Guide
Video | Are cars getting too heavy?
Rory looks at why modern cars are piling on the pounds, and whether there’s any alternative
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 12 March 2026 | 0 min read
Does it matter modern cars are so much heavier than their predecessors? Or is it just something reviewers like to moan about when comparing the newest latest with what went before?
In this video Rory asks why the average weight of a modern car has gone up nearly half a tonne in the last decade or so, and what that means for everything from safety to the environment and the state of the roads we all have to drive on. This inevitably means a bit of number crunching as Rory examines the motivations and trends that make modern cars so much heavier than before. But if you’ve ever wondered on the reasons they’re all here, and explained in terms anyone can get their head around. Rory also looks ahead to ask if anything can be done, and whether there’s any kind of engineering equivalent to the weight-loss drugs many are turning to for improving their numbers on the scales. Turns out there might be. And it comes from a very surprising source! We’ll let Rory explain more about that. And if you enjoyed this video and are not yet signed-up to the YouTube channel make sure you subscribe here for all the latest reviews of cars of all shapes and sizes!
In this video Rory asks why the average weight of a modern car has gone up nearly half a tonne in the last decade or so, and what that means for everything from safety to the environment and the state of the roads we all have to drive on. This inevitably means a bit of number crunching as Rory examines the motivations and trends that make modern cars so much heavier than before. But if you’ve ever wondered on the reasons they’re all here, and explained in terms anyone can get their head around. Rory also looks ahead to ask if anything can be done, and whether there’s any kind of engineering equivalent to the weight-loss drugs many are turning to for improving their numbers on the scales. Turns out there might be. And it comes from a very surprising source! We’ll let Rory explain more about that. And if you enjoyed this video and are not yet signed-up to the YouTube channel make sure you subscribe here for all the latest reviews of cars of all shapes and sizes!