Welcome to our award winners

Perhaps we thought that 2022 could only be better than 2021? However, a combination of factors continued to affect the global supply chain of semi-conductors, with manufacturers and dealerships struggling to get new vehicles. It meant that, from an SME fleet perspective, leasing your new car, van or pick-up meant waiting longer for it to arrive. Having said that, plenty did arrive and in the SME fleet sector, the growth of electric sales continued to rise as company car drivers and fleet managers took advantage of low BIK on BEV and PHEV models. Electric newcomers included the Ford E-Transit, Volkswagen ID.Buzz,

Car of the Year: MG4

EVs offer fleet customers such impressive BIK savings that it’s impossible for us not to select an electric car as our Car of the Year. A clear winner this year is the MG4, a well designed and affordable electric car that won’t break the bank. Our judges concluded that plenty of other car manufacturers should take a long, hard look at what MG is doing, because in the short term, it’s cheaper electric motoring that is required. Well done, MG.

Nissan Ariya, Cupra Born, MG4 and Renault Kangoo Van e-Tech. And in a sign of how far electric has come, there was even an electric pick-up, the Maxus T90. New powertrains have been embraced by manufacturers and many models, including the latest Kia Niro, are now offered with petrol hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains; perhaps a further sign of things to come?

You’ll see over the following pages that our annual Company Car & Van Awards reflect this, although not every new car, van or pick-up launched in late 2022 arrived in time for us to include them in our judging. Read on to find out who’s won.

Small Electric Car of the Year: MG4

There are lots of electric cars to choose from, but not many we would categorise as ‘small’. Step forward the MG4, our Small Electric Car of the Year. First and foremost, it looks good inside and out, and it drives really well. Most importantly, the MG4 offers fleet customers a competitively priced entry point into the electric company car sector and a decent battery range. Impressive.

Medium Electric Car of the Year: CUPRA Born

Exciting exterior and matching interior illustrate what Cupra is all about. Compared to most electric cars, the Born’s handling is very good, and the build quality is terrific. It’s also a practical offering, with a choice of two batteries, a good electric driving range and room inside for a family of five. A well deserved win.

Medium Van of the Year: Vauxhall Vivaro

The Vauxhall Vivaro deservedly retains our title of Medium Van of the Year. All models offer a competitive payload and towing capacity, plus good fuel economy from cleaner diesel engines. On board, the cabin features clever design touches, with all versions getting the latest tech. Add in a nationwide network of Vauxhall Van Business Centres, and van customers need look no further.

Medium Electric Van of the Year: Vauxhall Vivaro Electric

For the second year running, the Vivaro Electric is our Medium Electric Van of the Year. First and foremost it has one of the best electric van ranges and with the same internal dimensions as the diesel Vivaro, offers practical cargo capacity. Furthermore, it comes well equipped, it’s fun to drive and being electric, it’s good for the environment too. If you’re looking for a medium electric van, then the Vivaro Electric should be on your radar.

Electric Pick-Up of the Year: Maxus T90EV

Maxus won the race to get an electric pick-up to market. Utilising parent company SAIC’s battery know-how, it has built not only an attractive pick-up, but a practical one too, coming as it does with a one-tonne payload and 1500kg towing capacity. Factor in a near 220-mile driving range and you have all of the ingredients for success.

Pick-Up of the Year: Isuzu D-Max

The Isuzu D-Max is our Pick-up of the Year –and for good reason. It features class-leading safety, on-trend tech, a comfortable passenger experience and does what a pick-up is supposed to do: shift goods in tough conditions. Furthermore, it’s available in a myriad of conversions that’s hard to beat and in a range of single, extended and double cab models to suit all customer needs.

Small Car of the Year: Toyota Yaris Cross

The Yaris Cross feels like a grown-up Yaris, with room on board for four adults and a family-sized boot. Decent fuel economy & low CO2’s offer those fleet customers not yet ready for full-electric a reason to lease one. Most importantly, we think it’s a greatlooking car that punches above it’s weight both for practically and price.

Large Car of the Year: Citroën C5 X

We love the way the Citroën C5 X looks, the way it drives and the way it harks back to Citroëns of old. Furthermore it’s a more than viable alternative to a large SUV, offering bags of space with saloon handling and there’s a plug-in too. The C5 X is a breath of fresh air in a sector full of dullness.

Large Electric Car of the Year: IONIQ 5

While the IONIQ 5 doesn’t have a large footprint, it’s spacious interior offers more cabin space than many larger electric cars. It also look fantastic, both inside and out, comes very well equipped and the on-board tech is some of the best out there.

Factor in a real world range of 250 miles and low BIK, and company car drivers should be taking a long, hard look at the IONIQ 5.

SUV Electric Car of the Year:

The Ariya blurs the lines between SUV and Crossover, the two most popular car sectors in the UK, and is our SUV Electric Car of the Year. From outside it looks good, while inside the attention to detail and build quality are excellent.

Furthermore it has a real world range of 230 or 300 miles dependent on battery size, meaning range anxiety for company car drivers will take a back seat.

The Caddy Cargo comes with brilliant build quality, on-trend tech and plenty of safety features. Even with the launch of several new small vans in 2022, it’s still our favourite. If you want a van that leaves you feeling like you’ve been driving a car, then the Caddy 5 has to be your pick.

Small Electric Van of the Year: Renault Kangoo Van E-TECH

We love the Kangoo’s on-trend tech and safety features that come fitted to the new E-TECH, as well as the user-friendly interior and clever storage solutions it offers over its competitors. Add in it’s excellent 186-mile battery range and Renault really is onto a winner with this one.

Premium Electric Car of the Year: BMW i4

The performance is sensational, the handling sublime and the overall quality of the i4 is exceptional. BMW has managed to build an electric car that will offer customers a proper BMW driving experience. With low BIK and a

Premium Car of the Year 2023: Lexus NX

Now offered as a plug-in hybrid in 450h+ guise, the NX ticks every box for company cars. Climb aboard and Lexus’s famed build quality shines through, with this NX a more refined and comfortable car than its predecessor. Lexus has sensibly updated the on-board tech and it now sits at the top table of premium SUVs.

Medium Car of the Year: Kia Niro

SUV Car of the Year: Kia Sportage

For company car drivers and fleet managers alike, the Niro comes as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and an EV, so you are guaranteed a car that works for the way you drive. Both models feature a top-class cabin with excellent safety and infotainment features, with almost all of it standard across the range. Kia can do no wrong at the moment and is producing cars that match every expectation, especially in the company vehicle sector.

Large Van of the Year: Fiat Professional Ducato

How do you improve your best-selling and most successful car? Simple: Don’t fiddle around too much with how it looks, tick. Offer a fleet-friendly plug-in version, tick. Offer loads of goodies even on the cheaper versions, tick. Add a great looking, top notch infotainment system, tick. And build it using higher quality materials than ever before, tick That’s been the Kia philosophy with the Sportage, and it’s made what was a great car even better.

Large Electric Van of the Year: Ford E-Transit.

For the fourth year in a row, the Fiat Professional Ducato is our Large Van of the Year. The latest Ductao was updated at the end of 2021 and now features the latest safety features and tech across the range. Moreover it is also offered in more versions than any other large van and with the option of a nine-speed auto gear box with torque convertor, driving one is easier than ever.

Whoever laughs last, laughs longest, and Ford has certainly laughed last here. While a long time in the making, the E-Transit burst onto the scene and put itself right at the top of the list of the best electric vans money can buy. In addition, the launch of Ford Pro will allow new electric customers to transition to an EV with much less fuss than they’d be expecting, which is another big tick.