Company Car & Van December 2023

The motoring magazine for SME fleets

BMW i5 Happy executives guaranteed

Mazda MX-30 R-EV

Toyota Hilux

Genesis GV60

Ford Transit Custom

A decidedly different small plug-in

Eye-catching EV you may not have heard of

December 2023 • Issue 82

GR Sport targets lifestyle sector

Latest model breaks cover

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CONTENTS

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Frantic end to 2023 as a host of newcomers arrive After a quiet summer, things have really taken off in recent weeks, with Company Car & Van attending several new car launches this autumn, one of which was with the BMW i5, our December cover star.

The BMW Group UK Electric Showcase took place at Farnborough, the highlight of which was a drive in the all-new electric i5.

We weren’t disappointed. Find out more from page 24.

Later that week we took a trip to Snowdonia in the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV, a small plug-in hybrid with an awful lot to offer, including a 400+ mile range.

Another plug-in that attracts low BIK is the Citroen C5 Aircross, and we found out why this may be the SUV for you.

Genesis may have arrived here slightly under your radar, but the premium arm of Hyundai has big plans for fleet in the UK as we find out in a Q & A with Jonny Miller, head of Sales at Genesis Motor UK Ltd. And we review the electric Genesis GV60. We also had a chance to chat with Honda’s Head of Fleet Engagement, Jacqueline Rowe.

Other cars driven inside include the Volkswagen ID.5, the smart #1, the Jaguar F-Pace, the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV and JEEP Compass 4XE – a proper 4WD that’s kind to your BIK. There’s also news of a new small Lexus, the LBX, which arrives in our showrooms early next year.

Pick-ups are back on the agenda with a bang. Isuzu has tweaked its D-Max range

and we got to drive the range-topping V-Cross this month. Volkswagen has a new Amarok to shout about and as we found out, it’s a pick-up that delivers great driver satisfaction and comfort. Finally, we have a report on the daddy of them all, the Toyota Hilux, which now offers a lifestyle model in the form of the GR Sport. See how we got on inside.

On the van front, Ford took us to Germany where we spent some time in the new Transit Custom, which is even better than before. Renault Trucks is showcasing its E-Tech Trafic and Mercedes-Benz has given the e-Vito an improved electric range.

To round-up the CV latest we had a spin in Nissan’s medium-sized van, the Primastar, and if you need a larger electric commercial, you should look no further than the Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter.

Finally, we have our usual round-up of news and features from regulars Rolec, Sevadis, Europcar and Vanaways, and a new name to CC&V, the lcv group. Our regulars expertise in a myriad of sectors and will help you choose your next vehicle.

A frantic end to a curious old year. Happy Holidays!

ON THE ROAD Mazda MX-30 R-EV Citroen C5 Aircross JEEP Compass 4xe Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV

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COMPANY NEWS Q&A with Honda’s Jacqueline Rowe 14 Rolec 15 Europcar 16 Sevadis 17 Vanaways 18 the lcv group 19 Q & A with Genesis’s Jonny Miller 20 Genesis GV60 21 Renault Trucks 22 CAR NEWS BMW i5 smart #1 Lexus LBX Jaguar F-Pace P400e Volkswagen ID.5

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COMMERCIALS Toyota Hilux Ford Transit Custom FUSO eCanter eStar Truck & Van Volkswagen Amarok Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Weybridge Isuzu Nissan Primastar Mercedes-Benz e-Vito

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Andrew Walker Editor & Publisher

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Company Car & Van is wholly owned and published by: Walker Advertising & Marketing Ltd 12 Oakwood Lane, Bowdon, Cheshire WA14 3DL t: 07734 264735 e: andrewmaxwalker@icloud.com w: www.companycarandvan.co.uk Follow us at twitter.com/andrewmaxwalker and www.linkedin.com/in/companycarandvan Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this magazine, the publisher can accept no responsibility for omissions or inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising content. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The carriage of adverts in this publication should not necessarily be viewed as an endorsement of the products or services advertised. All articles within this publication are copyright of Walker Advertising & Marketing Ltd. Editorial consent must be obtained before any are reproduced, either in printed form or electronically.

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Company Car &Car Van& |Van December 03 Company | August2023 2023 | 05

ON TEST: MAZDA MX-30 R-EV

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Beautifully made, great to drive: Mazda hits the mark with the MX-30 R-EV Andrew Walker gets to grips with the electric MX-30, from one of his favourite manufacturers, Mazda Mazda launched the electric MX-30 in 2021 and after some research, decided that there was room for a plug-in version of its popular small car. Step forward the MX-30 R-EV, a plug-in with a difference.

The Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, to give it its full name, features a 17.8kWh battery and 830cc rotary engine generator.

The 830cc single-rotor petrol engine acts as a generator to enable longer distance drives without range or charging anxiety. With no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels, the rotary unit acts as a generator so it’s always driven by the electric motor.

Electric range is 53 miles with a 50-litre fuel tank, giving it a flexible 400-mile total range.

Model choice, trims and price

The MX-30 R-EV is offered in three grades; Prime-Line, Exclusive-Line and Makoto.

Entry-level Prime-Line models start from £31,250 and come fitted with 18” alloys, LED headlamps, all-round parking sensors, a reversing camera, head-up display, 8.8” infotainment system, separate 7” touchscreen for the climate controls, cruise control, lane departure warning with of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

Exclusive-Line costs from £33,150 and adds heated front seats, keyless entry, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, leatherette upholstery and diamond-cut wheels. Finally, there’s the range-topping Makoto, which costs £36,000 but for that it adds an opening sunroof, heated steering wheel, 360-degree parking camera and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.

Charging

The MX-30 has compatibility with both AC charging and rapid DC charging, with 3-phase AC charging taking around 50 minutes. DC rapid charging can be completed in around 25 minutes. The ability to use rapid chargers is uncommon among conventional plug-in hybrid rivals, so this is good news for customers. Using a 36kW charger the battery can be charged from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in 25 minutes; with a threephase 11kW AC charger the battery can be 04 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

refilled in approximately 50 minutes, while a single-phase home 7.2kW charger will take around 1 hour 30 minutes.

The result of that electric angle is CO2 of just 21g/km with a 125kW/170ps output and 260Nm of torque. Top speed is 93mph with a 0-60mph time of 9.1 seconds.

Driving modes

There are three drive modes: Normal, EV and Charge. Normal mode delivers electric drive as long as there’s enough battery charge to do so. Drivers can turn EV mode on when they want to stay in electric drive and this will ensure the vehicle uses electric drive exclusively until the battery is completely drained. Charge mode can be used to retain your EV range, with the option of setting the amount of battery charge you want to reserve in increments of 10 per cent.

The engine will go into Normal mode if and when more power is required or the electric range has run out.

On the outside

All versions of the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV feature a rotor badge on the front wings with an e-Skyactiv R-EV badge on the tailgate. Unique wheels differentiate the R-EV: Prime-Line with a dark grey finish and Exclusive-Line and Makoto come with a black/silver diamond cut finish. Nine colour combos are offered.

Five one colour and four with twin tone colours are available including Zircon Sand with black side panels and roof as well as Jet Black with silver side panels.

Inside

Inside, the MX-30 R-EV and EV are almost identical, which is a very good thing. From the floating central binnacle, which features the gear lever, infotainment wheel and electric handbrake, to the 8.8” central display, all is cleverly designed and beautifully finished.

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ON TEST: MAZDA MX-30 ELECTRIC

Continued from page 4

The use of environmentally-friendly materials, such as cork, vegan leather and recycled plastic bottles is also tastefully incorporated.

As with the pure electric MX-30, the MX-30 R-EV features steering wheel paddles that adjust the level of regenerative braking. A particular favourite of ours is the separate 7” climate control touchscreen, which allows the driver to adjust the temperature without having to scroll through numerous menus.

Practicality

Up front there are two large door pockets, a sizeable glove box, two cup holders and an armrest with underneath storage. There’s also a useful storage area underneath the floating centre binnacle, where you’ll find two USB inputs and a single 12v socket. These are quite hard to reach, though. Rear passengers get small door pockets and rear seat nets.

As with the MX-30, the R-EV, doesn’t offer proper rear doors. Mazda has instead repeated the freestyle ‘suicide doors’ from its EV which feature a built-in B pillar. While these look fantastic and will work well with younger children, even with the clever electric front seat mover, when an adult sits in the rear, you will struggle to get in and out with any dignity. If you’re much over my own five feet eight, then it’s a very tight squeeze!

Boot space

Depending on the model you choose the MX-30 offers 332 to 350 litres of space with the rear seats in place. If you select a car with the Bose infotainment system, this will eat into the available boot space. Fold the rear seats down, they also split 60:40, and this increases to 1,137 to 1,155 litres. There’s no storage space for your charging cable, though.

Driving

We really like the fun drive that the all-electric MX-30 offers, and the R-EV being 06 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

marginally faster, is similar. Despite the engine being just 830cc in size, from start you can barely hear it. It only produces 74bhp at 5,500 revs and you’d expect some whining. However, even when driving through Snowdonia over some challenging climbs, you hear only a faint hum.

Being rotary, it uses triangular-shaped pistons that spin around a central shaft, rather than conventional circular up and down cylinders. This undoubtedly helps keep the noise down.

Quick off the mark it may be but it’s no speedster, and you’d be hard-pressed to call it exciting. For a small car it feels quite grown up behind the wheel. There’s little body roll and not a lot of vibration from the suspension as it runs really well over both good and poor road services.

On a selection of North Wales roads with its direct light steering, the R-EV feels well poised and handled the tight turns and corners we encountered with aplomb.

The cabin is very comfortable and the build quality and finish of the fixtures and fittings is exceptional in this class. Premium springs to mind and that’s across all trims, too.

Away from the hills in the city and on the motorway you’ll quickly realise that it fits in anywhere. Adaptive cruise control is great for the motorway and at a constant 70mph it remains quiet and stable.

In town it’s nippy and nimble. Despite the large B-pillars and smallish rear window, with on board reversing aids, it’s also easy to park.

As far as fuel economy goes, Mazda claims a WLTP combined of 282.5mpg, which as with all plug-ins is to be taken with a pinch of salt. We managed a combined figure as high as 136mpg when in town, but in rural Wales and on the M53 when utilising the rotary engine, it was closer to 45mpg.

As ever, get a home charger and plug-in overnight when it’s cheaper. Then use the battery for all your slow and local driving and you’ll get the most out of your PHEV and save yourself a packet.

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Pros

Amazing build quality for a £30,000 car.

It’s beautifully designed inside as well.

Comfortable and quiet to be in. On-trend tech and safety features right across the range.

Low BIK for company car drivers.

Cons

The rear doors may limit its appeal, but that’s about it Verdict

As a city electric, the MX-30’s 130-mile range means that it’s always going to be a left-field choice. However, with the introduction of its plug-in brethren in the form of R-EV, that range problem disappears with a 50+ pure electric range and 400-mile overall. It’s a brilliant compromise with the engine only ever powered by the battery.

Another plus is the car’s build quality, which is more than a match for the premium German and Swedish brands, but it comes without their premium asking price.

Really, the only negative is the inclusion of the rear suicide doors, meaning it doesn’t offer the most practical solution for rear passengers. You could argue that it’s a chance missed by Mazda and undoubtedly the plug-in rotary engine in a Mazda 3 would certainly be good.

For now anyway, you’ll just have to settle for the R-EV, which is the only small car plug-in hybrid that comes with DC charging and a 400 mile combined driving range.

CC&V VERDICT Superior build quality, premium touches and an assured grown-up feel on the road. Add this to the range with the plug-in battery and you have another Mazda marvel.

CC&V RATING: NNNN

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ON TEST: CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS PHEV

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Andrew Walker Sitting on the same platform as the plug-in Peugeot 3008, DS7 and Vauxhall Grandland, Citroen’s C5 Aircross is also available as plug-in hybrid. With low BIK a priority for company car drivers, Citroen refreshed the range in late 2022, with the plug-in version now moving into the 8% BIK bracket, thanks to an increased electric-only range of 41 miles. Other changes have given the C5 Aircross a mid-life refresh and we took a look at what’s changed when we drove one recently.

What’s new?

New plastic panels adorn the front grille and both bumpers, and there’s new headlights. Inside the change is more noticeable, with a completely new dashboard, plusher materials and a new 10” infotainment screen. Gone is the physical gear lever, replaced with a small switch, and the touchscreen now sits higher than before, with the central air vents underneath.

Tell me more

The regular petrol and diesel C5 Aircross, are a throwback to Citroens of old. In fact, all Citroen’s recent new car launches have featured Citroen Advanced Comfort, putting comfort and function above performance.

The C5 Aircross is no different, coming as it does with five individual seats, the front two feeling like comfy armchairs, plus classleading boot space, all supplemented by the latest tech and safety.

Model range

New C5 Aircross is available in Sense Plus,

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C5 Aircross PHEV is a modern take on the Citroens of old Shine or C-Series Edition trims, with Plug-in Hybrid variants available from £35,935 OTR , which is higher then the ICE versions.

However, for company car drivers, the real closer are the emissions of just 29g/km, which would entitle you to a Benefit in Kind of just 8%, equating to a monthly saving of £49 compared to the previous Aircross PHEV. Practicality

Dimensions-wise, the PHEV Aircross is exactly the same as the ICE versions, so factor in plenty of head and leg room up front and in the rear. The three rear seats can be moved individually fore and aft, although we found the seat depth front to back, quite shallow.

In the front, the door pockets are huge, plus there’s a couple of drinks holders behind the gear stick, a smallish glove box, a deep storage bin which doubles as an armrest and a small open cubby where the two USBs and 12v socket are located. Rear passengers get a USB connection in front of the rear centre passenger.

The batteries and e-motor are located under the floor plan so you don’t get quite as

much boot space as you do in the ICE car.

However, there are 460 litres available, which is still a pretty decent return. Fold the rear three seats down and the load space increases to a very usable 1,510 litres.

The boot floor itself is handily flat, with a wide aperture, which makes it easy to get stuff in or out. The tailgate opens to a decent height and also features a handy under-floor space to store your charging cable.

Specification

Equipment levels across the range are impressive. We were testing the Shine. So you get keyless entry and exit, a city camera pack, with a reversing camera, LED day-time running lights, 3D rear lights and front indicators, DAB, four speakers, Bluetooth, Mirror Screen for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, Citroën Connect Nav which includes TomTom Live updates on a 3 year subscription, a Smartphone wireless charging plate and two 12V sockets, one up front and one in the boot, plus 2x USB sockets in the dash, the chrome edged one connects you to Apple CarPay or Android Auto.

Continued on page 8

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 07

ON TEST: CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS PHEV

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Continued from page 7 Looks

On the outside, the plug-in looks very similar to the standard C5 Aircross, save for the ‘Hybrid’ badges and blue details, which are actually optional. Inside, the plug-in features some hybrid specific elements.

These include a custom interface for the 12.3” instrument cluster and 10” touch screen, an electric icon on the central console, a ‘B’ mode option on the gear selector, programmable cabin pre-conditioning and deferred charging, with a blue LED electric driving mode indicator, plus, of course, a 6.6kW onboard charger.

Powertrain

Under the bonnet sits the 178bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, supplemented by an 80Kw electric-motor. Add these together and you get 221bhp with 360Nms and a 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds. The new 13.2kWh battery increases power to 14.2kWh which is good for an electric range of 41 miles.

Charging

If you do plug in, as we did a couple of times with our Rolec 7kW home charger (www. rolecserv.com/home-charging) you are looking at just under two hours to reach a full charge. We reckon that if you’re driving in town, then 35 miles of electric range is likely, while on the open road this reduces to 30 miles. Always charge at home at overnight if you can and utilise the onboard range saving features, B regeneration and e-Save, to make the most of your battery’s range.

Infotainment and functions

The central 8” touch screen and 3” customisable TFT instrument display are easy to read and reach. In common with other PSA models, most functions are controlled on the touchscreen, but there are some short cut buttons. The centre of the dashboard has been nicely updated, but sadly it’s still running the more dated software from the C4, and that’s showing its age.

Cruise control is accessed via a stalk to the left of the wheel. The gears, electric hand brake and drive mode switches are neatly spaced between the front seats. Steering wheel switches allow hands free access to the infotainment including voice control.

08 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

Ride quality

As for the ride itself, the PHEV isn’t as smooth or as agile as the pure petrol or diesel versions because it’s heavier. Bumps in the road are more noticeable, as is the rolling in and out of bends. The seats are so comfy that it’s hard to notice these minor blemishes.

On the road

Once sitting comfortably behind the wheel, you can select from three driving modes; Electric, Hybrid or Sport. While Sport is handy for joining the motorway or overtaking slow moving traffic, it isn’t especially sporty.

Hybrid is the de facto driving mode, combining petrol and electric power for peak efficiency, and this delivers a cosseted, relaxing ride. In town or in slower traffic, you’ll notice the engine noise a bit more, as the eight-speed auto gearbox whines a bit.

Switch to Electric mode and the silence is

“Hybrid is the de facto driving mode, combining petrol and electric power for peak efficiency, and this delivers a cosseted, relaxing ride” palpable. The Citroen remains quiet and comfortable, doing a really good job of blocking out the world outside.

The C5 Aircross arrived fully charge and driving in pure electric mode, we were able to achieve 35 miles before the petrol engine kicked in. On occasion, rather than plug the C5 in, we utilised the car’s clever regenerative braking and power save modes to fully recharge the battery on an 80-mile motorway run. The car also features a ‘B’ mode, which can be selected on the gearbox to engage it. This enables the car to harvest energy from the car while braking or coasting along. Even better is the battery save mode, which we set up every time we got into the car. Press the lightning button to the left of the dash, go into the battery save screen and

turn on. Easy once you know it’s there, but annoyingly, this needs to be re-selected every time you restart the car.

Fuel economy

As far as overall fuel economy went, our week of approximately 200 miles saw us return an average of 38.2 MPG, certainly not bad and about what we’d expected. Like all plug-in hybrids, the C5 Aircross plug-in needs to be plugged-in regularly, so that you can harness its 30 mile + pure electric range.

The battery save and regenerative braking functions certainly help with this, especially when you’re on the motorway.

Pros

If you’re a company car driver, then the tax implications alone should have you heading its way. It’s refreshingly different to look at inside and out. It’s also a really comfortable, practical and well furnished car.

Cons

The Stellantis group infotainment system on this model is showing it’s age.

Conclusion

The refreshed C5 Aircross PHEV is a really spacious, well equipped family five-seat SUV, with more room on board than almost everything else compatible. It’s also incredibly comfortable and a proper throwback to Citroens of old both inside and out, and is therefore guaranteed to put a smile on my face. The subtle updates work.

Only the software used for the much improved touchscreen let’s things down.

CC&V VERDICT There is an awful lot of plug-in competition in the C SUV sector, but none is quite as pleasingly different as the Citroen C5 Aircross

CC&V RATING: NNNN

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ON TEST: JEEP COMPASS 4xe

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Tough JEEP 4WD shows its sensitive side with low BIK and a serene urban ride Stellantis updated the Jeep Compass recently and for company car drivers, the range now includes a plug-in hybrid. It’s a brilliantly capable off-roader and with plug-in technology, now gives fleet customers plenty of reasons to consider one.

Jeep is keeping it simple with the plug-in variant, so there’s either the Trailhawk, from £40,695 or the S from £41,695. Choose a hybrid Compass and it’s both cheaper and there’s a four model choice. Night Eagle starts the hybrid range off at £33,705, then there’s Limited, S and range-topping Upland, costing from £40,695.

Engines

Jeep’s new e-Hybrid technology is based on two engines; the petrol-powered 1.5 T4 Turbo powertrain, delivering 130 HP through the front axle and an electric motor integrated in the new 7-speed DCT transmission providing 48V to boost performance up to 15 kW (20 HP).

The e-Hybrid system allows you to drive in full electric mode with the internal combustion engine completely switched off when in low speed.

Our test car, the plug-in Trailhawk 4xe, has a 178bhp 1.332 cc turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit, assisted by an electric motor that is fed by an 11.4kWh battery for 240bhp.

Updates

Not a lot is new, although you get a new wider low front grille and LED lights are now standard. But inside there is an upgraded dash, tech and safety, bringing the Compass much more in line with the competition.

Trailhawk 4xe features five driving modes, chosen from the SELEC-TERRAIN control system; Rock, Sand/Mud, Snow, Auto or Sport. It comes standard with new 17” alloys, full LED headlights and most importantly, a new intelligent 10.1” Uconnect infotainment system. The previous infotainment was dated to say the least, so the new system, although not perfect, is a much welcome improvement.

The system allows access to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, with DAB and Bluetooth, too.

Other standard features include Hill Descend Control, a skid plate shield, Trailhawk badge and bonnet decal, leather steering wheel, front and rear USBs, a reversible cargo mat, adaptive cruise control, Parkview rear camera, Parksense rear parking sensors, natural grey exterior trim and grille, keyless entry and go and a SatNav pack.

Charging and electric range

The 11.4kWh battery offers a 30-mile pure electric driving range and you can fully charge the battery at home on a 7.4kWh wall 10 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

box in just over two hours. Electric driving gave us approximately 24 miles of local driving. The trick is to push the E Save button on the dash so that the battery isn’t drained at higher speeds.

Fuel consumption and emissions

Jeep claims a WLTP combined mpg of 141.2mpg but that’s fanciful, especially if you hit the open road. Keep it simple: stick to local urban driving and you won’t use any fuel, but go on to the motorway where the hybrid powertrain and petrol engine kick in, and the Compass’s kerb weight, courtesy of its 4×4 credentials, makes itself felt, with sub35mpg likely at 70mph.

Using the e-Coasting system, which automatically activates when the accelerator pedal is released, allows energy to be recovered while slowing down, so you recharge the battery as you drive.

CO2 emissions are only 46g/km, meaning a BIK of just 8%, with 0% year one road tax.

Infotainment

The Jeep Compass 4xe Plug-In Hybrid is the first Jeep to have a voice assistant built into the new intelligent Uconnect infotainment system. Just say ‘Hey Jeep’ and you can adjust air-con, change your music or set your destination. You all get Jeep’s My Wi-Fi package, which allows you to talk directly from the car to Alexa Voice Service.

Boot

The battery and the addition of a space saver wheel eat into the load area, the floor of which sits level with the bumper so loading or unloading is simple. You only get 420 litres, which is significantly less than the 558 litres that comes in a Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid. Furthermore, you have to store both charging cables in the boot, which takes up useful space.

On the road

We didn’t venture off-road, instead spending a week driving the 4xe around the north west in Auto.

The Compass 4xe will accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds, but it doesn’t feel rapid, far from it. While urban adventures are quiet and comfortable, the six-peed auto gear box is a little sluggish. But the ride is comfortable and in cruise control and at motorway speeds, progress is serene and quiet. For a heavy 4X4 the 4xe is a lot more refined and comfortable than you’d expect.

Even poor road surfaces don’t spoil things and despite the raised road height, it’s actually quite agile.

Pros

It’s a Jeep so it will go anywhere anytime.

Low BIK makes for company car heaven. Real world pure electric range is decent. Improved tech, safety and quality make it the best Compass yet and is a shot in the arm for the company as far as fleet is concerned Cons

Small boot, thirsty at high speeds.

Expensive compared to the hybrid Compass.

CC&V VERDICT

Lags behind soft-roaders such as the Tucson and Sportage PHEVs for practicality and refinement, but neither are a proper 4×4, so that’s a tick for the Jeep.

If you need a family SUV, with low BIK and off-road capability, then it’s brilliant!

CC&V RATING: NNNN

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ON TESTS: ALFA ROMEO TONALE PHEV

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Alfa Romeo has added an exciting new small family car to the C sector – the Tonale PHEV. Based – perhaps surprisingly – on the same underpinnings as the JEEP Compass, it effectively replaced the Giulietta and has the look of a baby Stelvio, which has to be a good thing.

Andrew Walker gives it a once-over Engine, performance and battery

The powertrain comprises a 1.3-litre turbo petrol plus two electric motors, so it’s four-wheel drive. Total output is 271bhp with a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds. The 15.5kWh battery offers drivers a useful 43 miles.

Choose from either entry-level Ti or Veloce which we were driving.

Exterior

The Tonale combines a mini-Stelvio profile, with Alfa’s V-shaped front grille, narrow front LED light clusters, slim rear light strip and low roofline. Our test car in Montreal Green looked superb!

Inside

In the centre of the dash is an attractive 10.25” touchscreen, plus a 12.3” digital instrument cluster in front of the driver. This can be altered to feature one of three different screens, plus on Veloce you also have twin metal gear shift paddles on either side of the steering wheel.

Quality-wise it’s pretty good, with decent finishes on top of the dash and doors and to the leather seats. Cheaper trim lower down on the door pockets is well hidden.

Tonale packs in a whole lot of Alfa – and rivals will be green with envy weight, it can dull the fun and be a bit slow from a standing start. We switched to the manual paddle gear change and this is markedly better, but I’m lazy and wouldn’t want to use these all of the time. At the opposite end, the brakes are incredibly good.

Pros

using the petrol engine in a wholly urban drive, this might be achievable, but we’d take it with a pinch of salt. We drove over 630 miles, 84 of which were in electric mode and ended up with an average of 40mpg.

It is a great looking car especially in Montreal Green! Designed to be different and succeeds, making all its competition look dull in comparison (see BMW X1 for example!)

For company car drivers the plug-in with an excellent 43-mile electric range is the one to have, as it offers BIK of just 8%.

Equipment and prices

Cons

Infotainment

The screen size does feel small but the graphics are clear and responses fast. You can connect wirelessly to Apple Car Play or Android Auto too.

Practicality

Front passengers have decent head and legroom but the rear is only large enough for two adults and could feel a little gloomy.

Luckily our test car featured a panoramic sunroof to brighten things up – something to consider.

Up front you get a good-sized glove box, twin centre drinks holders, a meagre armrest with some storage underneath, small front door pockets and tiny rear ones. Twin USBs feature in the front and the rear plus a fold down rear armrest with ubiquitous twin cup holders within.

The battery is in the middle of the car so the boot takes a hit, with only 385 litres compared to the standard Tonale’s 500 litres.

Fuel economy and emissions

The plug-in Tonale comes with low BIK, thanks to low CO2 emissions of 26g/km.

Claimed WLTP economy is 217.3 mpg but take it with a pinch of salt.

Perhaps by plugging in every night and not 12 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

Entry level Ti features LED headlights, a rear parking camera, keyless entry, a powered boot lid, the 10.25” touchscreen and the 12.3” digital instrument cluster. Our test Veloce adds the aluminium gear shift paddles, adaptive dampers, an Alcantara trim and 19” dark alloy wheels. Asking price for the PHEv is £48,495 in Veloce trim.

Driving

There are three driving modes. Dynamic, Normal and Advanced Efficiency, DNA. Dynamic introduces an element of fun to proceedings, but it’s offset by a harsh ride.

Normal feels better and the car doesn’t get quite as boisterous. On the motorway you’ll find it very relaxing.

Advanced Efficiency is for all-electric driving and the battery power offers the car a more enjoyable drive. This is a heavy 1,800kg car and while you can’t feel the battery

Lack of throttle response is disappointing.

It’s not as premium inside as a Volvo XC40 or BMW X1. The plug-in’s boot is small.

Verdict

A cracking exterior mixed with an Italian designed cabin offers plenty of Alfa Romeo for your buck. On the plus side it’s an incredibly attractive car to look at and it definitely turned heads. Factor in the 43-mile electric range which equals 8% BIK and if you plug-in regularly, you’ll save money, too.

CC&V VERDICT Plenty of Alfa Romeo heritage on show. If you want a different C sector SUV, then it’s definitely the one to choose.

CC&V RATING: NNNN www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Q & A WITH... HONDA UK

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Honda has electric options fleets need Honda has been a little quiet in the fleet sector for some time, but with the launch of several new hybrid and electric models, this looks set to change. We had a chat with Jacqueline Rowe, Honda Fleet Engagement UK, to see what the brand can offer SMEs. CC&V: For many SMEs, full hybrid has been a more attractive way to achieve a greener fleet than plug-in or electric. You recently launched a new hybrid model, the ZR-V. Do you think there’s still a market for full hybrid models in the corporate sector?

Jacqueline Rowe: Hybrid offers a stepping stone towards electrification for drivers and fleets who are not ready to switch to battery-electric vehicles, and they offer some useful savings for fleets too. IMMD (which stands for intelligent Multi-Mode Drive), is our new hybrid powertrain with three drive modes: Engine Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Electric Drive. It’s responsive, smooth, and efficient.

CC&V: With the EU backtracking on the sell-by date of combustion engine cars, and the UK following suit, does Honda have any new plugin and hybrid models arriving that would appeal to the SME fleet sector?

Jacqueline Rowe: Honda has an exciting addition to the model line-up with the new CR-V PHEV, perfectly placed for fleets with a BIK of 8%, 50-mile pure electric driving, CO2 18g, and a P11D on this model from £53,940.

It’s bold, imposing, with new levels of performance safety and comfort, and comes as a full hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Our plug-in has a 50-mile range of pure electric, giving tax advantages to the company car driver, along with its 18g/km of CO2, with the full hybrid model giving an impressive 42.8mpg, making this perfect for the business driver.

We are very excited about this car; we’ve packed a whole range of helpful and informative technology into the CR-V including high-resolution screens and seamless connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

With our commitment to keeping everyone safe, the CR-V car has a whole range of advanced driver assistance systems, including the Honda Sensing 360, which expands the existing Honda Sensing range to 360 degrees around the car, with additional corner radars and cameras in the front. The

CC&V: Does Honda have a corporate dealership network and if so, how can these dealers help SME fleet customers choose the right car for their business?

enhanced range not only covers additional blind spots around the vehicle, helping avoid collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians, but also reduces driver strain while driving.

CC&V: What can you tell us about your latest electric models and when can we expect to see them here in the UK?

Jacqueline Rowe: We have just taken our dealers through the product familiarisation on this new car and the feedback so far has been very positive.

The e:Ny1 showcases our new BEV identity with the new HONDA badge on the rear of the car. It comes with a five-year service plan, five-year warranty, and five-year roadside. You can rapid charge e:Ny1 from 10 -80% in approximately 45 minutes, and it offers a zero-emission pure EV drive range of 256 miles.

It has an easy access charging port at the front of the car, a panoramic roof, making its cabin feel spacious, a boot which offers up to 1,176 litres carrying space with seats flat, and it is packed with tech and safety features that are synonymous with Honda. The Honda Sensing is standard, including lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control keeping our drivers and passengers safe. On the top grade of the e:Ny1 it also offers a multi view camera system and Honda parking pilot.

This vehicle also has remote accessibility via the my Honda+ app, which keeps you connected to your e:Ny1 every minute of the day through your smartphone.

Jacqueline Rowe: Every Honda dealer is able to sell to business customers. We also have a number of corporate specialist dealers that have the infrastructure to support volume opportunities and our leasing partner’s requirements.

With over 4.6 million SMEs in the UK, it is important that Honda makes it easy for these businesses to deal with us.

Our corporate dealers have specialist resources and are experienced in corporate sales and are skilled in understanding what really matters to the business customers.

They are able to support them to make the right fleet decision for their individual needs, and have the infrastructure to handle volume enquires / registrations and deliver vehicles nationally.

Along with this, we have some video and digital corporate product guides that highlight all the details a corporate driver would want to understand to support their buying decision - for example, taxation, safety, technology, and specification.

CC&V: While the Government has decided that full electric has to be the way forward, it raises issues for many businesses.

In the short term, do you have any suggestions that would make electric motoring easier for fleets?

Jacqueline Rowe: We are all in no doubt that electrification is the future and the journey to reaching this is going to be different for every customer.

Our corporate Honda business team within Honda UK and our dealer network would be best positioned to assist with this on an individual basis.

I would encourage customers to make contact with us and we will work with them on what the right journey is for their business just now.

“The e:Ny1 showcases our new BEV identity...”

14 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

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EUROPCAR

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Europcar’s keeping one foot on the e-pedal The recent change in the deadline for the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles shouldn’t dampen fleet ambitions to cut their own carbon. It’s crucial that focus remains on reducing emissions so that the UK can still hit the net zero target by 2050.

Do we want to cut emissions just to tick a box and comply with government regulations, or to make a difference to our environment and air quality? Are we moving towards electric fleets out of necessity or because it’s the right thing to do for future generations?

Europcar is committed to helping company car and van drivers find the right zero or low emissions vehicles for their specific needs.

For some that will mean battery electric; for others it will be a mixture of electric, hybrid and younger more efficient petrol and diesel vehicles.

Reducing emissions, whatever the route, will have a positive impact on our environment.

Real-world experience

A gradual transition period, utilising rental to drive various vehicles in the real world, provides opportunity and time to adjust motorists’ attitudes to EVs, as well as changing habits and behaviour to use the right vehicle for the job. And flexible vehicle usage – from daily to weekly, monthly and

16 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

Europcar is committed to helping company car and van drivers find the right zero or low emissions vehicles for their specific needs.

longer, available with delivery and collection from over 100 locations across the UK - helps motorists and businesses experience EV without making a long-term commitment.

The Europcar digital EV Guide, including access to the Zapmap charger map, makes the transition to electric as stress-free as possible. And with support of electric vehicle ambassadors at handover, Europcar’s goal is

to help drivers rapidly gain confidence in zero emissions.

Find out more

To find out more about zero and low emission solutions from Europcar visit https://www.europcar.co.uk/en-gb/ p/business/fleet-services/electric

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SEVADIS

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Three months left to save on workplace EV charging Sevadis simplifies the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) and discusses why you should take advantage before it ends.

To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, the Government introduced a voucher-based incentive programme that allows businesses and organisations to claim financial support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points.

Called the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), it opened in 2016 and is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). It has supported many electrification projects over the years and offers a grant which covers up to 75% of the total costs – but unfortunately it comes to an end on the 31st March 2024.

How the scheme works

The WCS is open to businesses, charities and public sector bodies in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. You can save up to £350 per socket, up to a maximum of 40 sockets.

NOTE: If you lease your workplace site, you will need permission from the landlord before installing any EV charge points.

Who else can apply

The scheme extends its eligibility to include small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support the EV charge point infrastructure to be installed both now and in the future. If you’re an SME, you can claim up to £850 per parking bay, with a maximum of £15,000 per building.

The limit is set at five applications per financial year, and you must have fewer than 250 employees.

Benefits of workplace charging for your SME

Workplace charging can provide several benefits, but it is an overall win-win for both your business and the environment. It will reduce CO2 emissions and help reach sustainability goals, but most importantly it enables employees to charge their company/ fleet vehicles overnight.

This could save your commercial fleet and employees more than £1,000 a year in fuel every 10,000 miles.

To be eligible for the grant you must check that both the installer and EV charge point are authorised by OZEV. The MaxiCharger by Sevadis is eligible for grant funding, meaning you can save up to £350 per charger. Whether you’re electrifying your commercial fleet or simply future-proofing the workplace, you can count on the MaxiCharger to provide seamless charging experiences every time.

With a reliability rate of 99% and a leading support service where 95% of technical calls are answered within ten seconds, you’ll have peace of mind that your employees and drivers will always have access to the charging facilities.

In addition the MaxiCharger is OCCP 1.6 compliant meaning it can integrate with any chosen smart back-office management system.

This provides you with full access to view live charging activity and control over your EV charge points. Businesses will also then be able to restrict access and be able to activate charging sessions through either apps or RFID cards, which is ideal for fleets and SMEs. From a self-healing algorithm to 24/7 support to the 99% reliability rate of the MaxiCharger, the hardware provided from Sevadis combined with the right software creates a powerhouse solution for workplaces and fleets seeking to electrify.

To learn more about how the MaxiCharger can benefit your business, see http:// sevadis.com/ maxicharger/ www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 17

VANAWAYS

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Vanaways partners with Holman to win John F Hunt fleet deal Major construction industry player John F Hunt has partnered with independent broker Vanaways as its new van supplier.

Since moving its acquisitions to the Bristolbased specialist earlier this year, John F Hunt has already taken delivery of more than 100 new vehicles – with more arriving all the time.

All are supplied via funding partner Holman, the two companies having worked closely together to meet their client’s requirements.

Vehicles delivered so far include Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara 4x4 pick-ups, and 3.5-tonne and smaller car-derived vans from Citroen, Ford, Fiat, Peugeot and Volkswagen.

They have joined a 350-strong fleet, spread across the UK. John F Hunt Group’s Finance Director, Ian Saville, said: “Historically we’ve tended to source our vehicles direct from manufacturers but following recent supply chain issues, we decided to look at alternatives. It turned out to be a wise move.

“As an independent supplier, with a web of sourcing avenues, Vanaways has been able to come up with the vehicles we need very quickly and with minimal hassle or headache.

The fact that they’re not tied to any one manufacturer also means we have access to models from a wide variety of brands, all in one place.”

18 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

He added: “This flexibility means we can get vehicles in without delay, when we need them, which is very advantageous when taking on new contracts or adding recruits to our teams. Speed of delivery is often among the most important considerations, more so than a specific make or model.”

Many of the vehicles supplied so far have gone to John F Hunt Power, which hires generators and temporary back-up power solutions to a wide range of customers and applications.

“Some of these generators are small enough to be delivered in a van, but many are much larger,” said Mr Saville. “In all cases, though, our teams perform regular inspection visits to keep the sets running smoothly, refill them with fuel and top up our Stage Five generator tanks with AdBlue.”

Other vehicles within the Group service the John F Hunt Regeneration and Concrete Cutting businesses, where they are used in roles including site management and the supervision and maintenance of heavy plant.

“This is where the 4x4 pick-up is often the vehicle of choice, especially when we’re working on construction sites that could be as big as 400 acres,” he added.

John F Hunt comprises a multi-dimensional group of 21 companies and divisions working across the construction industry, with a full range of civil engineering, construction and demolition services.

Vanaways Business Development Director Liam Nicholas said: “We were delighted to win this significant piece of business and to forge a successful partnership with both John F Hunt and Holman – through which we’ve demonstrated our ability to deliver the right vehicles in double-quick time, regardless of the size of the order.

“We’re also helping to streamline the process of remarketing John F Hunt’s older vehicles, through our online part-exchange platform. We look forward to building on this relationship, going forward.”

• More from Vanaways at: www.vansalesuk.co.uk

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the lcv group

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The lcv group celebrates an award-winning year The lcv group, one of the UK’s leading providers of vehicles into businesses, is celebrating a hugely successful 2023. The company was named Best Commercial Vehicle Broker in the UK, launched an innovative new website, acquired an established fleet company, and further expanded its workforce following a major rebrand last year.

The lcv group claimed the top prize at the Brokers News Awards 2023 where it was named Best Commercial Vehicle Broker in the UK. The annual awards recognise excellence in the leasing broker industry, and its independent judging panel was chaired by Jane Pocock, the UK and Ireland CEO for global company Copart Inc. Rod Lloyd, CEO of the lcv group, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to win this award. Given the strength of the competition and the calibre of the judges it really is something special to us.”

New website

In August, the company launched its new website, which streamlines the process of finding the perfect vehicle. The new-look site allows customers to customise their transactions online making the process easier, faster, and as accessible as possible.

Elliott Gardener, IT and Digital Marketing Manager, who headed the project, said: “I am proud to have led the development of our

Julie Summerell, managing director of TR Fleet, says she is looking forward to working with a company that shares her vision, and with a CEO who has long supported her in the industry: “Finding a company that can support the future of TR Fleet was vital. The lcv group has the right cultural fit. I’ve known Rod (Lloyd) for years and he’s always been very supportive, something of a mentor, and his team are amazing.”

Zoë Field, Director of Operations, Rod Lloyd CEO and Ross Davies, Director of Business.

new website which will undoubtedly improve the way we conduct business. The new platform’s user-friendly design and advanced functionality will greatly simplify transactions for our customers.

“Together, we are embracing innovation and embracing a bright future for our business.”

TR Fleet

Fleet services at the lcv group were boosted with the acquisition of TR Fleet. The national company will continue to assist its existing customers, while introducing new fleet operators to its popular DriveSecure app. A comprehensive risk management system used by businesses with multiple vehicles, this invaluable tool can aid with compliance in such areas as licence checking and grey fleet management.

More than 30,000 happy customers

After more than two decades, the lcv group knows a thing or two about getting you the best vehicle for your buck. Just choose your make and model from their nationwide supply network, and they’ll get you behind the wheel in no time. All of its vehicles come with the manufacturer’s pan-European warranty and breakdown assistance, and it will always deliver your vehicle for free anywhere on the UK mainland. More than 30,000 happy customers can’t be wrong!

Here’s to the future

Looking to 2024, the team will continue to grow, with new positions to be announced soon, and the lcv group’s head office will soon be relocating to a larger premises more suited to its ongoing expansion.

Get in touch: see www.thelcvgroup.co.uk or call us on 01792 818 538.

Q&A WITH GENESIS

Genesis increases access to the brand as it looks to take customer experience to the next level Company Car & Van caught up with Genesis Motor’s Head of Sales, Jonny Miller, to see how this relative newcomer to the UK car sector was looking to grow the brand, and its plans for the fleet and retail markets CC&V: Genesis has been in the UK for a couple of years now, but you didn’t initially sell the brand with any dealer partners. However, that’s about to change. Can you tell us the thinking behind working with dealer partners and also how you decided which ones to work with?

Jonny Miller: When we launched in Europe in May 2021, we launched with a phase 1 direct-to-consumer approach. We are now moving to phase 2 where we work with retail partners.

The idea is to increase access to the brand, to make it as easy as possible for our customers to interact with us – increasing our operational capacity so we can respond successfully to the growing demand for our cars. In deciding which retail partners we choose to work with, ultimately the criteria comes down to delivering customer excellence – it is not based on location. We want to work with retail partners that can deliver a Genesis level of customer service, delighting customers in every way.

JM: We have been and will continue to actively target the fleet market once the retail partners come on board.

We have a team at Genesis that will handle the large corporate customers, and then our retail partners will handle the local and SME fleets.

The main point to note is that we do not differentiate between our retail and our corporate customers and ensure they all enjoy the same experience.

CC&V: As a motoring writer, when I was out and about driving a Genesis GV60, it attracted a lot of attention. The most common question I was asked, is ‘What is it?’ How do you intend to grow the brand in the UK and will you be adding any more dealer partners to the existing seven you have already signed up?

JM: We are anticipating a maximum of 15 locations across the UK. We currently have seven going live from 1st January 2024, so we are actively looking for more partners.

But they have to be the right partners. To hammer home the point, we want to work with retail partners who can deliver a Genesis level of customer service, delighting customers in every way.

CC&V: Finally, the $64,000 question. Where would you like to see Genesis fleet in the market place in 18 months from now?

JM: For Genesis, it’s about being an emotive purchase. It’s about the desire. It’s about the user-choosers wanting us to be in a Genesis car. We are not looking to chase volume – for us, it’s about delivering quality and delivering customer service.

That’s where we want Genesis fleet to be in 18 months.

Genesis GV60

CC&V: In our own SME fleet sector, EV and PHEV are the go-to powertrains for company car drivers. While you have three electric models, do you have any plans to go plug-in hybrid, or is Genesis sticking to full electric as you move forward?

JM: Our plan is to be fully electric from 2025. We are not launching any hybrid versions – we are going to straight to EV.

CC&V: With your electric models, is Genesis actively targeting the fleet sector and if so, how are your dealer partners set up to look after corporate customers?

“The idea is to increase access to the brand ... but in deciding which retail partners we choose to work with, ultimately the criteria comes down to delivering customer excellence” 20 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

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GENESIS GV60

GV60: First drive and we’re hooked Hyundai’s premium marque, Genesis, has been going about its work in the UK to little fanfare – but now the GV60 is with us, that’s all about to change, says Andrew Walker Genesis entered the UK car sector a couple of years ago with a range of exciting petrol and diesel models. The plan was always to introduce an electric range, and utilising sister brands Kia and Hyundai’s E-GMP EV platform, the GV60 is the first pure electric Genesis.

It’s a five-door SUV crossover powered by a 74kWh battery, with three trim levels: Premium, Sport and Sport Plus, the model we tested.

Premium is rear wheel drive only, while Sport and Sport Plus are all-wheel drive with dual-motors. Power across the range is from 226bhp to 483bhp, with Sport Plus featuring 241bhp motors on each axle.

Exterior

The GV60 looks completely different to the Kia EV6 and Hyundai IONIQs 5 and 6. So you get a squat looking five-door hatchback outline, more in keeping with Ford’s Mustang and the Tesla Model Y. The front features a sweeping bonnet with high headlights and the large Genesis wings logo in the centre.

The back offers a narrow window, wrap around light clusters and high boot spoiler.

Inside

Although on paper it’s up against the Tesla Model Y, Genesis is really competing in the premium sector, so that means the Germans and Lexus. Our test car was clad in navy blue leather with a chunky leather steering wheel and contrast stitching. The rotary gear selector is a ‘crystal maze’ ball that spins over to reveal the gear options when you start up. The quality of the dashboard, fixtures and fittings is very good.

Infotainment

The infotainment system is based on the same operating system used in Kias and Hyundais, and it’s very logical and user friendly.

Practicality

Internal space is pretty good, with enough room to seat three adults, thanks to the flat floor in the rear. Despite the sloping roofline, headroom is good in the back.

Decent cabin storage comes in the form of an under armrest cubby, slim front and rear door pockets, a wireless phone charger, twin centre cup holders, a neat slide in and out glove box, twin USBs front and rear. Seat back pockets and a rear armrest with drinks holders finish things of in the back The boot has 432 litres of storage; with the rear seats folded that rises to 1,550 litres. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Range and charging

As with the electric Kia and Hyundais, the 77.4kWh battery offers an excellent range and can be charged up quickly.

The entry-level Premium version will travel 321 miles on a charge, while the dual-motor Sport and Sport Plus models will cover 292 and 289 miles respectively. In our test week we drove Sport Plus carefully and returned 3.6 miles per kWh on average, which we thought was excellent.

Plug-in at home as with our own Rolec wall box (http://www.rolecserv.com/homecharging) and it will take between 11 and 12 hours to charge to full. Away from home, at speeds as high as 220kW, a 10 – 80% charge would add 200 miles of range in less than 20 minutes, which is very, very impressive.

Company car drivers

Just 2% BIK currently means that the GV60 is a giveaway at under £550 per annum for a higher rate taxpayer driving a company car tax.

Driving and energy regeneration

This is where the Sport Plus model gets interesting. On the motorway it is a perfect companion, comfortable, quiet and relaxing with the overtaking prowess of a Cheetah.

The suspension is quite soft so it soaks up most road imperfections. Utilise the adaptive cruise control or the autonomous steering and you can sit back and enjoy the infotainment via the Bang and Olufsen speakers.

Away from the motorway, in town for example, the GV60 purrs quietly along like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Steering is light and precise and with the rear wheel drive and twin motor set-up, it feels grippy and safe both at the same time.

But driving an EV is also about conserving energy and the GV60 doesn’t disappoint. You get five levels of regeneration, selected using the steering wheel paddles. These go up from no regeneration, right up to one pedal driving.

The car pre-selects the second highest setting from the off and this level is perfect

for motorway driving. In town you can go one-pedal mode and this does mean you can freewheel to a stop in most situations.

There are three driving modes. Eco, the mode we used most, only offers the driver about half the total power, while Comfort lets loose a little more for faster progress. Go for it in Sport mode and you’ll release up to 429bhp and by pressing the ‘Boost’ button on the steering wheel, you’ll get the full 483bhp for instantaneous shove!

The good

One of the best electric cars for both driving fun and 250+ miles of battery range.

Class-leading warranty. Ridiculously low BIK of 2%. Fast charging built in. Very well made.

Refreshingly different both inside and out.

The bad

Sport and Sport Plus are a little expensive.

Prices start from just under £54,000, with the Sport Plus costing from £67,505. Boot isn’t as big as some rivals.

Conclusion

Great battery range and driving fun. It looks and feels more upmarket than rivals, and is one of the most impressive cars that Company Car & Van has driven this year.

Genesis may have sneaked under your radar but that is about to change. The addition of seven retail partners in dedicated Genesis showrooms by the end of this year, with more to follow, will put them on plenty of fleet drivers’ radars.

CC&V VERDICT A premium car from Korea that more than matches the very best. Ignore at your peril.

CC&V RATING: NNNNN Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 21

RENAULT TRUCKS

Renault Trucks powers up the electric switch with E-Tech Trafic Having committed to the rapid electrification of its ranges, Renault Trucks added a new light commercial vehicle to its offering, in the form of the Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic.

Competing in the medium van segment, it means the French manufacturer now offers a complete range of full electric commercial vehicles, from small vans at 650 kg to big rigs at 44 tonne.

The switch to low-carbon transport solutions is a priority for Renault Trucks, which has just completed the electrification of all its vehicle models designed to operate in urban and peri-urban environments.

Whether for delivery, distribution, waste collection or worksite approach, all urban and regional uses are covered by the Renault

22 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

Trucks E-Tech T and C, Renault Trucks E-Tech D, D Wide and D Wide LEC (16, 18 and 26t), Renault Trucks E-Tech Master (3.1 and 3.5 t), cargo bikes (650 kg) and, from 2023, the Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic (3.07 t).

A full electric vehicle designed for urban use

With the boom in e-commerce, deliveries and the use of contractors for home improvement work, the number of commercial vehicles on the road in our city centres is constantly on the increase.

As electric vehicles offer professionals the guarantee of being able to continue their activity in city centres regardless of local regulations, while preserving the quality of life of city-dwellers, Renault Trucks has

added the Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic to its electric range.

The Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic is designed for city driving. Medium-sized and easy to manoeuvre, its most compact version can be driven into covered urban car parks and standard car parking spaces.

To meet the needs of all delivery professionals and contractors, the vehicle is available in a range of configurations: three panel van versions (L1H1, L2H1, L2H2), two crew van versions (L1H1 and L2H1) and a platform cab version.

In its panel van version, the Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic offers a load volume ranging from 5.8 to 8.9 m3 and a load length of up to 4.15 m. The comfortable 1,898 mm interior

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height of the H2 version is sufficient to stand upright in the load area.

Unique to Renault Trucks, the E-Tech Trafic platform cab enables operators to have a wide variety of body designs to meet the urban challenges.

The vehicle is powered by a new 90 kW (120 bhp) electric motor and has a towing capacity of 920 kg. It has 52 kWh batteries and a range of 297 km WLTP in the combined cycle: one of the best electric energy consumption figures on the market, with 18.7 kWh, which helps to reduce the vehicle’s cost of ownership.

100% peace of mind thanks to customised services

To help customers make the switch to electric vehicles with complete peace of mind, the manufacturer provides personalised support, including a preliminary study of needs and uses, as well as advice on charging solutions. Renault Trucks also offers tailored financing solutions and support in managing government subsidies (depending on the country).

For complete cost control, Renault Trucks also offers a package deal that covers the cost of the vehicle, the Start & Drive maintenance contract, insurance and financing.

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Technical specifications Models: - Van: L1H1, L2H1, L2H2 - Crew van: L1H1, L2H1 - Platform cab GVW: 3.07t Payload: up to 1.16t Electric motor with a total output of 90 kW Maximum torque of the electric motor: 245 Nm Lithium-ion battery: 52 kWh Charger: up to 22 kW AC and up to 50 DC Maximum speed: 110 km/h Towing capacity: 920 kg Actual range: 297 km (WLTP combined cycle)

The Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic also comes with an eight-year warranty on its traction battery and a two-year warranty covering the rest of the vehicle, including parts and labour and 24/7 breakdown assistance.

It also benefits from a range of services based on the HGV expertise of Renault Trucks, including its growing number of dedicated LCV centres, that all offer quick appointments and extended opening hours, including Saturdays.

More electric solutions on way from Renault Renault Trucks presented more solutions for low-carbon transport at the Solutrans Expo in Lyon in November, highlighting its three-pillar strategy to reduce CO2 emissions. This involves producing trucks with ever-improving energy efficiency, providing all-electric solutions for emission-free transport during use, extending the life of its vehicles under a circular approach, and working on solutions for 100% carbon-free last-mile logistics.

Visitors to Solutrans had the chance to see the brand-new Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C on the stand. These trucks, which are designed for regional distribution and urban construction, went into series production in November at the Renault Trucks plant in Bourg-en-Bresse.

Light commercial vehicles were also showcased, with the official unveiling of the all-electric Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic, the latest to join the truck manufacturer’s range. It was presented, complete with a refrigerated body, highlighting its body fit options.

Two e-cargo bikes were also on display. The first will have a dry cell capable of carrying a 300kg payload and with a usable volume of 2m3, while the second will be in a “food” configuration. These reliable, durable and cost-effective e-assisted three-wheelers are now on sale.

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 23

COVER STAR ON TEST: BMW i5

The ultimate driving machine is back in electric form Don’t take any heed of rivals: the BMW i5 really is the executive’s number one choice, says Andrew Walker BMW’s ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ tagline was used for years by the German brand to emphasise how good its cars were to drive.

From the early 1990s, in the corporate sector, both the 3 and 5 series sold for fun, utilising that moniker to stand out from the premium competition.

Fast-forward to the present and BMW, like all car manufacturers, is electrifying its model range, with the i4 launched in 2021, a particular favourite of ours. There’s still no electric 3 Series but there is now an electric 5 Series, the i5. We got to grips with the likely fleet favourite, the i5 eDrive40, in M Sport Pro trim, with our main aim being to see how well this EV drives. Here’s how we got on.

Model choice

There are two electric models from launch, the i5 40 Drive or M60 xDrive. The i40 is offered in M Sport or M Sport Pro livery.

Both i5 models feature an 81.2kWh lithium ion battery as standard. The rear-wheeldrive eDrive40 features a rear-mounted electric motor developing 335bhp and 317lb ft of torque, with a 0-62mph time of 6.0sec and a top speed of 120mph. Prices start at £71,105.

It’s joined by the four-wheel-drive BMW i5 M60 xDrive, which is priced from £97,745.

The 60 uses the same rear-mounted electric motor in combination with a smaller front-mounted motor, which delivers an added 256bhp and 269lb ft of torque, so it comes with a combined system output of 593bhp and 605lb ft of torque. It also offers a super-fast 0-62mph time of 3.8sec and an electronically limited top speed of 143mph.

Driving range and charging

The eDrive40 offers a claimed range of between 296 and 362 miles,while the M60 xDrive claims 283 to 321 miles of range.

The i5 offers 11kW AC charging as standard. This can be increased to 22kW with 24 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

an optional on-board charger. The maximum DC charging capability is 205kW, so on a public fast charger, BMW claims a 10-80% charge within 30 minutes. Any fleet customer choosing electric should have access to a home charger, which at 7.4kWh means you’ll fully charge up your i5 in around 12.5 hours.

Exterior

The latest 5 Series looks very much like a progression of the 5. For a start it’s bigger, with the length increased 97mm to 5060mm, width increased by 32mm to 1900mm and it’s height is up by 36mm to 1515mm. The wheelbase is also 20mm longer measuring in at 2995mm. Electric exterior touches include a blanked-off design on the front kidney grille in high-gloss black plastic, a single ‘i’ on the grille front and the i5 moniker on the rear left.

Interior, infotainment and cabin practicality

The latest 5 Series adopts plenty of the larger 7 Series fixtures and fittings. So there’s a triple-layer dashboard with a single curved display panel. This contains both the 14.9” infotainment touchscreen running BMW’s 8.5 operating system and the 12.3”

instrument cluster. The graphics are sharp and response times swift. There’s also the return of the ‘marmite’ BMW click wheel and to make life easier, some useful short cuts via QuickSelect tabs.

The seats are clad in ‘Veganza’ leather, with the soft-touch chrome, grey and black fixtures and fittings a step-up in quality from what came before. There’s a wireless phone charging pad, neat air vent adjusters, twin USB C connectors, large front door pockets, a split opening under arm rest with storage below and a small glove box.

Rear passengers have access to their own climate controls, with two USB Cs underneath these and two more USBs, one each on the back of the rear seats. A ubiquitous rear armrest with twin cup holders finishes thing off.

Extras

Things here can get expensive. On our test car a panoramic sunroof added £1,600, M Carbon Exterior Styling £1,750, the Technology Plus Pack £3,300 and the Comfort Plus Pack £5,000.

Add that lot up and you can see how a £75,000 car can quickly become one costing north of £90,000. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Storage and driving comfort

The i5 boot is long and narrow with a space under the floor where you can store your charging cable. The boot offers up 490 litres just 30 less than on the petrol 5 Series.

Both front seats offer plenty of adjustment and you can even sit quite low to better get a feel for how with i5 drives. In the rear there’s a large transmission tunnel and really only room for two to sit comfortably side by side. Rear head and legroom is pretty good, though.

Driving and regeneration

The $64,000 question: is the i5 an ultimate driving machine? For a start it’s typically EV heavy, coming in at a weighty 2,205kg and the 0-62mph time of six seconds could only be described as so-so. As with other electric cars, acceleration is brisk from start but this tails off as you reach motorway speeds. You can take advantage of the i5’s ‘Boost’ mode which can be accessed via the single left side paddle behind the steering wheel. This adds short bursts of fun under acceleration and is similar to the boost function on the Genesis EV range.

At the opposite end you can utilise the car’s www.companycarandvan.co.uk

on-board regeneration by simply pulling the gear switch back into D and once again for B. It features High, Low and Medium settings. If you don’t want to choose one yourself, then there’s an Adaptive mode that will handle it for you. It responds to upcoming junctions and changes in speed limit as well as to vehicles that are in front of you so is very intuitive.

Road holding is excellent. We were testing on narrow, damp, country roads and the i5 never

feels anything other than grippy, with the added battery weight helping to tie it down.

Compared to electric rivals, the steering is sharp, but it’s genuinely not as reactive as the steering in a petrol BMW saloon for example.

The adaptive air suspension does an excellent job of hiding the weight, feels comfortable inside and is well poised travelling over most road surfaces.

Continued on page 26 Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 25

COVER STAR ON TEST: BMW i5

continued from page 27 On the motorway we settled back for a quiet, comfortable junction or two, selecting the on-board driving aids to make life easy.

We see no reason why longer journeys shouldn’t be undertaken in supreme comfort.

You can select from several driving modes, with each offering customisable lighting to differentiate each one. Personal, Sport, Efficient, Expression and Relax are offered with the lighting reflecting each one’s ambience. Digital Art in purple is also an option, from artist Coo Fei. Instruments

The dashboard and centre binnacle are relatively clutter free and the car’s controls are easy to get to know, with the latest touchscreen and menus very logical. For

www.companycarandvan.co.uk

example, we quickly disengaged lane keeping assist. On plenty of cars it’s hard to find out where to do this.

Company car benefits

hours to understand how to use it either. The large battery equates to a decent electric range. And of course low BIK equals cheap as chips company car tax.

While the EV BIK sits at 2%, the i5 is a veritable company car bargain. A higher-rate taxpayer will spend only £592 per year in BIK until 2024/25 with a rise to £889 in tax year 2025/26.

It’s expensive, especially once you add on the package and optional equipment. And perhaps it’s a little safe design-wise, both inside and out compared to rivals.

Pros

Verdict

It’s the best electric car to drive since the BMW i4, combining all of its on-board tech to make everyday driving both fun and easy.

When we climbed aboard the interior definitely has the Wow factor. The updated infotainment system and on-board tech are both spot on. And you don’t need hours and

Cons

As far as electric cars go and BMWs in general, this is a fine effort from the brand.

It’s brilliant to drive, certainly when compared to what’s currently offered from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, with only the Genesis GV60, KIA EV6 and Hyundai IONIQ 6 almost but not quite matching it. Even the Tesla Model Y can’t get close to its handling and poise and, of course, it’s miles away on quality. What we would say, though, is that if you’re not a company car driver, then the petrol 5 Series is much better value for money and drives even better.

And speccing your i5 up will be an expensive undertaking.

CC&V VERDICT Almost but not quite the ultimate driving machine. Superb quality that you can’t match, and a great drive. Only thing to mark it down from perfection is price though the BIK rate makes up for that

CC&V RATING: NNNNN 26 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

www.companycarandvan.co.uk

SMART#1

smart’s #1 is a perfectly formed little gem Company Car & Van attended Fully Charged North back in May, to look at a number of the new electric cars coming to market in 2023 and 2024. One of those was the smart #1, a new electric car sold at selected MercedesBenz car dealerships. We popped along to our local smart dealership LSH in Stockport to drive one.

The #1 is the first of several smart models due in the next few years, all electrics. The new venture is a 50:50 split between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, with the #1 built in China, where battery technology and manufacture is currently ahead of Europe.

The #1 is the same size as the Mini Countryman and shares its scalable electric architecture with the likes of the new Volvo EX30. Battery size across the range is 66kWh. Model range

There are four models: the RWD Pro + with a 260-mile range, Premium and Launch Edition with 273-mile ranges and 272hp; and the range topping AWD Brabus, with a massive 428hp and a range of 248 miles.

Exterior

While the #1 tips it’s hat to smart cars of old with cute looks and a curved shape, both the front and rear ends feature similar designs to the Mercedes-Benz EQA, B and C 28 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

models. The overall shape is reminiscent of the current Mini Countryman.

Inside and goodies

This is where the #1 makes the boldest statement. Up front the driver and passenger sit cocooned between a floating centre console with storage space underneath. The dash is dominated by the 12.8” central touchscreen, dead centre above two slim air vents. Short-cut buttons for driving modes, the window heaters and fans are underneath, otherwise the touchscreen controls the majority of the functions.

In common with many Mercedes-Benz models, you change gear using the right hand steering wheel stalk, and you’ll find controls for features such as cruise control and automatic self parking in the same spot.

In front of the driver sits a narrow 9.2” full LCD HD instrument cluster. Our Premium model had a Heads Up display too, as well as an array of ambient lighting choices to customise the cabin.

The quality is pretty good, in a mix of black, white and chrome plastics with just a hint of some cheaper stuff adorning the door pockets and lower down surfaces. Up front, all versions feature a 12v socket with twin USBs, and two more USBs are in the rear. All models also connect to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and come with Bluetooth and DAB radio.

Premium and above all come with a wireless

phone charger, and a 13-speaker Beats sound system. All versions bar Pro+ also get a heat pump.

Charging

The #1 will accept up to 150kW from a CCSplugged rapid charger to give a sub-30 minute 10%-80% charging time. On our Rolec home 7.4kWh charger, this will take about 7.5 hours. Premium, Launch and Brabus benefit from three-phase 22kW AC charging using a Type 2 plug, dropping the time to charge to less than three hours.

Performance and driving modes

The Brabus will hit 62mph from standing start in just 3.9 seconds, while the RWD models take 6.9 seconds, which is still fast!

Choose from Eco, Comfort or Sport driving mods with the addition of Brabus on the Brabus for some serious fun.

Safety

All models come with EBD, hill assist, HDC, ESC, Trailer Stability Assist (TSA), Electronic Traction Control, an E-Pedal and a tyre pressure monitoring system. There’s also a raft of safety features including Front and Rear Collision Mitigation, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, front and rear parking sensors, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Assist, Cruise Control and Intelligent Speed Assist. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Practicality

Smart’s David Browne told CC&V that the #1 is comparable for inside space to an E-Class. In the front we’d agree but the rear is only for two adults. On the plus side, the #1 is quite wide and you can increase rear space by utilising the sliding and reclining rear bench which also features a ski flap.

There is plenty of interior storage: large front and rear door pockets, two central drinks holders, a large area under the floating centre binnacle, a decent sized glove box and a fold down rear armrest with twin cup holders within. The boot isn’t massive at just 323 litres on the Pro+ model, 10 litres less on all other models thanks to the Beats sound systems sub-woofer. The floor is adjustable with removable shelf, so you can hide your charging cables underneath. And upfront you get a ‘frunk’ with another 15 litres offered.

Driving

On the motorway the Premium feels quick and quiet, with little wind or road noise. A long journey would be aided by the suite of safety functions fitted to all versions, although we chose to turn off lane centring and lane change assist.

You can select energy recuperation at either Standard or Strong; the latter means little or no braking is required around town. The steering is light and precise, and the suspension is set up for comfort – and that’s exactly what you get.

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If you want a bit of power, press down on the accelerator pedal and it arrives instantly, perfect as you battle through early morning traffic. Over some poor road surfaces – it does weigh 1800kgs after all – you do notice a bit of vibration and shake, a common fault with EVs thanks to the battery weight. In truth, we’re being fussy as this is not significant in the smart.

We tried the driving modes and as per usual, opted for the one that saves your battery range the longest, Eco. To be fair, Comfort and Sport don’t offer anything that feels significantly different to Eco, save a little more power in Sport.

Infotainment

While the touchscreen looks brilliant and the graphics are super clear, the fact that you need to enter the menus to adjust the climate, for example, is a little frustrating. Over time this will get easier, but there’s so much info on the touchscreen menu that you find your eyes leaving the road to check exactly what you want. That aside, the Apple CarPlay worked seamlessly, the Smart SatNav’s quite good and once you’ve acclimatised to the system, it gets easier to use. The #1 uses an animated Fox avatar as your personal assistant which is a nice touch, reminding me of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Pros

Looks modern and funky. Excellent interior

and on-trend infotainment will excite the kid in you. All versions come incredibly well equipped with a host of active safety as standard.

Entry level Pro+ is well priced at £36,950 although we would opt for the Premium version an extra £2,000 primarily to gain access to the 22kW on board charger.

Cons

Fiddly infotainment takes time to acclimatise too. On 19” wheels the ride is a little fidgety over poor road surfaces. The exterior design plays it ‘safer’ than the interior.

Conclusion

We really liked the #1. It’s a small electric car that offers customers an awful lot for their money, especially when you compare the price tag to a Mercedes-Benz EQ. For company car drivers a 200 mile driving range is good as is the 2% BIK. Currently, 22 Mercedes-Benz sites are selling it and I’m sure they are hoping that smart is as successful as Mini has been in the past 20 years. With new models arriving next year, it could be and the #1 is a very good start.

CC&V VERDICT Quite simply, the best smart car yet. Ideal company car for an urban dweller

CC&V RATING: N N N N N

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 29

LEXUS LBX

An all-new compact SUV, the LBX, promises a new market breakthrough for Lexus.

Designed and engineered with a focus on European customers, it offers no compromise in traditional Lexus values of quality, luxury and refinement.

It’s powered by a new 1.5-litre self-charging hybrid electric powertrain and is ready to order now, with first deliveries from March 2024.

The LBX is the smallest Lexus yet, but fully deserving of its status as a landmark model, one which breaks down the traditional luxury hierarchy and which will be a game-changer for the brand in Europe.

LBX isn’t a random acronym: it stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover, and Lexus says its will extend its brand appeal into new market territory. It embraces contemporary ideas in design and technology while maintaining distinguishing Lexus qualities of craftsmanship and omotenashi hospitality.

This is a car that’s accessible and easy to live with, but which makes no compromises in quality and attention to detail: the essence of Lexus has been distilled into a smaller package, transcending customers’ traditional expectations of what a premium compact SUV can offer.

It also breaks new ground by giving owners a wider range of design executions and specifications, providing them with more freedom to express their individual taste and sense of style.

As a new entry point to Lexus’s wellestablished SUV line-up, it offers strong appeal to a younger audience and those who may not have considered a Lexus before. It will be an attractive proposition to customers seeking to downsize or purchase a second vehicle that meets their lifestyle requirements.

Chief Engineer Kunihiko Endoh comments: 30 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

LBX set to take the Lexus hallmarks to a younger generation “Our aim was to challenge the conventional concept of a luxury car. We have thoroughly pursued a driving experience that enables a natural dialogue between the driver and their vehicle and a design has a refined presence.”

Exterior design: a new Lexus identity

Lexus’s design ambition was to create a car that is more relaxed than formal in character, displaying an authentic, effortless style that people will instantly feel a connection with.

The most significant aspect of the design is a new frontal arrangement that “breaks” the spindle grille – a design hallmark for the past decade – leading Lexus into a new era.

The grille has been unified in a single trapezoid shape, positioned below a narrow aperture that runs beneath the leading edge of the bonnet, linking the slim headlight units.

The design draws on the heritage of Lexus’s ‘Resolute Look’. Introduced with the LF-S concept car of 2003, this became a signature styling cue for Lexus production models from the early 2000s.

The seamless, frameless grille generates the lines of the LBX’s spindle body, contributing to the car’s strong, dynamic

stance. It is also aerodynamically efficient, helping smooth airflow.

Following the principles of Lexus Next Chapter Design, the car’s identity and proportions are rooted in the driving experience it delivers. The front pillars have been pulled back, making the cabin appear compact and the bonnet longer for a sporty profile. The flared wings express power and accentuate the large (17 or 18-inch) wheels and tyres, while short overhangs and a bold tightening of the area around the rear doors evoke nimble, dynamic performance.

The rear of the car also projects a strong stance. The licence plate has been moved down to the bumper so the LEXUS letters on the back door is more prominent on the clean expanse of the back door.

Dynamic performance: a new Lexus platform

The LBX has been designed to offer a low centre of gravity in keeping with its fun-todrive character, helping secure the Lexus Driving Signature in the smallest package yet. This helps create a natural dialogue between driver and car that ensures confidence, control and comfort at all times.

The body is strengthened with structural www.companycarandvan.co.uk

www.companycarandvan.co.uk

adhesives and short-pitch welding, and strategic placing of bracing and reinforcements.

Front and rear suspension systems are designed for high rigidity and light weight, giving the LBX agile, stable cornering and steering response with smooth ride comfort.

All versions feature a MacPherson strut design at the front; front-wheel drive models use a rear torsion beam while the AWD LBX has a double-wishbone arrangement.

Powertrain: a new generation of Lexus Hybrid Drive

The LBX is powered by a new generation, self-charging Lexus hybrid electric system featuring a compact and lightweight 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine. The principal hybrid system components have undergone a substantial redesign, including the transaxle and power control unit, to improve efficiency, reduce losses, save weight and reduce size.

The technology developments have allowed Lexus to focus on more rewarding performance and a level of driving pleasure that was not possible with previous systems.

Maximum output from the full hybrid system is 134bhp/100kW with peak torque of 185Nm. The powertrain is tuned for enjoyable performance, whether driving around town or on winding country roads, with faithful handling and a linear acceleration feel that is more closely aligned to the driver’s use of the accelerator pedal.

Drivability is also enhanced by Hybrid System Control that closely matches engine sound and acceleration. Thanks to the hybrid system upgrades, all-electric EV driving can be enjoyed at higher speeds and over longer distances, maximising the LBX’s efficiency.

Interior design: simplicity and elegance, craftsmanship and high quality

Lexus designers sought to create a simple and refined interior that creates the feel and atmosphere of a higher segment model. This effect is founded on three elements: good visibility with an open view out and a simple, smooth instrument panel; the sense of wide interior space; and a centre console with a commanding presence.

The premium quality and attention to detail is witnessed in a choice of upholsteries and trims with strong visual and tactile appeal. As well as top-quality semi-aniline leather, the options include a vegan-friendly interior that www.companycarandvan.co.uk

uses synthetic leather and materials for the seat coverings and steering wheel, shift lever and door trims.

The driver’s cockpit is an interpretation of Lexus’s Tazuna concept, first introduced on the NX mid-size SUV. This positions principal controls and information sources around the driver, so their operation only requires minimal movements of hand or eye. This helps keep the driver focused on the task of driving, with least distraction. The position and angle of the steering wheel were precisely calculated to give the driver a rewarding sense of control.

Here, the Tazuna concept is enhanced on certain versions with a new, 12.3-inch full digital instrument display – a first in a Lexus.

real-time information on traffic events and delays. Further convenience is provided by the “Hey Lexus” on-board assistant which responds to voice commands from both driver and front seat passenger.

Smartphone integration is enabled using wireless or wired connections for Apple CarPlay, or a wired link for Android Auto.

Further convenience is provided by an optional digital key. Compatible with both Apple and Android smartphones devices, this allows owners to use their smartphone to unlock and start their car. They don’t have to take their phone out of their pocket or bag, just having it on their person is sufficient.

They can also share the digital key when other people need to access or use the LBX.

“The low centre of gravity is in keeping with the LBX’s ‘fun to drive’ persona...there’s a natural dialogue between car and driver”

Model range: introducing LBX atmospheres

The lay-out and prominence of the meters and data change according to the drive mode selected and can be customised to suit individual preferences. A head-up display is also available on certain versions.

The centre console has a strong presence with the large multimedia touchscreen tilted back so that it integrates smoothly with the structure. The unit has upholstered side pads and houses two cupholders and multiple storage points and USB ports for device connection and charging.

The load compartment offers up to 332 litres (FWD models with rear seats in place) – room enough for two 75-litre cases to be carried beneath the folding tonneau cover.

Multimedia and infotainment

The LBX is equipped with the latest Lexus Link Connect system, operated via a 9.8-inch touchscreen.

The system provides cloud-based navigation, optimising journey planning with

With the LBX, Lexus offers an even wider range of design executions and specifications to suit different customers’ lifestyle preferences.

The UK line-up will be designed around a choice of four model “atmospheres”: Elegant and Relax which focus on a refined feel, and Emotion and Cool which have a sportier, more dynamic character. Each is designed with a different type of customer in mind.

Emotion and Cool models stand out with bi-tone paintwork and 18-inch alloy wheels with a machined finish. The Elegant and Relax versions have a monotone exterior paint finish and glossy 17 or 18-inch alloys.

In addition to the four atmosphere models there is an entry level LBX which, comes with advanced technology features as standard rather than extra-cost options, in contrast to some competitor models. Notably these include the extensive active safety and driver assistance systems included in the latest generation Lexus Safety System+.

The entry model and the Emotion and Elegant versions can be specified with a vegan-friendly interior with no natural leather products. Equipment option highlights include a 12.3-inch Tazuna concept digital instrument display, head-up display, remote parking and surround-sound system.

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 31

ON TEST: JAGUAR F-PACE P400e

“The quality is excellent ... incredible build quality and all the latest safety features ... it also features some lovely finishes, even lower down and on the doors, where many other premium brands cut corners...”

Jaguar’s quality puts the F-Pace a cut above the hybrid masses Andrew Walker knows what fleet drivers want: a premium PHEV. Step forward, the Jaguar F Pace In order to appeal to company car drivers you need to offer them what they want, and what they want right now is a plug-in hybrid or EV. To its credit, JLR has cottoned on to this and, along with the electric I PACE, has introduced electrified F Pace and E Pace models with plug-in technology. And at the same time, it has upgraded the F Pace interior and infotainment set-up, making a car we liked to drive, even better.

What is it?

The F-Pace P400 e is a large 4WD SUV that comes with plug-in hybrid technology, aimed specifically at the company car sector.

Engine choice

Thee is just one and it’s shared with the Defender plug-in, but it’s very good. So factor in a 4-cylinder, 2-litre petrol engine with an electric motor powered by a battery producing 404 hp and 640 Nm of torque, 34 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

which is good for a 0-60mph time of just 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph. The 105kW (141bhp) electric motor mounted between the 296bhp 4cylinder Ingenium motor and the eight-speed ZF auto transmission is what adds the extra oomph and, of course, gives you that all-important electric range.

Battery and range

As a company car publication, battery range is probably the second most important thing you need to know after BIK - from 11%, since you asked. Fitted with a 17.1kWh battery located beneath the boot floor, the P400e is good for 33 miles of pure electric range according to the book. When we drove one in November it was more like 25 miles, but that’s still pretty good.

Charging

On a 7kW home charger like our own Rolec, (https://www.rolecserv.com/ev-charging) the P400e will take 2.5 hours to charge to full. The P400e also has the ability to be rapid charged using a DC unit where available, up to 32kW, cutting the time to top up to 80%, to just 30 minutes. Our advice as ever is get on a special electricity tariff for EVs, plug-in at

home at night when rates are 7.5p a kWh and in the P400’s case, you’ll charge it up for just 25p overnight to get approximately 25 miles of pure electric driving the next day.

Cabin

The quality of the cabin is excellent. So you get the latest version of JLR’s Pivi Pro infotainment system, incredible build quality and all the latest safety features you’d expect from a luxury SUV. It also features some lovely finishes, even lower down and on the doors, where many other premium brands cut corners. There’s a pop-up driving mode selector, which includes several off-road settings.

The gear stick sits plum in the centre of the front seats with the start button and climate controls just above.

You get a tidy analogue display in front of the driver and a Heads Up display as well.

New additions which improve the cabin experience include road noise cancellation and cabin air ionisation.

Infotainment

The new Pivi Pro is a massive improvement over what came before, all worked through an 11.4” touchscreen. It will connect two www.companycarandvan.co.uk

www.companycarandvan.co.uk

phones at once via Bluetooth and the new screen menus are easy to understand, with clear graphics and quick response time.

Connecting your smart phone to AppleCar Play or Android Auto is simple and switching between the DAB radio, podcasts and music was smooth as well.

Perhaps our only criticism is that the twin USBs are located within the under arm rest space, making cable attaching a bit of a chore.

Practicality

Inside the cabin there’s a good use of space and plenty of storage. Glove box, door pockets, arm rest cubby, twin cup holders a floating space between the front seats. In the rear there are separate heating vents, seat back nets and a 12v socket, but no USB connectors. Front head and legroom are decent and in the back, two adults have plenty of space as well. The boot suffers from having the battery squeezed in underneath, so you only get 522 litres rather than 650 in the ICE F-Pace, otherwise we can’t fault it.

On the road

A family trip up north meant 350 miles of motorway driving. But for the few days prior it was just local driving, so we were able to utilise the EV range, making five-mile round trips daily under electric power. The F-Pace offers a SAVE function as well as EV or HYBRID, allowing you to keep your electric range for urban driving. You just have to remember to set it each time you re-start.

Over 25mph the car moves into Hybrid mode which allows it to choose the best way to power the car – electric, petrol or both. It works seamlessly and the engine noise between gear changes is barely noticeable thanks to the new cabin soundproofing.

On the motorway the P400e comes with a suite of safety features including ADAS, so you simply need to build up to your chosen speed using the cruise control buttons which are located on the right hand side of the steering wheel. In November weather, strong

wind and rain, the F-Pace was quiet and comfortable enough that the four passengers were listening to different devices without excessive noise. Move out of Eco mode into Dynamic and you’ll notice the car defaults to a firmer ride and increases the torque, which is especially useful for swift overtaking.

On some local roads you’d expect the battery weight to butt in, but it’s really not that noticeable and the car handles well, with nicely balanced steering. Overall the F-Pace is both comfortable and refined, with some good old-fashioned power on offer if you need it.

Real world range

Seven days, over 400 miles, most at motorway speeds with four adults on board, saw us return a decent 38.8 mpg. Using just the battery this was as high as 116mpg before

we headed out at motorway speeds, but for a large 4WD SUV we think 40-odd mpg is very good.

Pros

Great to drive, exceedingly comfortable and tremendously well equipped. Company car drivers can smile too, with big BIK savings over the F-Pace diesel or petrol versions and a pure electric range of 25-33 miles. The addition of the latest JLR Piv Pro and improvements in the cabin such as Apple CarPlay connectivity and a refreshed layout also score highly.

Cons

Expensive. The load space is compromised compared to the ICE F-Pace. Lack of rear USBs. That’s about it.

Conclusion

While the P400e isn’t cheap, it’s company car tax saving credentials make it a real winner here. The cabin is comfortable and spacious and much improved over the original F-Pace. Only the smaller boot space is a compromise. Furthermore, if you’re looking for a large SUV that’s great to drive, will return close to 40mpg, undercuts similar offerings from Germany on price, it’s well worth considering.

CC&V VERDICT Great car to drive with loads of performance, finish and build exemplary. Lovely car to spend some quality time in

CC&V RATING: NNNN www.companycarandvan.co.uk

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 35

ON TEST: VOLKSWAGEN ID.5

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The true five-seat family EV your tax bill has been looking for Andrew Walker The ID.5 is a coupé version of the ID.4 and is aimed at those who want a family electric car with a bit of extra style. Back in the late summer we took one out to see if it’s as good as it looks – and it is!

A five-door family crossover, it’s certainly more striking to look at than an ID.4, with a new rear end design and C-pillars giving it a more sloping roofline.

Model choice and battery range

One 77kWh battery with three power options: ID.5 Pro with 174PS, Pro Performance with 204PS or GTX with 299PS. ID.5 is available in three specs; Style,Tech and Max. The 77kWh battery offers a 324, 322 or 314-mile range, dependent on spec choice.

Equipment and goodies

Standard kit includes fast charging 135 kW DC and 11 kW AC, Climatronic air-con, keyless entry and start, 12-way electric seats, a heated steering wheel, Adaptive Cruise Control, Travel Assist, Park Assist Plus, DAB, Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Discover Max Pro Nav with a 12” colour touchscreen.

Interior

Mirrors the ID.4, with a 12” infotainment touchscreen, a 5.3” dash panel display and a flat bottomed steering wheel.

Practicality

As much room as in a VW Tiguan. Front seat passengers are spoiled for space, with even an armrest each. In the rear, there’s

room for three adults to sit comfortably side by side. Cabin storage is generous, so you get four large door pockets, two central cup holders, some clever central storage between the front seats, where the twin USBs are located.

Rear passengers get plenty of head and legroom. They also get two c USBs, as well and their own heating vents. And if there’s only two in the back, an armrest folds down, inside of which there are cupholders.

Luggage capacity with the rear seats upright, is a more than generous 549 litres, which increases to 1,561 litres with the rear seats folded.

Tech and connectivity

Volkswagen’s Discover Pro Navigation system with 12” colour touchscreen and touch-sensitive functionality, dominates the centre of the dash. You get preloaded European navigation data, branded points of interest, a 2D or 3D map view, speed limit display and car information display at the touch of a button. It also allows for the simultaneous pairing of two compatible mobile devices and SMS functionality. Radio lovers don’t worry, there’s a DAB digital radio receiver, with six speakers and Bluetooth telephone and audio connections.

Battery range, performance and charging

Our test car was the ID.5 5 TECH Pro Performance, fitted with the 77 kWh battery with 204 PS of power. Maximum torque is 310Nm, top speed 99mph and 0-62mph takes just 8.4 seconds.

Claimed WLTP range is 315 miles, with consumption at 4.1miles per kWh. Using a standard 7.2kW home charger, it will take 11 hours to fully charge the battery from zero. We recommend Rolec – https:// www.rolecserv.com/ev-charging.

ID.5 can also be fast charged, either via a 125 kW DC (direct current) or 11 kW AC (alternating current). The former means charging to 80% capacity in just 25 minutes.

Driving

Weighing at 2,117kg the ID.5 is no light weight. However, the location of the battery under the chassis means that it’s surprisingly balanced on the road and corners pretty well. The 201bhp electric motor with 150kW or 204PS and 310Nm of torque, will propel the ID.5 quite quickly in a straight line, but on country roads, it’s a little more cumbersome.

Whether in town or on a motorway, it’s supremely quiet and comfortable.

Regeneration strength is not that high. This is a good thing and makes the ID.5 better to drive than some of it’s competitors.

Pros

Big BIK tax savings, and the 77kWh battery has a real world 250-275 mile driving range. As a bonus it’s striking to look at.

Cons

Heavy so not as much fun as a petrol Tiguan. Some of the fixtures and fittings are a bit disappointing for the money.

CC&V VERDICT

Great addition to the ID family. Comparable to rivals and a proper family five-seater, offering buyers loads of practical space.

Those BIK benefits are immense, so perfect for company car drivers looking for a large family car.

CC&V RATING: NNNNN

38 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON TEST: TOYOTA HILUX

Hilux still ready for the rough stuff - but now adds premium lifestyle touches Andrew Walker

Revamped in 2020, the latest Hilux is offered with a new 2.8-litre powertrain that offers improved performance both on and off-road, while inside, the range features updated instrumentation and multimedia technology.

We drove an Invincible X in 2021 and came away impressed. That model was the range topper then but inspired by its 2022 Dakar Rally win, Toyota has introduced a new range topper, the Gazoo Racing-inspired Hilux GR, which we drove recently The GR Sport gains bespoke styling and premium equipment features, with a new black mesh front grille, larger front fog light surrounds, 17” alloy wheels with a contrast black and machine finish and all-terrain tyres.

The door mirror casings, side steps and tailgate handle are all finished in black, plus a sports bar is fitted as standard.

It also has red shock absorbers and new stiffer front springs, with monotube shocks on the rear to improve damping.

Interior and specification

The functional cabin offers GR Sport

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branding on the seat back, carpet mats, info display and even the starter button. New sports front seats are clad in a mix of leather and synthetic suede and are finished with contrast red stitching.

The cabin features an 8” multimedia screen mounted on the centre console. The multi-

media system enables easy smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. GR also comes with heated front and rear seats and a Panoramic View Monitor which provides an all-round view of the vehicle’s location whether manoeuvring over rough terrain or squeezing into a

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“Improvements have been made to give the Hilux cabin a more premium feel... but be assured, it is still ‘hard as nails’ off-road...”

supermarket parking space.

Other features include smart entry and push-button start, SatNav, automatic air-con, front and rear parking sensors and a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system with an 800W eight-channel amplifier and CLARI-Fi technology for improving the reproduction quality of digital music files.

Workhorse capability

Where practicality is concerned, Hilux’s one-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing capacity are delivered across all three body types: Single Cab, Extra Cab and Double Cab. Hilux remains one of the few vehicles to still use a body-on- frame construction, a design that is hard- wearing and better able to withstand the twisting forces encountered in extreme off-road driving conditions.

Hilux and equip it to suit their specific work or leisure requirements. Items include a range of hard tops and roll covers, a locking tailgate and a 12V power supply mounted on the deck.

lowered from 850 to 680 rpm. The vehicle stability control has also been updated and a new tyre angle monitor has been adopted.

Safety and off-road functions

New engine

While the improvements to the Hilux are aimed at making it more on-road friendly, the GR Sport has been developed in essence to be better off-road and at speed. There’s no doubting it’s ‘hard as nails’ off-road capabilities, though.

Our NGMW colleague (http://themudlife. co.uk) who knows the North West’s green lanes better than most, proved this with some proper workouts, while CC&V took a longer look at how the GR Sport performed on road.

Continued on page 42

GR Sport also comes with Toyota Safety Sense, which is a Pre-Collision System with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Road Sign Assist and Automatic limited-slip differential. Standard pick-up fixtures include Emergency Brakeforce Distribution, Vehicle Stability Control, Trailer Sway Control, Downhill Assist Control, Active Traction Control and Hill-start Assist Control.

Customers can also choose from a wide range of accessories to personalise their

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Hilux’s powertrain range has been bolstered by the addition of a more powerful 201bhp 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine. This generates 500Nm of torque and can accelerate the Hilux from 0-62mph in 10 seconds – up to 3.2 seconds faster than the old 2.4-litre unit.

The new powertrain is available with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission and all UK versions have all-wheel drive, with off-road performance enhanced, the engine speed at idle is now

Driving

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 41

ON TEST: TOYOTA HILUX

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Continued from page 41

A good place to begin is the motorway. The GR Sport features a six-speed auto gear box and to be fair, it’s pretty good. The gear changes are short, making the shifts smooth, and once up to motorway speed, adaptive cruise control, which comes with the GR, makes short work of the motorway miles.

And, unlike many similar cruise control systems, it’s really simple to engage.

However, if you really put your foot down the four-cylinder engine can get a little noisy.

Despite its size and weight, what impressed us most was the GR’s road holding, which even on tight motorway bends was exemplary. The tweaks to the suspension are not too noticeable on a flat road but venture into green-lane territory and it’s a different story. Shake, bounce, shake and bounce again. The harder Dakar set-up is not skeleton friendly!

In town, or driving along more local roads, things improve, with little or no body roll and far less bouncing. Of course, any pick-up will always feel more stable as well as more comfortable with a sizeable load in the rear, so do bear that in mind.

Fuel economy and emissions

As far as fuel economy goes, GR Sport has a claimed return of 28.6 to 30.1mpg. We achieved 27.8mpg in a week of 200 mostly motorway miles. CO2 emissions are 248g/km.

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Pros

Looks fantastic, good quality cabin. Will go anywhere, anytime. Reliability is its mantra.

Cons

Expensive. Hard ride off-road and over uneven surfaces. Rear tailgate doesn’t feature soft-closing.

Conclusion

Toyota has taken the previous Hilux and made it better and more car-like to drive, with the new 2.8 engine a highlight. Even in GR Sport spec it’s definitely a more refined motorway cruiser than the old model, and the well-equipped cabin, safety tech and

infotainment system are all significant upgrades. Being GR specific, it’s slightly let down by the uncompromising ride off-road and the cost, with an Invincible offering almost all of what the GR does for quite a lot less. But reassuringly, the Hilux GR Sport will still take you places others fear to go.

CC&V VERDICT Whether off-road or on, Toyota’s Hilux GR Sport is sure to turn a head or two.

CC&V RATING: NNNN

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FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM

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Transit Custom: Still setting the standard

The Ford Transit Custom sets the standard in the one-tonne van segment, with a bold new design, all-new cabin interior and ECOnetic series for enhanced fuel efficiency.

Powered by the state-of-the-art Ford EcoBlue diesel engine, with a choice of 105 PS, 130 PS and 170 PS power ratings, the advanced new engine delivers significant cost of ownership and performance benefits, with fuel-efficiency improved by up to 13 per cent and low-end torque up by 20 per cent.

For customers seeking the ultimate in productivity and fuel savings, the ECOnetic variant that delivers 148 g/km CO2 emissions and 5.7 l/100 km (49.6 mpg) fuel efficiency.

Available for the 300 Series SWB, the ECOnetic variant features the 105 PS engine with a unique calibration and Auto-Stop-Start.

The cabin interior is completely new, with

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an instrument panel based on Ford’s new interior design philosophy – pioneered on the Fiesta – which offers an attractive, usercentric layout that is influenced by consumer interactions with smart devices and tablets.

Based around strong horizontal design elements that emphasise the width of the cabin, the new instrument panel features attractive and hard-wearing materials, and is packed with practical touches designed for drivers who treat the cabin like a mobile office during long working hours in their vehicle.

Practical features include a fold-out cup holder beneath the gear lever, adding to the cup holders and 2-litre bottle holders at each end of the instrument panel. For the driver, all-new displays and control panels have been designed for enhanced ergonomics and ease of use, and high-series models feature a

floating, tablet-inspired 8-inch colour touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system.

It also features a range of advanced new driver assistance features, including Intelligent Speed Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Alert.

Transit Custom also brings enhanced capabilities to the Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection emergency braking system introduced to the model in 2016.

Equipped with the latest radar and camera technologies as fitted to the all-new Fiesta passenger car, the system is now even capable of detecting pedestrians at night when they are lit by the vehicle’s headlamps.

These new features add to technologies already available for Transit Custom, including Lane Keeping Alert, Driver Alert, Auto High Beam, Rear View Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control and Side Wind Stabilisation.

The latest specification also includes the smooth and responsive six-speed Select Shift automatic transmission and a uniqueto-segment rear air suspension system on Kombi M1 models that delivers a supple, controlled and level ride across different loads.

Customers can also specify a new Upfitter Interface Module, which allows aftermarket conversions and accessories to access data from the vehicle’s electrical systems, so that they can be operated and controlled more efficiently using real-time vehicle data.

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 43

FUSO eCANTER

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New milestones reached as FUSO brings eCanter to Europe More powerful, more efficient and with a longer range - plus a wide variety of applications and CO2-neutral in driving operation: this is the essence of the Next Generation eCanter from FUSO. For Karl Deppen, CEO Daimler Truck Asia, the start of production of the FUSO eCanter marks a milestone: “We at Daimler Truck are fully committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and making sustainable transport a success, which is why we aim to offer only CO2-neutral vehicles in our core global markets by 2039.

“An important part of that is supporting our customers’ transition to eMobility with the easy, efficient and electric eCanter starting production here in Tramagal. With this, we are taking an important step closer to CO2-neutral transportation.”

In the run-up to the event, media representatives had the opportunity to experience the new vehicles at first hand during a factory tour and an exclusive driving event on the Autódromo do Estoril and the surrounding public roads, to experience the performance of the Next Generation eCanter for themselves. During the driving event, experts from FUSO Europe provided detailed insights into the application versatility of the new vehicle and informed about customised e-mobility solutions.

The Next Generation eCanter: Pioneer on the way to sustainable transport Since the launch of the eCanter in 2017, FUSO, the Japanese subsidiary of Daimler Truck, has been considered a pioneer and frontrunner in electric trucks and has been working consistently to implement sustainable transport solutions. There are now over 550 FUSO eCanter in customer operation in Europe, Japan and the United States, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. The total distance covered by the global eCanter fleet in all-electric and thus locally emission-free mode is now around eight million kilometres - equivalent to about 200 circumnavigations of the globe. The Next Generation eCanter is now taking this success story to a new level.

More variants for greater flexibility In order to meet customer requirements even better, FUSO has made several adjustments to the Next Generation eCanter.

While the previous electric truck was exclusively available as a 7.49-tonner with a wheelbase of 3,400 millimeters, customers now have the choice of six wheelbases between 2,500 and 4,750 millimeters and a permissible gross vehicle weight of 4.25 to 44 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

8.55 tons. The load capacity of the chassis is up to five tonnes. The Next Generation eCanter is powered either by a 110 kW (variants with a gross vehicle weight of 4.25 and 6 tons) or 129 kW (variants with a gross vehicle weight of 7.49 and 8.55 tons) electric motor with an optimised driveline and 430 Nm of torque; the maximum speed is 89 km/h (electronically limited).

Depending on the wheelbase, three different battery packs are available: S, M and L. The batteries use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell technology. These are characterised above all by a long service life and more usable energy. The battery pack in the S variant has a nominal capacity of 41 kWh and enables a range of up to 70 kilometers. In the M variant, the nominal capacity is 83 kWh and the range is up to 140 kilometres.

The L variant, as the most powerful package, offers a nominal capacity of 124 kWh and a range of up to 200 kilometres. This is far more than the distance usually covered per day in light distribution traffic.

Recuperation can increase the range even further, which at the same time minimises charging breaks. By comparison, until now the eCanter has only had a battery option with a nominal capacity of 81kWh and a range of up to 100 kilometers.

As far as battery charging is concerned, the Next Generation eCanter is compatible with all main voltages in the major markets.

The charging unit supports charging with both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). The Combined Charging System CCS is the charging standard, and charging is possible at up to 104 kW. DC fast charging from 20 to 80 per cent of capacity is possible in approximately 24 (S), 26 (M) and 39

minutes (L), depending on the battery pack; AC charging (11 and 22 kW) takes between around four and six hours, depending on the battery pack.

MFTE plant Tramagal: A sustainability pioneer As part of its overall ecological strategy, the MFTE plant in Tramagal where the eCanter is being manufactured has already successfully reduced its CO2 emissions on a step-by-step basis over the past few years, and by the end of 2022, balance sheet CO2-neutrality in production has been implemented.

In order to reach this milestone, MFTE has among others continuously expanded the use of renewable energy sources and completed the conversion to green power sources.1,200 solar panels on the hall roofs produce up to 350 megawatts of electricity per year. Future targets are to produce up to 600 megawatts of electricity. In addition to expanding photovoltaic systems, the plant is also testing technologies for the local production of green hydrogen.

Reducing water consumption is another measure in the field of sustainability the site is focusing on: Its own new water treatment plant already treats over 60 percent of process water and returns it to the production cycle. At the same time, an optimised rainwater collection system is in the works for more sustainable irrigation of the green areas. Mitsubishi FUSO Europe employs around 500 people in Tramagal. The company is the largest employer in the region. From Portugal, the vehicles go to 32 European countries as well as Morocco.

Mitsubishi FUSO Truck Europe is a major exporter and Portugal’s third-largest vehicle manufacturer. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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eSTAR AWARD

eStar delight as it’s recognised for People & Culture Excellence at AutoTrader Retailer Awards eStar, the Mercedes-Benz Truck and Van franchise partner in the North West and North Wales, has been recognised at the 16th annual Auto Trader Retailer Awards, winning the People & Culture category.

The Auto Trader Retailer Awards celebrate the very best in automotive retailing; those brands that are pushing the standard of all aspects of the industry. The People & Culture Award (Under 200) recognises retailers who put their people first and have made significant efforts to create a dynamic, open, and diverse workplace.

Commenting on the award win, Kate Clay, HR Director at eStar, said: “We’re proud to receive this independent accolade from Auto Trader in recognition of the hard work and investment made to nurture a culture of teamwork, transparency, and togetherness.

“Most of all, we’re proud of our 320+ colleagues and their tireless efforts to keep the commercial vehicle community moving, and how well everyone works together to create a genuinely supportive culture.”

Auto Trader’s Chief Executive Officer, Nathan Coe, added: “The industry has and is changing at a pace, but again we see the huge innovation and agility of retailers, and so it’s a privilege to be able to celebrate those businesses that are truly driving our industry forward for the benefit of both their counterparts and their customers.”

Pictured right, Thomas Hall, Head of Used Vans, and Kate Clay with the award eStar is recruiting for various roles within its multi-award-winning teams.

For more information, please visit www.estar.ltd/careers.

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Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 45

ON TEST: VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK

Rugged yet refined, Amarok is your pick-up for life When Volkswagen stopped building the Amarok, no one was quite sure if it would ever make a return. The good news is that it has finally, in a co-design project with Ford and its Ranger pick-up. We took a good look at what was always a star in the pick-up sector.

What is it?

The Amarok uses the same engines, suspension, transmissions and electronics as the Ford Ranger. However, it’s only offered as a double cab, and there’s no performance version either.

There are four specifications : Life, Style, PanAmericana and Aventura. The Life is the only model offered with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or 10-speed automatic transmission.

Style offers a choice of both the 2.0-litre diesel or the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, with the 10-speed auto box.

The PanAmericana and Aventura versions only feature the 3.0-litre V6 diesel, again with the 10-speed auto. Every model comes with VW’s 4MOTION 4WD as standard.

Specifications

Life costs from £34,000 + VAT and is fitted out more basically then the other models. So you get cloth upholstery with vinyl flooring, 17” alloys, a 10” portrait infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an 8” digital driver’s display. But there a decent number of safety and driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, lane assist and road sign recognition.

Style (£41,450 + VAT) has posher micro fleece upholstery, carpets, 18” alloys, matrix LED headlights, a 360 degree parking camera, park assist, wireless smartphone charging, a 12” instrument display touchscreen and a roll hoop in the load bed.

PanAmericana (£47,000 + VAT) is more aggressive-looking with black alloy wheels and exterior trim, an X-themed grille, full leather, a Harman Kardon sound system, rear diff lock and an under body guard.

Range-topping Aventura will set you back a shade over £48,000 + VAT. This features larger 21” alloys, a heated steering wheel, plus more body chrome and silver trim.

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Exterior

While what’s under the skin is very much shared with the Ranger, the outside has been designed to look very different. The radiator grille is more conservative, with LED Matrix head and tail lights, and unlike the Ranger, there’s no side step in the rear bumper.

Inside

Again, while the dashboard set up and basic layout mirrors the Ranger, the Amarok looks and feels more car-like. Underneath the touchscreen sits a selection of pushdown shortcut buttons for the driving modes, hazards and parking. The steering wheel spokes, indicator stalks, air vents and dashboard trim and finish feel more upmarket.

Infotainment

The large portrait touchscreen runs off VW’s own operating system. As a VW driver myself I found it easy to acclimatise to, although the climate controls are hidden within the screen menus so are a bit fiddly.

The graphics are excellent and responses are fast. The short cut buttons below get you into the driving modes.

Practicality

A new feature is the roof load capacity of 350kg. Amarok is also longer than before, at 5,350mm with a 173mm longer wheelbase of 3,270mm, which means passengers get more space in the cabin. A selection of off-road and driving modes means you can toggle between 2WD, RWD, selectable and permanent all-wheel-drive. Choose your drive preference: from rear-wheel drive to selectable and permanent all-wheel drive.

The load bed measures 1.62 metres long by 1.58 metres wide, with a maximum width of 1.22 metres between the rear wheel arches, so it can accommodate two Euro pallets. You can hold the pallets in place with the six lashing eyes, plus the bed area features a 12v socket and LED lighting. Add-ons include load bed covers or electric roll covers.

In cabin practicality

The longer wheelbase does add a little more room inside, noticeably in the rear.

Talking of the rear, there’s definitely room for three to sit side by side. Running boards and grab handles make getting in and out easier, too.

There are twin centre cupholders, a big glovebox and front and rear door pockets, dash top storage area, front and rear 12v socket and two USBs up front, though none in the back.

Emissions and fuel economy

Select the 2.0-litre diesel manual and you’ll average 33.6mpg, with the 10-speed auto 32.8mpg, 32.1mpg in Style trim. Choose the 3.0 litre in any trim and it’s 28.3mpg. CO2 emissions range from 221-245g/km for the manual Amarok Life to 265-271g/km for the range-topping Amarok Aventura.

Our 200-mile week in the 2.0-litre Style auto saw us return 32.3mpg.

Taxation

All versions have a one-tonne payload bar Aventura, meaning this model is charged the flat rate of Benefit-in-Kind tax for LCVs, so one to avoid. All others qualify for the same annual Benefit-in-Kind rates, regardless of the list price. As we write these stand at £792 www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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FACTS & FIGURES We were testing the Amarok Style 205PS 2.0 litre TDI 10-speed auto 4MOTION. Power, with 500Nm and selectable 4WD.

per annum for a basic-rate taxpayer, or £1,584 for a 40% earner.

Driving and comfort

The cabin is lovely, so that’s a good start.

The front seats are comfortable and there’s plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment offered. Ford’s tabloid-shaped touchscreen looks good and works well in the Amarok. We would prefer separate climate control though.

The gear lever is a little awkward to use. It features ergonomic buttons which have to be pressed by the fingers of your left hand in order to engage the vehicle and change gear.

We found it a bit fiddly, especially finding reverse.

Driving locally the 2.0-litre Amarok makes steady progress, with the 10-speed auto box hanging onto the gears a bit as the revs rise before things settle down. Accelerate hard and the 2.0-litre diesel engine roars into life and becomes more audible in the cabin.

The changes between gear ratios are fairly smoothly and despite its size and weight, the Amarok handles undulating terrain with aplomb. The large tyres do account for a bit of vibration through the pick-up floor and there’s some road noise. Unladen, it’s not too bouncy, with only the poorest road surfaces www.companycarandvan.co.uk

offering an unsettling ride.

If you do venture off road, ground clearance is 219mm and you can wade up to 800mm.

With an approach angle of 30 degrees and departure of 21, the Wildtrak will also get you pretty much anywhere you want to go.

On the motorway it’s amazingly good.

Quiet, comfortable and with adaptive cruise control on all versions, you just point and go.

Connecting to the Apple Car Play was easy, as was making and receiving calls.

Despite its weight and length, it’s actually a pleasure to drive and with parking sensors and a rear view camera, easy to park as well.

It’s definitely an evolution from the previous model and feels both more grown-up and more modern.

The good

Really nice to drive on road and massively capable off it. Compared to the Ford Ranger, the more car-like dash and finishes feel more upmarket. A good long distance performer with plenty of room on board for five. Low BIK if you avoid the Aventura. Load bed size and towing capacity are first rate.

The bad

Top speed is 112mph 0-62mph will take 10.2 seconds.

The fuel tank is 80 litres plus the AdBlue tank runs at 19.3 litres.

Warranty is 3 years / 100,000 miles; 3 years’ paint & 12 years’ body protection.

Breakdown assistance: Volkswagen Assistance (UK & Europe), 3 years.

easiest to use and gear lever takes a bit of getting used. The 2.0-litre engine is not as refined as the 3.0.

All versions are expensive and fuel economy of 30mpg isn’t wonderful.

CC&V VERDICT Gone is the work-only pick-up of old, replaced by a lifestyle version of the same, and a very good job has been done indeed.

Bigger than before but the onboard tech makes it much easier to drive, handle and park than its predecessor. Build quality shines through and despite being expensive, the monthly BIK of £66 – £132 to lease one is hard to complain about. We’d love to spend more time in one. A stunning option for those who need to combine work with pleasure

CC&V RATING: NNNNN

Touchscreen climate controls aren’t the Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 47

ON TEST: ISUZU D-MAX

Upmarket D-Max reaps its just rewards Andrew Walker Isuzu’s new D-Max landed in the UK two years ago, at exactly the right time for the Japanese brand. As established players left the sector and others waited for their new models, Isuzu was able to increase its foothold in the burgeoning UK pick-up sector.

The previous D-Max range topper, the Blade, had a reputation for toughness, reliability and durability. What was slightly lacking, though, was the more car-like interior, on-trend tech and safety features that some of its competition boasted.

The former attributes are still there – this is a pick-up that will go almost anywhere – but updates mean it’s now improved where once it was lacking.

There are three options: Business, AllPurpose and Adventure . All have four trim levels – Utility, DL20, DL40 and V-Cross, to which you can add the steroid-injected Arctic Trucks AT35. We had the opportunity to drive the V-Cross from the Adventure range, the option that is leading the way in sales.

Engine and chassis

The 1.9 litre 162bhp engine has been carried over from the previous model. The ladder frame chassis, while similar to before, now comes with larger rails, additional bracing plus newer steels, all of which have contributed to make it a stronger pick-up.

There’s a longer wheelbase, re-designed rear suspension, a shorter body, with increased load space both inside and out.

Outside updates

The updated D-Max now features a new front grille across the range and updated wheel designs on the All-Purpose and Adventure models. The Business range has kept its durable steel wheels that are characteristic of the Isuzu D-Max Utility model.

The 2023 model features two new colours, with the Dolomite White replacing the Pearl White and Biarritz Blue replacing the Sapphire Blue. The Biarritz Blue metallic paint finish is available on both DL40 and V-Cross models, while the Dolomite White pearlescent will be exclusive to the rangetopping V-Cross.

Inside updates

The hard-wearing cloth interior of the Business range models has remained, while the seats of the Isuzu D-Max DL20 are now covered in a more premium woven fabric with a refreshed design.

Moving up the range, both the DL40 and V-Cross have been upgraded with newly designed leather upholstery, which uses horizontal layering to create a more spacious feel. Moreover, a rear-differential lock option 50 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

is now available on all manual 4×4 Utility models in the range.

Payload

Every version has a payload rating of at least 1,070kg, which is important for commercial vehicle tax purpose. There’s also a 3.5 tonnes towing capacity. Another interesting point is that every variant of the D-Max weighs under 2,040kg, meaning Extended and Double Cabs are subject to normal passenger car speed limits. Many double cab pick-up trucks – Ranger and Hilux for example – exceed this weight limit so must comply with goods vehicle speed limits, which are 10mph lower on single and dual carriageways. It’s a fact that many pick-up customers are still unaware of.

Will it get me through a forest?

Still perfect for anyone who needs to use their truck off-road. The selectable shift-onthe-fly 4WD drive engages faster, rear axle articulation has increased and all models bar the entry-level Utility come with a mechanical rear diff lock in addition to electronic aids that now include hill descent control and hill start assist. It also has a wading depth of 800mm.

Safety

All double-cabs get a radar system, with Isuzu choosing to use stereo-imaging via a pair of cameras at the top of the windscreen, enabling the AEB, lane keeping, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed limiter to work more accurately than you will find elsewhere. The new system enables cross traffic alert, blindspot monitoring and emergency lane keeping, all new to the pick-up sector.

And if that’s not enough, Double Cabs get eight airbags, Single and Extended Cabs seven. On a 400-mile round trip we utilised

the Adaptive Cruise Control and autonomous driving on the motorway, and it works brilliantly.

Emissions and fuel economy

Pick-up emissions and fuel economy are not a selling point. V-Cross manual offers 33.6 mpg/auto 30.7 mpg with emissions of 220g/km and 241g/km respectively.

V-Cross specifics

V-Cross certainly looks the part and features distinguishing new 18” black chrome alloys, very dark grey and black chrome radiator grille,‘Gun Metal’ side steps and door handles. It’s also very well equipped, with keyless entry and start, new leather upholstery, dual zone climate control, heated front seats, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, Bi-LED headlights, LED front fog and an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat.

The 9” multifunction colour touchscreen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and comes with eight speakers, plus front and rear USB ports.

There’s also an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and automatic headlight levelling. This is a pick-up tailored to the lifestyle sector.

Build quality and infotainment

The dashboard, fixture and fittings quality is excellent, with just a few cheaper plastics used lower down. The seat finishes are practical as well as hard wearing. More good news are the short cut switches and stand alone climate controls which sit underneath the screen itself. No fiddling with complicated on-screen menus while on the move.

The infotainment system works wirelessly with Apple CarPlay and we were able to connect our iPhone to the V-Cross in about 30 seconds. As far as the touchscreen itself, the graphics are clear and response time is decent, too. www.companycarandvan.co.uk

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“The V-Cross is so much better to drive than the old Blade, and is now competing with the latest Ford Ranger and VW Amarok. It handles the road more like a large SUV than a pick-up”

What’s it like to drive ?

The V-Cross is so much better to drive than the old Blade model, and is now competing with the latest Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok. It handles the road more like a large SUV than a pick-up. It’s easy to drive and manoeuvre and also features excellent brakes. The latest seats are comfortable and coupled with the improved body structure, there’s far less body roll.

Rear passengers get more room and the rear seats are cleverly angled to make the rear more comfortable as well. On the motorway the V-Cross will cruise along happily at motorway speeds without the previous model’s tendency to be very loud.

The inclusion of ADAS means that you can select your speed and let the V-Cross do the thinking for you.

In town it is surprisingly agile and thanks to the reverse parking camera, easy to park as well. From start-up you do encounter a diesel growl and as you change up through the gears this continues until you hit the magic 25mph, at which point the cabin then becomes much quieter.

Pros

Excellent model choice of single, extended and double cabs. Isuzu prides itself on its ability to convert your D-Max to the likes of cherry-picker, by offering a bespoke service to suit the needs of customers.

Isuzu also has an extensive dealer network of pick-up experts to help you buy and service your D-Max. The cosmetic upgrades

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only add to the D-Max’s appeal.

Cons

The 1.9 engine works fine in almost every situation, but it’s lack of out-and-out-pull could be an issue for some, and competitors do offer more oomph. There’s still some cheaper plastics adorning the lower part of the dashboard, even on the V-Cross. And if the load bed is empty, as per all pick-ups, rear seat passengers should expect the occasional bumpy ride.

Conclusion

While other pick-up manufacturers have shied away from the sector, Isuzu is to be congratulated for making its very popular truck even better than before. The amount of choice across a range of single, extended and double cab models means that there is a

D-Max priced for everyone.

Furthermore, the latest upgrades to the D-Max means that it now looks better than before, and our test V-Cross, finished in Valencia Orange, with a Truckman rear, gun-metal alloy wheels and after market add-ons, is definitely a contender for those looking for a lifestyle pick-up.

CC&V VERDICT Even better than before. Lots of choice and the latest upgrades mean it now looks better than before. Definitely a contender for those looking for a lifestyle pick-up.

CC&V RATING: NNNNN

Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 51

WEYBRIDGE ISUZU

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Weybridge is your Isuzu expert, wherever you are based Weybridge Vehicle Consultants are an independent, family-owned dealership located in West Byfleet, Surrey. Its specialty lies in providing prestige cars, and it is also an accredited Isuzu dealer, offering both new and used Isuzu D-Max pickup trucks.

In addition to sales, the dealership offers a range of services including competitive finance packages, market-leading warranties, fully-equipped servicing facilities and more.

Weybridge takes up the story...

“Our journey began in 2000 with just two cars. Since then, James, Matthew and our dedicated team have established ourselves as one of the UK’s oldest and leading prestige specialists. We are the only main Isuzu dealer in Surrey and have become the supplier of trucks for large companies around Heathrow Airport and surrounding areas since we started with Isuzu in 2019.

“In that time, we have also acquired some specialist finance contacts to help us get new company trucks on finance to expand their business.

“We were also one of the first companies to offer a buy-from-home service before Covid -19, meaning we can become anyone’s local dealer from the comfort of their own home.

“With three dedicated drivers, we offer free delivery of the truck of your choice, anywhere in the UK mainland.

“We’re currently delighted to be selling the

52 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

Isuzu D-Max pick-up. It comes in three ranges – Business, All-Purpose & Adventure – with four trim levels, Utility, DL20, DL40 and the V-Cross. There’s also a choice of single or double cab, with the Business range offering a value-for-money pick-up that’s

ideal for utility, farming and building work.

All-Purpose is good for both these sectors and individual small businesses, while the range-topping V-Cross meets all your needs in the lifestyle sector.

“If you decide to go with Isuzu, our brand specialist Jack is available to help tailor the truck to your needs, whether it’s for business or personal use.”

For more information on Weybridge’s range of new and used stock, contact the Isuzu 5-star Autotrader-rated dealer via 01932 56999 or see www.weybridge-isuzu. co.uk

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ON TEST: NISSAN PRIMASTAR

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Primastar is big leap forward in medium vans that Nissan has been waiting for Nissan rebadged its NV300 mid-size van in 2022 as the Primastar. CC&V got to grips with one recently, courtesy of Westway Nissan in Manchester What’s new?

Based on the Renault Trafic, the Primastar panel van features a refreshed exterior, a more upmarket interior, loads of new safety features and improvements in tech and connectivity.

It comes in two heights and two lengths, and there is also a Crew van with six seats, a platform cab or Combi with up to nine seats.

Engines

Four Euro 6D engines are available. A 110hp 300Nm manual, 130hp 330Nm manual, a 150hp 350Nm manual or auto and a range topping 170hp 380Nm manual or auto.

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Panel Van

There’s L1H1 and L1H2 versions offered.

The L1H1 and L1H2 load compartment measures 2,537mm long, 1,662mm wide, with the H1 height being 1,387mm, the H2 height 1,898mm. Payloads are L1H1 1,017kg, L1H2 1,227kg.

Plus there’s longer L2H1 and L2H2 versions, which increase load length to 2,937

mm. with payloads of L2H1 909-1,251kg and L2H2 1,009-1,032kg.

Primastar also comes with one or two sliding side doors and features up to 18 load securing rings and offers up to 8.6m³ of cargo space. Side hinged rear doors open 90/180 degrees or up to 255 degrees as an option, with a 1.3 m wide access.

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Company Car & Van | December 2023 | 53

ON TEST: NISSAN PRIMASTAR

Continued from page 53 The bulkhead flap increases load lengths to up to 3.75m in the L1 and 4.14m in the L2 vans.

fabrics and door finishes. Our Acenta test van featured a driver’s armrest and manual seat adjustment, single USB, ECO driving function and the AM/FM/DAB radio with Bluetooth connection.

With Tekna and above, NissanConnect is on board for your entertainment, settings and SatNav. This includes voice recognition and smartphone integration so that you can monitor your van via the Nissan App.

Specs

Visia, from £28,790, comes with LED front headlights, cruise control, remote central door locking, AM/FM/DAB audio system with Bluetooth telephone integration, Blind spot Mirror in passenger sun visor and a driver’s airbag.

Acenta, from £30,290, adds manual air con, rear parking sensors, front fog lights, full wheel covers, the load-through facility in the bulkhead, a fold-down central seat with detachable A4 clipboard with under-seat storage and a passenger airbag.

Tekna, from £31,790, ups the ante with a rear view camera, MediaNav 8” touchscreen, SatNav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 17” alloys and front parking sensors.

Finally, there’s the range-topping Tekna+.

This costs from £33,690 but it adds a host of additional safety and driving features, including Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beam headlight, Blind Spot detection, a driver attention alert and Traffic Sign Recognition. You also get keyless entry – always very useful when you have your hands full – and forward emergency braking.

Exterior

The latest Primastar has a squarer, more

54 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

Economy and performance

bulbous front end than before, with a large black and chrome grill, C-shaped daytime running lights as standard and deep boomerang-shaped bumper indents which contain the fog lights.

In effect, the revamp moves it away from the look of the previous NV300 and old Vauxhall Vivaro, which is now built under the Stellantis umbrella.

Interior and infotainment

The switchgear is very car-like, which is a good thing, plus there’s a new dashboard. The build quality is very good as are the seat

Stop-start technology comes on nearly every version and there’s an ECO button on the dash that you can push which helps with economy, too. The Blue dCi 110 that we drove will go from 0-62 mph in 16.8 seconds and will reach a top speed of 103mph. Emissions are 182-186g/km with combined economy of 39.8-40.9 mpg.

All Primastar vans come with an 80-litre fuel tank and a 25-litre tank of AdBlue, that needs to be filled every few thousand miles or so. The trip computer will let you know when it requires topping up.

Cabin practicality

84 litres of cabin storage is very impressive, including two decent door pockets, three drinks holders and 54 litres of space located under the passenger bench.

Furthermore, on some versions the centre seat back folds down to reveal a desk.

Continued on page 56

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ON TEST: NISSAN PRIMASTAR

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“We were driving unladen, but: even then the ride comfort is: very good. On the motorway,: simply select cruise control: and away you go, adjusting: your speed on the steering: wheel with your left thumb”:

Continued from 54

The gear lever is set slightly right of the centre front seat so there’s actually more passenger leg room in the Primastar cab than in the Stellantis competition. And don’t forget, on Acenta and above, there is a flap located in the bulkhead for longer loads, and easy-to-use rear door catches, making opening the rear doors to 180 degrees simple.

Warranty

Buyers get a pan- European five-year or 100,000-mile warranty, in addition to the eight-year or 100,000 miles battery warranty for the EV version. This includes bumper-to-bumper protection, genuine parts and accessories and roadside assistance.

Driving

We were testing the L1H1 110 Acenta Panel Van and it offers a very decent drive. The six-speed manual gear box is smooth and combined with a light clutch, the Primastar made light work of Manchester’s early

morning gridlocked roads.

In town it’s simple to manoeuvre and straightforward to park. The 110 dCi engine is extremely quiet and feels quicker than the claimed speeds, especially when accelerating to join the motorway.

Talking of which, at motorway speeds and on pouring rain, some wind and road noise does enter the cabin, but overall it’s one of the quieter medium van cabs we’ve experienced.

We were driving unladen but even then the ride comfort is very good. On the motorway, simply select cruise control and away you go, adjusting your speed on the steering wheel with your left thumb.

You need to use the stubby steering wheel stalk controls to adjust the entertainment volume and we connected our iPhone via Bluetooth, which was easy.

The adjustable driver’s seat, and reach and rake steering wheel, mean it’s easy to get comfortable, and if you have three up-front, there’s decent leg room for both passengers.

However, the location of the gear lever, which helps give your centre front passenger

more leg room, means there’s not much room for the driver’s left foot.

Pros

With two load lengths and two load heights, there’s a Primastar panel van for everyone. The cabin is both comfortable and practical, with the addition of improved safety and tech on higher spec versions good news as well.

The range of Euro 6 friendly engines all offer decent fuel economy and the 80-litre fuel tank will take you a very long way. Above average front centre passenger leg room is very welcome.

Cons

It doesn’t have the highest load volume in the class. On longer journeys, the lack of left leg room when driving is noticeable. It’s almost identical to the Renault Trafic.

Verdict

Nissan has always had a good range of vans, and with the introduction of the small Townstar and Townstar EV they’re finally shouting about it. Customers can now see that they’ve an excellent mid-range van too, with the Primastar offering a high quality, comfortable cabin with good safety and tech on higher specced versions. It also looks better on the outside than the Trafic.

It’s now on equal footing with most of the competition and with Nissan’s five-year warranty, offers a better back-up than many.

CC&V VERDICT Possibly the medium-sized van Nissan has needed for some time.

Hard to fault and its sheer practicality will appeal to many.

CC&V RATING: NNNN 56 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

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ON TEST: MERCEDES-BENZ e-VITO

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Improved range and drive put e-Vito back in the game Mercedes has massively improved the battery range of its eVito, making it far more attractive prospect. Andrew Walker got to grips with one recently...

The upgraded Mercedes-Benz eVito looks and feels the same as a diesel model, except that it’s powered by an 114bhp 85kW electric motor offering 300Nm of torque. There is a 66kWh battery with a WLTP range of 162 miles – up from the 93 miles of its predecessor – with AC charging to 11kW and DC to 80kW both standard.

Model range and sizes

We were testing the PREMIUM eVito. It costs from £46,900, though a cheaper PROGESSIVE is also available. eVito comes in two lengths, L2 or L3, with the smaller model offering 6.0 m3 cargo volume, the larger one 6.6 m3.

Specs and safety

eVito PROGRESSIVE offers colour-coded bumpers, full wheel covers, front fog lights, Headlight Assist, a 75mph speed limiter, Audio 30, lumbar support and electrically foldable mirrors. PREMIUM adds Hyacinth red metallic paint, a spare wheel with jack and a leather steering wheel, PARKTRONIC, reversing camera, hate insulting glass, TEMPMATIC semi auto air-con and cruise control.

Exterior and interior

From the outside it looks like a standard Vito and you’d be hard-pressed to know it’s electric unless you spot the discreet eVito and eLECTRIC badging.

Inside you’ll find an updated Vito interior, which includes two USBs and a heated front driver seat. There’s a three-seat configuration up front, with some top-ofthe-dash storage, a decent glove box and two handy deep door pockets.

The ignition is on the left of the steering column, with the gear lever on the right, meaning the headlight and wipers are both on the right stalk. Cue changing into neutral a lot when it rains!

Power steering is standard and the wheel is both rake and reach adjustable. The driver’s seat is flexible and easy to get comfortable in.

In the centre of the dash and higher up than in some vans are the Audio 30 infotainment system and heating controls.

The infotainment screen is slightly awkward to reach for the driver, as are the USB inputs 58 | December 2023 | Company Car & Van

on the left of the dash. For a left-hand driven Vito this location would make perfect sense, but not so for UK right-hand-drive versions.

The front windows are electric and keeping the cabin quiet is a full width bulkhead.

The quality is top-notch but it’s not as practical a cab as some competitors.

The rear load space is easily accessed as the L2 Vito we drove comes with left and right hand slide-opening side doors and twin rear doors that open 180 degrees.

was up to 126 miles for the return leg. Thirty miles later and back home, the range now showed 98 miles.

We repeated the journey the following day and concluded that if driven unladen with just a driver, at mostly motorway speeds, the eVito has a 140-mile range. At lower speeds of up to 50mph the range increased to 157 miles, as you can really take advantage of the regenerative braking to top the battery up.

That means eVito can now match, or even surpass, Stellantis vans’ claimed WLTP battery range of 143 miles.

Driving

Pros

Loadspace

It’s easy to drive and very relaxing on the motorway. The gear lever offers Neutral, Reverse or Drive options and even with the battery weight underneath the floor, the eVito handles pretty well for its weight.

As with most electric cars, the eVito offers several levels of regenerative braking, which can be adjusted using the paddles on either side of the steering wheel. D- is the strongest regenerative level, but also the most noticeable. You decrease the strength of regeneration by pulling on the right hand paddle, moving through the options of D, then D+ and D++ – best for motorways. There are three drive modes: E+, E or C. E+ is the most efficient, but C is the most fun.

The eVito was delivered with a full charge, and the gauge said we had a 157-mile range.

We covered 30 miles at 70mph driving to Chester via the M56, using drive mode E. On arrival we charged up while we shopped.

Our journey had decreased the range from 157 miles to 118 and after an hour charging

That much improved battery range now gives the eVito a competitive range. The cabin is hewn from granite, top quality and very comfortable. The addition of proper air-con is also an improvement. The overall build quality puts the competition to shame.

Cons

The infotainment system isn’t as good as you’ll find on some other vans. Similarly, neither is the payload.

CC&V VERDICT Increase in range is a real game-changer; you can expect 150-160 miles, which makes long journeys less stressful and puts paid to our biggest criticism of earlier models’ biggest fault. Add in the handling and comfort levels, and it’s one to consider

CC&V RATING: NNNNN www.companycarandvan.co.uk