- Powerful UK police patrol cars revealed
- Exclusive Freedom of Information study by Select Car Leasing
- Learn which force has a 480 bhp Tesla Model 3
- Data excludes covert and armed response vehicles - which could be even more powerful
These are some of the UK’s most powerful police patrol cars - and they’re here to put the brakes on crime.
Select Car Leasing sent a Freedom of Information request to all forces in the UK to uncover the most potent vehicles in police fleets.
The FOIs generally relate to marked police cars, with the details and power figures of covert or armed response vehicles still a closely guarded secret to avoid giving criminals any upper hand.
And while not all forces were able to respond to the request, Select Car Leasing says some of the cars being deployed are formidable to say the least - from performance saloons and hot estates to rapid EVs.
Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, said: “If you’re a criminal looking for a quick getaway, this list is sure to make you think twice. South Wales Police’s fleet, for example, features an electric, all-wheel drive 480 bhp Tesla Model 3 Performance, capable of break-neck acceleration. Meanwhile several forces can also rely on blisteringly-quick BMWs, including the 374 bhp BMW 3 Series M340i, which can hit 62 mph from a standing start in 4.4 seconds. If these cars are good enough for the boys in blue, they'll be good enough for you too."
Here’s the top 5 most powerful marked police patrol cars, according to the Select Car Leasing FOI:
Volvo XC90
Power: 380 bhp
Acceleration: 0-62 mph around 5.4 seconds.
Forces include: Cleveland Police, Dyfed-Powys Police, Essex Police, Merseyside Police, Northumbria Police, West Mercia Police.
Select Car Leasing says: “The Volvo XC90 is a big, imposing SUV with generous amounts of power. Most forces deploy the powerful mild-hybrid ‘B6’ engine, recently withdrawn by Volvo, while others boast the more powerful ‘T8’ plug-in hybrid dating from 2020. Lots of other forces also make use of the similarly-powerful Volvo V90 estate."
Tesla Model 3 Performance
Power: 480 bhp
Acceleration: 0-60 mph 2.9 seconds (for latest versions)
Forces include: South Wales Police.
Select says: “It’s good to see some police forces embracing electrification, and the Tesla Model 3 is potent indeed. Though not confirmed, we suspect this is a ‘Performance’ model, capable of leaving some supercars in its wake. South Wales Police has a pair of Model 3s on its fleet following a national trial of Tesla Model 3 Performance cars that began in 2022.”
BMW 3 Series M340i
Power: 374 bhp
Acceleration: 0-62 mph 4.4 seconds
Forces include: Wiltshire Police, Derbyshire Constabulary.
Select says: “The 3 Series M340i sits just one rung down from the fully-fledged BMW M3 Competition, and it’s an impressive bit of kit. Most forces have opted for the ‘Touring’ estate model for maximum practicality.”
CUPRA Leon Estate
Power: 305 bhp
Acceleration: 0-62 mph 4.9 seconds
Forces include: West Yorkshire Police
Select says: “This is an unusual choice for a police car, but a brilliant one, with its aggressive exterior styling and road presence. This particular model gets all-wheel drive and a powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine. West Yorkshire Police told us how they’ve purchased five of the CUPRAs, but that they’re not yet operational.”
BMW X5
Power: 295 bhp
Acceleration: 0-62 mph 6.1 seconds
Forces include: North Yorkshire Police
Select says: “While not an outright performance model, the BMW X5 is a familiar sight as a police car on UK roads. North Yorkshire Police has two models on its fleet, registered in 2021. They’re no-doubt perfect for coping with the potholed rural roads of the region.”
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