered equivalents. Excluding BEVs, the transport modes with the lowest carbon footprint in the UK are trains, local buses, and coaches.