OPERATING costs for more than 300 of Britain's leading fleet cars are revealed in the new 'Company Car Cost Calculator' compiled by GE Capital Fleet Services. The guide reveals how companies could save themselves thousands of pounds a year by basing their fleet choice lists on operating costs and not list prices.

Now in its 14th year, the guide reveals running costs including depreciation, vehicle licence, funding, maintenance, temporary replacement vehicle, AA Relay Plus membership, fleet administration insurance and fuel assuming £2.50 a gallon for petrol and diesel, excluding VAT, based on three years/36,000 miles. The guide - in 19 sections - also reveals the net monthly benefit-in-kind tax at both 23% and 40% tax rates for cars, 4x4s and MPVs costing from £174 a month to more than £1,000 a month to lease.

New models score well in the guide with the £13,845 Toyota Avensis 1.6 S liftback with a pence per mile figure of 38.8 being among the cheapest upper medium sector cars to operate and the £18,145 Land Rover Freelander 1.8i Xei hardback three-door at 50p a mile also securing an edge over its rivals. The cheapest car to run in the UK is the Fiat Cinquecento 1.1i Sporting three-door hatchback at 23.9p a mile, with the most expensive being the Mercedes CL 600 two-door coupe automatic at 225.6p a mile.