Fleet News Awards Winners and judges’ comments

New Company Car of the Year

BMW 5 Series

Fleet Manufacturer of the Year

BMW

Best Small Car

Peugeot 208

Peugeot has made massive in-roads into fleet with the 208 thanks to its highly efficient petrol and diesel engines and competitive running costs. Quality is excellent throughout and residual values have held up well since launch thanks to a strong fleet policy. The 208 is very stylish and has broad appeal with many types of driver.

Best Lower Medium Car

Seat Leon

The Leon is one of the great all-rounders in the sector with desirable looks, strong residual values and very low running costs. The new model represents a big leap forward compared to the old car. It’s bang on the fleet button with a range of body styles, good kerbside appeal and a quality interior.

Best Upper Medium Car

Vauxhall Insignia

Vauxhall has been bold and brave with the new Insignia, taking the decision to drop the list price and reduce discounts. It’s a policy that’s working. The Insignia is a game-changer for Vauxhall. Its sector-leading low CO2 emissions combined with a huge leap forward in quality make it an ideal fleet car in this category. The Insignia makes sense for companies and their drivers.

Best Estate Car

Skoda Octavia estate

The Octavia estate has the best balance of space versus cost in this category; it has sufficient load capacity for most fleets for most of the time. An excellent choice of efficient engines combined with strong driver appeal makes it an ideal option as a stylish and flexible workhorse.

Best Chauffeur Car

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The S-Class combines supreme comfort, the latest technology and a strong running costs proposition to appeal to drivers, passengers and business owners alike. It takes Mercedes-Benz back to the top of the league for quality; reputation and image par excellence.

Best All-round 4x4

Land Rover Discovery

As suitable for a director as it is plugging the mud as a workhorse, the Discovery is a classless all-rounder. With seven seats, a high quality interior, improved performance from a new 3.0-litre engine and competitive running costs, this ‘go-anywhere’ car is putting Land Rover back on the map in the fleet sector.

Best Seven-seat People Carrier

Citroën Grand C4 Picasso

At sub 100g/km, the Grand C4 Picasso has the lowest CO2 emissions of any diesel car in its class. Its quality is much improved over the old model, while competitive pricing and excellent fuel consumption adds up to low running costs. The Grand C4 Picasso offers style and design flair combined with practicality and functionality.

Best Crossover

Skoda Yeti

The Yeti is a good all-rounder, with excellent running costs and the flexibility offered by on-road or (genuine) off-road options. The 2013 facelift made an already great car even better. Excellent build quality and very strong used values add to the perfect package.

Best Premium Car

Volvo S60/V60

The Volvo S60/V60 is a game-changer with the D4 Drive-E delivering class-leasing emissions of 99g/km for both saloon and estate. New technology elevates Volvo’s position for desirability, running costs and benefit-in-kind tax. It’s well-equipped, offers excellent value for money and has great looks. Volvo has been used to leading the way on safety; with the S60/V60 it’s leading the way on engine technology.

Best Executive Car

BMW 5 Series

By deleting the 520d Efficient Dynamics model and introducing the equally efficient 518d, BMW broadened the appeal of the already impressive 5 Series, making it accessible to more fleets. It remains the benchmark for driving dynamics, while improved specifications with the Business Edition models raise its appeal still further.

Best Ultra-low CO2 Car

BMW i3

BMW makes electric vehicles a credible and rational option for fleets – something that will benefit all other manufacturers of EVs. Good to drive with outstanding technology, and flexible with either full EV or range extender models, the i3 is an aspirational EV that company car drivers will want to choose. BMW’s engagement with its dealer network, plus its extended benefits and services package, further increases the i3’s accessibility.

Green Fleet Manufacturer of the Year

BMW

Over many years, BMW has led the industry in reducing CO2 emissions through Efficient Dynamics, especially when compared to unit of horsepower. It’s opened up more fleet business and, as a result, BMW’s impact on the environment has grown exponentially.  Eco Pro options on all new cars helps drivers travel more economically, while its ConnectedDrive software incorporates public transport into journey planning. BMW takes a holistic approach to reducing its emissions which includes its manufacturing plants and infrastructure, and it has been the Dow Jones sustainability leader for eight years.

Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer of the Year

Mercedes-Benz

Engagement with fleets has improved; Mercedes-Benz has gone from being a closed-door manufacturer to one keen to listen to customers and fleet influencers with feedback forums and regional summits. It has an outstanding product line-up which is improving all the time and has invested heavily in a new staffing structure, employing more people to raise its service levels. Mercedes-Benz has realigned its focus and culture, making it much more fleet orientated.