IF BUSINESS is the engine that makes the world go around, then company cars provide the wheels that allow it to turn.
Nearly every aspect of business life requires transport and the car is the only flexible, dependable, option available. It can also be used as an appealing offer to attract new staff. So, here are just a few models of varying price and class that may help oil the cogs of your business:
Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
This German machine is great at soaking up pothole ridden roads and it has bags of smooth, seamless grunt for straight stretch sprints, thanks to its powerful 2143 cc twin-turbo diesel engine.
With a 0-62 mph dash of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph, the 250 CDI has a split personality: it’s stimulating, yet, at the same time, relaxing to drive. The seats are ultra supportive and the car is so quiet it’s easy to forget that an oil-burner lurks under the bonnet. A sleek shifting G-Tronic Plus 7-speed auto ‘box with steering column gear selector and gearshift paddles, along with Speedtronic cruise control, makes motorway commuting a breeze.
The Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY is practical too. There is enough room to seat four adults and the large boot with remote release is convenient and easy to access. The car will also do 54.3 mpg on the combined cycle and with CO2 emissions of just 135 g/km, it will be cost-effective to run.
Priced from £46,360 on the road.
Click here to read Tim’s full review of the Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
New BMW 3 Series 328i
The EfficientDynamics technologies which gave the previous BMW 3 Series Saloon such a competitive advantage remain very much in place, and have been supplemented with new ones. Auto Stop-Start is fitted to all versions, along with Brake Energy Regeneration, on-demand control of engine ancillary components and tyres with less rolling resistance.
An eight-speed automatic gearbox, giving a wider spread of ratios than the former six-speed unit, is available as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual. It’s also now offered with every engine to significantly improve efficiency.
All engines in the new 3 Series Saloon feature BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. They include a new four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol unit in the 328i. It replaces the six-cylinder 3.0-litre engines in the previous 325i and 330i, with inherent advantages for weight and fuel consumption, yet with a 0-62 mph time of 5.9 seconds in manual form, it’s quicker than either. Efficiency is also significantly improved and both manual and automatic versions of the 328i have fuel economy of more than 44 mpg and CO2 emissions below 150 g/km.
Befitting the BMW 3 Series’ renowned driving dynamics, the interior control and switchgear layout is totally driver-focused. The elegant and dynamic cabin design, with twisting and merging surfaces arranged in a series of layers, all angle towards you, making time at the wheel a total pleasure.
Priced from £29,060 on the road
Chrysler Delta 1.6 MultiJet SE
With its classy looks, low price tag and standard luxury touches such as a leather clad steering wheel, refrigerated compartment and privacy glass, the Chrysler Delta is a cost-effective choice of car for business.
With a 0-62 mph gallop of 10.7 seconds the Delta, mated to a 1.6 MultiJet turbo diesel engine, is not going to burn much rubber – but it doesn’t feel underpowered. In fact the 222 lb/ft of pulling power allows the Chrysler to tow a load of up to 1300 kg (braked). That’s not bad for a mid-sized car with executive airs.
The interior is spacious enough for four adults and, because the rear seats can recline 25 degrees backwards, passengers are offered impressive comfort options. It’s economical too; on average, you can squeeze around 60 mpg out of the tank.
Priced from £19,195
Click here to read Tim’s full review of the Chrysler Delta 1.6 MultiJet SE
Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T Tekna
The Juke is a mixed bag really. It could easily work for someone who wants a slightly zany company car to stick out from the convoy of German executive models on the daily commute.
It seems that originality is central to every part of the Juke’s design and, inside, you are greeted with the ‘Nissan Dynamic Control System’. This is a command and display module which allows you to alter dynamic drive settings as well as easily control functions such as climate control. What’s more, the device adopts different displays, colours and functions, depending on the mode selected. It all adds to the joy of being behind the wheel of this nonconformist, yet very capable, car.
The Juke has enough room for four and, with a 1.6 turbo unit and 188 horses under the bonnet, it’ll undoubtedly set all occupants’ pulses racing. With a 0-62 mph sprint of 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 134 mph you sense that Nissan intended this car to project an energetic and motivated image. You might think then that this petrol-powered version of the Juke is a juice-guzzler. Well, surprisingly, it’s not – it returns a very reasonable 40.9 mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 159 g/km.
Priced from £18,095 on the road.
Click here to read Tim’s full review of the Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T Tekna
Click here to see the article as published in Business Link Magazine, March 2012
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