New company car time - help me choose

Nick1881

Nick1881

Nick1881

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Joined
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Nuneaton, UK
Hi guys, so I can finally order my new company car, after being delayed by my company reworking their policy and lease deal.

My current car is a 2017 Mondeo Titanium estate with X pack. I need the large boot for my work tools and equipment, though I did manage with a saloon before, an estate is much more practical. My Mondeo is a manual as I couldn’t get an auto at the time. I would prefer an auto as long as it’s a good auto.

We have a limited list to choose from, many are not suitable, I’d rather avoid full electric or plug in hybrid due to the distances I cover. My job covers the whole of the UK.

Here are what I think is potential from the list

Skoda Octavia estate ES L spec, 2.0 D with DSG.

VW Golf estate, sadly in DSG I can only get the Life spec 2.0, in a manual I can have the style 2.0 150.

Toyota Corolla Sports Touring in 1.8 or 2.0 hybrid and it’s seems in any spec.
 
I forgot to mention, fuel economy is high on my list too, I have to pay for the fuel myself and then claim it back at the government rate. With my Mondeo I’m loosing money as it struggles to reach the required mpg.
 
Is the corrola large enough ? even if probably most economic

if you are on the motorway predominately is an automatic so useful too, I would sign up for a torque converter automatic in my next car, but am indifferent about getting a DSG,
could you get the manual golf and DCC, say, which might improve drive on an estate if you are typically loaded up.
 
Nick1881 said:
I forgot to mention, fuel economy is high on my list too, I have to pay for the fuel myself and then claim it back at the government rate. With my Mondeo I’m loosing money as it struggles to reach the required mpg.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't discount phev even for tax purposes? What options had they given you on these
 
I’m not convinced about PHEV, after the battery runs out aren’t they quite inefficient? I also don’t want to charge it at my house as my work are sure to underpay for electricity.

Options are

Hyundai Tucson
Kia Niro
Kia Sportage
 
Has to be Octavia from your list. There is no way that the fuel consumption i the others could match it, plus it is super comfy for long motorway journeys. Non of the three phevs you mention would be as comfortable, and yes, as kia Sorento PHEV owner they make zero sense consumption wise unless you are driving within the ev range. (In my case 30 miles.). In motorway driving outside that I am getting around 35 mpg. Even when charged fully and driving on HEV mode rather than full EV mode the mpg is poor. I got mine fully aware that the mpg for long journeys is weak compared to a standard diesel but then my usage reflects the ideal PHEV situation and I have averaged 65 mpg over the past 16000 miles.

I can't say how the PHEV would impact your tax situation though.
 
Is the Corolla a rival to the Octavia? Real world consumption seems very good from my research and standard equipment is excellent, load space should be good enough.
 
Nick1881 said:
Kia Sportage
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I'm on my 2nd Sportage, absolutely love them. Spacious, comfortable, economical and reliable. My current model is a manual 1.6 diesel mild hybrid (self charges, battery assists with acceleration). Back in August, I overfilled the tank and drove a ~750 mile round trip sitting at 60mph on the cruise control and when I got home, I still had a 1/4 of a tank left. Last night, fuel light was on, so filled the tank to the first click, it took 50 litres. I can usually squeeze another 10 litres in (I know you shouldn't do this, I only do it before long journeys).

Cons: no heated windscreen, no spare tyre (these might be included with higher spec models), blower not the strongest.
 
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jpaul said:
Is the corrola large enough ?
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It should be, the boot is massively larger than his current estate car, only about 50L smaller than the Octavia Estate. Corolla Touring Sports Excel 2.0 would be my choice from that list, almost 200bhp and great spec with Leather seats, LED lights, park assist etc all as standard.

If I had to buy a new car today I'd get this, albeit in a lower trim.
 
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Absolutely the Corolla. I'll be considering one myself when it comes to new company car time.

I wouldn't bother with a PHEV. Under HMRC advisory fuel rates you can't claim back a penny for electricity in a PHEV but it then comes down to whether those miles you achieve on electricity cost more or less than the advisory fuel rate as hybrids are simply considered as ICE for expenses purposes. Or in summary, not worth the faff.
 
HangTime said:
It should be, the boot is massively larger than his current estate car, only about 50L smaller than the Octavia Estate.
Click to expand...
as you say bigger than mondeo estate, despite, to me, looking more petit on the road,
in practical terms may just be higher from boot floor to window/ceiling line.
https://www.ridc.org.uk/features-re...olla-touring-sports-20-hybrid-5dr-estate-2019

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earlier 2022 discussion too https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/new-corolla-estate-opinions-alternatives.18944789/

engine on octavia would be same as golf so economy should be similar.
 
I looked at those (albeit privately) and went with the Corolla. I would make the same decision again - great economy and the petrol-diesel price difference has widened recently.
 
I would have suggested the Corolla on the back of my experience with our Toyota Yaris Cross - Hybrid is quite brilliant and rather smooth.

On the Octavia etc is it 2.0 Petrol or Diesel?

Petrol is much cheaper per litre and the Hybrid if driven correctly gives you better than diesel economy in all scenarios, we’ll speaking from the 1.5 Hybrid Version.
 
Keep in mind the new Octavia 2.0D comes in two variants, the normal 150hp you'd expect but also some nerfed 114hp version, you don't want to end up with that (and for a company car it's quite possible I guess due to it presumably being tuned for lower emissions). So if it's not badged as 2.0 (150PS) steer well clear. I actually needed a double take, 114hp from a 2L engine is the sort of thing I expected last millennium, not in late 2022.
 
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The benefit in kind situation surely has much more influence over whether you go PHEV or Diesel unless you do so many miles that the mpg difference is a bigger priority?

I understand you've probably already checked this but as we are talking quite literally hundreds of pounds monthly (particularly in 40% bracket) it seems strange that you'd even consider the diesels when a PHEV will cost maybe £80 BIK Vs £250+

If it has no influence whatsoever I'd probably go Octavia as it's a smart car and has plenty of space - the Toyota is a nice car too but smaller. Otherwise a PHEV would be my choice
 
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