Ignition January 2014

com For pan flee y c ts a ar nd dri Issue 19 Jan 2014 ver s

Ignition Car views and news by FleetNews

F IR S T DRI V E: NI S S A N Q A SHQ A I

Is new crossover the perfect package?

Next-generation Qashqai gets bigger and better GO

First look: Mercedes C-Class

Under the skin of the luxurious GO BMW 3-Series rival

First drive: Bentley Flying Spur An intoxicating mix of tradition and technology

GO

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F IR S T DRI V E NI S S A N Q A SHQ A I ACEN TA P REMIUM 1.5 DCI

QASHQAI: PERFECT PACKAGE? Longer, wider, packed with technology and offering 74mpg fuel efficiency

New Qashqai has an upmarket styling

By Maurice Glover ustomers have played a key role in helping Nissan make sure its next new car wins the same showroom success as its smash-hit predecessor.

Marketing officials from the Japanese company spent five years pinpointing the improvements Qashqai owners expected from the next-generation version.

Hundreds of interviews led to drivers in Britain, Germany and France being sworn to secrecy when they saw the company's plans for the car two years ago.

“We asked for their views about our aims for styling, pricing and specification and feel we reached the perfect package – I think the result re-invents the C-segment

C

Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

crossover,” said Nissan Motor GB boast upgrades in efficiency and marketing director Guillaume performance, but none more so Masurel. "A lot has happened than the 1.5-litre dCi motor. since our first version appeared in Set to be a favourite with company 2007, but, sales have grown year- car drivers, the reworked unit on-year despite the arrival makes the Qashqai the only of more than a dozen car in its segment to competitors.” offer 99g/km and The research 74mpg economy; Roomy interior; sharper has resulted in a improvements looks; bigger boot; more tech and safety kit than before; longer and wider of 24% and 29% low emissions across the range car. Improved respectively. appearance and “We think we Bulkier than before; it’s no off-roader a more substanhave a terrific tial and upmarket proposition for styling go with added business users, refinement from a 40kg especially as it comes weight reduction and noise levels with lower maintenance costs are cut by improved aerodynamics and 20% reduced insurance and higher manufacturing quality. premiums," said product manager All power units in the new range Niels Van Der Burg.

To see how much this car will cost to run CLICK HERE ��

COSTS P11D £22,635 BIK tax band 14% BIK tax (20%) £634 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £7,269/32% Fuel Cost 8.46ppm AFR 12ppm Running cost (4yr/80k) 31.12ppm

SPEC Power (hp)/ Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec)

110/192 99 74.3 112 12.4

RIVAL Manufacturing quality is improved

"Small wonder that company cars are expected to account for 55% of sales "But higher residuals are the icing on the cake and the 50% prediction we’ve been given after three years should help us offer very competitive monthly rates."

Accenta Premium replaces the 360 trim level and provides dualzone climate control, alloy wheels, the latest infotainment technology, DAB radio, rear-view camera, parking sensors, push-button start and a panoramic sunroof as standard. Also included is traffic sign recognition, front collision avoidance, high beam assist and lane departure technology.

Comfortable and easy to drive, the revitalised dCi unit has revised exhaust gas recirculation, manifold and oil pump features to develop an extra 15lb-ft torque for greater flexibility. It feels relaxed on motorways with high gearing achieving 70mph at only 2,000rpm.

It might have the most sedate acceleration rate of all the engines on offer, but the 1.5-litre Acenta Premium is capable of maintaining a brisk pace and handles with surprising agility for a ‘tall’ body design that allows space for five and maximum loading versatility.

Hyundai ix35 1.7CRDi Premium P11D price £20,745 BIK tax band 24% Annual BIK tax (20%) £1,075 RV (4yr/80k) £8,050/36% Fuel cost 12.48ppm AFR 14ppm Running cost (4yr/80k) 34.94ppm *Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Just 47mm longer and 20mm wider, it feels noticeably bigger and boasts greater headroom despite a 15mm reduction in height. Boot space is also increased by 20 litres to 430 litres.

Consistently popular since it burst on the scene seven years ago, the new Qashqai carries styling cues from the original but sets a benchmark in convenience, safety, reduced running costs and equipment levels. Small wonder that company cars are expected to account for 55% of sales.

It goes on sale next month. fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

F IR S T LOOK

MER CEDE S -BENZ C- CL A S S

MERCEDES'S 'SMALL S-CLASS' A lighter and more luxurious C-Class may boost fleet and company car interest BODY With the continual demands on manufacturers to cut weight from their vehicles, Mercedes-Benz has followed in the footsteps of Audi, Jaguar and others and embraced aluminium in its bodywork. It has devised what it is calling a ‘hybrid’ body structure,

which incorporates hot-formed steel parts and ultra high-strength steel, as well as aluminium.

The structure is 70kg lighter than the company’s conventional steel structure, and is a major contributing factor to the total of 100kg shed from the new vehicle. It will boost performance and fuel efficiency.

TOUCHPA D T ECHNOLOGY Taking its lead from the new-style Comand system controller in the S-Class, a touchpad debuts in the C-Class, offering the ability to control audio, climate, navigation, telephone and other in-car settings.

Drivers and front-seat passengers can control sound or temperature as they would on a dial and buttons are integrated into the pad for easy menu navigation.

There is also a handwriting function, which allows letters or numbers to be entered, with the option of audio playback, to ensure drivers do not take their eyes off the road when ‘writing’.

DI SP L AY DE V ELOP MEN T S Following its use in the C-Class’s CLA stablemate, a free-standing central display replaces the integrated screen of the previous-generation model. The larger version of the screen gets bonded glass and is also galvanised in a steel frame. The new C-Class will also feature head-up display technology. The 21 x 7cm screen will convey a range of information, such as current speeds, navigation and infotainment settings.

Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

To see how much this car will cost to run CLICK HERE ��

A DDED AC T I V E S A F E T Y The C-Class incorporates new active safety technology, in the form of Collision Prevention Assist Plus. The ‘Plus’ tag refers to the inclusion in the standard system of autonomous breaking. Mercedes-Benz says it expects to include Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which makes its debut on the C-Class, in all future models (either as an option or standard equipment).

One other safety feature of note is an adaptive front passenger airbag, which recognises when a child-seat is fitted to the seat and will automatically deactivate.

“The company says the ambition for the new C-Class was to create a small S-Class, so high-grade materials are used throughout” SUSP EN SION

IN T ERIOR Inside the new C-Class you are met with the kind of quality you would expect from an E- or S-Class. Intriguingly, MercedesBenz says the challenge was to achieve an interior 'between elegance and sportiness'.

It has gone to great lengths to ensure the interior is a marked improvement over that of the outgoing model, such as an interpretation of the wraparound dashboard effect found in the S-Class.

In fact, the company says the ambition for the new C-Class was to create a small S-Class, so high-grade materials are used throughout and the centre console has been redesigned.

The number of switches has been reduced to 'bring a level of simplicity to the cabin', emphasising the minimalist look of the new car’s interior.

The C-Class is the first vehicle in its segment to feature air suspension (Mercedes-Benz’s own Airmatic technology) on the front and rear axle. The system offers many of the features found in other ranges from the manufacturer, such as self-levelling and the ability to increase ride height.

Drivers can choose between Comfort, Eco, Sport and Sport Plus, while there is also an ‘Individual’ setting, which allows a bespoke set-up to be configured.

At the front is a newly-designed four-link independent suspension that Mercedes-Benz claims will offer more grip and more cornering forces, making for a more involving driving experience. A multi-link five-axle suspension has been used at the rear, which will reduce noise and vibration.

fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

F IR S T DRI V E BEN T L E Y F LY ING SP UR

To see how much this car will cost to run CLICK HERE ��

COSTS P11D price £140,900 BIK tax band 35% BIK tax (40%) £19,726 Annual VED £1,065 then £490 RV (4yr/80k) £39,215/28% Fuel Cost 31.26ppm AFR (ppm) 24 Running cost (4yr/80k) 172.22ppm

SPEC

LUXURY SALOON EARNS ITS SPURS An intoxicating mix of tradition and technology

By Simon Harris he second-generationFlying Spur is Bentley’s most powerful car to date with 625hp (and 590lb-ft of torque) from its 6.0-litre W12 engine, allowing the Flying Spur to reach 62mph from rest in 4.3 seconds. With a significantly higher power-to-weight ratio than its predecessor, emissions are also reduced to 343g/km (although still in the highest BIK tax band).

All-wheel drive deploys the twin-turbocharged power with a 60:40 rear axle bias.

Although there are a few signs that components are shared with top end Volkswagens and Audis, the overall feel is that of a bespoke product. Almost 10

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Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

Power (hp) CO2 Fuel economy Max speed 0-62mph

625 343 19.2 199 4.3

RIVAL Rolls-Royce Ghost P11D price £206,700 BIK tax band 35% Annual BIK tax (20%) £28,938 RV (4yr/80k) £53,552/26% Fuel cost (ppm) 28.56 AFR (ppm) 24 Running cost (4yr/80k) 191.44ppm

square metres of sustainablysourced, book-matched, mirrorpolished wood veneers adorn each interior. *Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k) Roof lining and pillars are trimmed in natural leather, and electrically-operated rear one in these austere times window blinds are standard where displays of wealth might should passengers feel be frowned upon, particthe need for privacy ularly with business from paparazzi. purchases.

Despite mateHowever, the Fantastic performance, rials aligned with argument that tremendous luxury the marque's driving a Flying heritage, audio Spur supports Frugal? You must be joking and connectivity decades-old are hi-tech, while crafts honed in rear seat passenthe UK and gers can control audio preserves a tradiand climate functions. tion that for which our It’s difficult to put together a most exclusive marques are rational argument for buying famous is perhaps a noble one.

F IR S T DRI V E HONDA CI V IC TOURER 1.6 I-DT EC S

VAUXHALL AMPERA XPXPXPXPXPXPXPX

HONDA SEIZES THE MOMENT Civic makes timely return to the estate sector with efficient compact model

By Alisdair Suttie t has been 12 years since Honda last offered a Civic estate, but with increased sales in this sector the Civic Tourer is a timely addition and rival to the likes of the Ford Focus Estate and Volkswagen Golf Estate.

Adrian Killham, who is large project leader for Civic Tourer, told Ignition: “We’ve had to work hard to convince Honda in Japan to build this car, but we believe Europe, and the UK in particular, warrants this investment.”

Honda estimates it will sell about 1,500 Civic Tourers a year to company users, almost all with the 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine.

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Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

This offers 99g/km CO2 and valuables is a cinch.

74.3mpg fuel efficiency. Prices Folding the 60/40 split rear start at £21,320. seats of the Tourer is Several rivals can match the also easy, thanks to Honda’s Tourer for efficiency and CO2, ‘Magic Seat’ design. You can tip but the Civic has a few the rear seats forward to other tricks in its boot. create a long, flat It offers a large floor or fold the luggage capacity bases up for a Practical load area; easy to drive; low running costs; of 624 litres. sizeable space clever adaptive dampers However, 117 between the litres of this is in front and rear Pricey against rivals; only two engine options; numb a compartment seats. steering; adaptive dampers under the boot As the Tourer not standard across range floor, so it’s not is 235mm longer necessarily as than the Civic hatch, usable as some of the it also frees up space competition’s. The upside is it under the load floor to store offers hidden storage that copes the boot cover. It’s easy to pop with a couple of small suitcases, into its dedicated space and so stashing laptops or other with all the seats folded down

To see how much this car will cost to run CLICK HERE ��

COSTS P11D price BIK tax band Annual BIK tax (20%) Class 1A NIC Annual VED RV (4yr/80k) Fuel cost (ppm) AFR (ppm) Running cost (4yr/80k)

£21,320 14% £597 £412 £0 n/a n/a 12 n/a

SPEC

The Civic Tourer is an ideal long-distance machine that can carry plenty of cargo

Power (bhp)/ Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec)

120/221 99 74.3 121 10.1

RIVAL 117 litres of the Tourer’s 624-litre boot space is in a separate compartment under the floor

"The diesel is the only credible choice for fleets thanks to its 99g/km of CO2" the load space is 1,668 litres.

As with the hatch, the 1.8-litre petrol is a little rowdy when pressed, so the 120hp 1.6-litre turbodiesel is the best bet all round. It’s quiet, pulls keenly and comes with a crisp six-speed manual gearbox as the only option.

The diesel is the only credible choice for fleet users thanks to its 99g/km of CO2, helped by its crisp six-speed manual gearbox.

The petrol model has a slightly sharper steering response, while Honda’s adaptive damper system

is standard on the top two trim levels. It can be set to comfort, normal or dynamic; we found normal ideal in all conditions.

There are also two optional safety packs, costing £780 and £2,500. The former is available on all Tourer models and has seven technologies including City-Brake Active System, forward collision warning and Cross Traffic Monitor. The second pack is offered only on EX models to provide automatic cruise control and collision mitigation braking system.

Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI S estate P11D price £20,745 BIK tax band 15% Annual BIK tax (20%) £622 RV (4yr/80k) £5,925/29% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.66 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 30.7ppm *Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

In diesel form, the Tourer is quiet, competent and comfortable. While not as sharp to drive as the Focus or Golf estates, it is an ideal long-distance machine that can carry plenty of cargo.

The Civic Tourer has the credentials to be a strong contender in the small estate sector thanks to its load space and a versatility none of its rivals can better.

Low CO2 emissions and good fuel economy combine with a comfortable and easy-going drive to make it a very rounded compact estate. fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

F IR S T DRI V E MI T S UBI SHI A S X 2 . 2 DI-D 4 AU TO

VAUXHALL AMPERA XPXPXPXPXPXPXPX

VALUE ADDS TO ASX APPEAL Favourable exchange rate sees crossover prices drop by up to £2,500

By Simon Harris few models in Mitsubishi’s history stand out as pioneering. While arguments rage about whether or not the Japanese company was first to market, it certainly introduced cars that appeared at the very beginning of new trends.

The Space Wagon of the early 1980s was one of the very first MPVs (some claim Mitsubishi invented the sector). The Airtrek, which evolved into the first-generation Outlander in the UK in 2004, was a crossover in the mould of the Nissan Qashqai, which appeared three years later.

The Outlander has since evolved into a more conventional SUV, while the ASX has taken up the

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Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

mantle in the crossover sector. top of air conditioning, alloys Mitsubishi bounced back in 2013 and seven airbags. The ASX 3 from a difficult few years in the has larger alloys, electronic UK, primarily caused by an unfa- climate control, push-button start, vourable exchange rate, and automatic headlights and rainperhaps the most eyesensing wipers as well catching change to the as a leather-covered ASX for 2014 is a steering wheel and substantial price heated front Diesel's good spread of reduction. Sterseats. Leather power; stand-out ling now buys far seats are looks; practical family car more yen than in optional. recent years and, The rangeDark interiors can look drab; 4x4 available only as a result, the topping ASX 4 on diesel ASX is priced from comes with a £14,999, £2,500 less reversing camera, than the previous version. integrated Kenwood Diesel models start at £18,750, audio and navigation system, and almost £2,000 less. has four-wheel drive and autoBluetooth has been added to the matic transmission. entry-level ASX 2 as standard, on We tried the new 2.2-litre diesel,

To see how much this car will cost to run CLICK HERE ��

COSTS P11D BIK tax band BIK tax (20%) Annual VED RV (4yr/80k) Fuel cost AFR Running cost (4yr/80k)

£22,899 25% £1,145 £175 £6,495/28% 12.91ppm 17ppm 37.95ppm

ASX feels nimble and agile on the road

SPEC Power (bhp)/torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec)

The 2.2-litre diesel offers CO2 of 158g/km

150/280 153 48.7 118 10.8

RIVAL ASX

4

is

fitted

with

an

"The improvements keep ASX on the radar as a good value alternative" which has the same specification as in the larger Outlander and also shares the same six-speed automatic gearbox. The 280lb-ft of torque available from 1,750rpm certainly gives the ASX a surprising turn of speed, although considering the automatic gearbox (which often leads to higher CO2 emissions than manuals) and fourwheel drive hardware, emissions aren’t particularly high.

Compared with four-wheel drive automatic rivals, the ASX looks quite ‘green’ with BIK tax in the 25% band.

The engine is refined and the transmission changes smoothly.

The ASX also seems good value for the price.

Mitsubishi sees an opportunity against rivals because of competitive pricing (which, lower down the range, mitigates higher CO2 emissions relative to some rivals) as well as the fact that as cars such as the Qashqai have grown in size, the dimensions of the ASX make it appealing to those who might feel uncomfortable driving something larger.

Limited time spent behind the

Skoda Yeti Outdoor Elegance 2.0 TDI 140 4WD DGS P11D price £24,720 BIK tax band 27% Annual BIK tax (20%) £1,335 RV (4yr/80k) £7,492/30% Fuel cost 14.04ppm AFR 14ppm Running cost (4yr/80k) 39.32ppm *Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

wheel on the launch event couldn’t confirm the benefit absolutely, but the ASX certainly feels nimble and agile for a tall vehicle. The steering makes for an engaging experiencewithout offering too much resistance while composure when cornering at higher speeds is more akin to a conventional hatchback.

The ASX might have a lower profile than the Qashqai and Mitsubishi is a smaller player in the market than Nissan, but the improvements made for 2014 keep it on the radar as a good value crossover. fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

C OMING S O ON

NE W MODEL S

SEAT LEON CUPRA On sale: May Price: ÂŁ25,690-ÂŁ28,525 What's new: The hottest version of the new Seat Leon so far arrives in the summer with a 265hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It will be offered

with six-speed manual or DSG dual-clutch gearboxes and should accelerate from 0-62mph in less than 6.0 seconds. It has lowered suspension, new rear exhaust design and a front bumper with large air intakes. A Cupra R model is expected late in 2014 using a 280hp version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and four-wheel drive system from the Volkswagen Golf R. The Cupra R will cover 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds.

CO2 emissions: 149-155g/km

NISSAN X-TRAIL On sale: July Price: TBC What's new: The new X-Trail will be offered with front-wheel drive as standard and fourwheel drive as an option to help bring down CO2 emissions for the range.

A substantially-revised 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine will cut emissions significantly.

Five- and seven-seat versions will be offered as Nissan seeks to make the new model more versatile to compete with the new breed of crossover and improved SUV rivals.

CO2 emissions: TBC Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

For a full new car launch calendar CLICK HERE ��

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER HYBRID On sale: March Price: TBC What's new: Mitsubishi will start sales of its plug-in hybrid Outlander PHEV in March and the car will come with two electric motors, one each to drive the front and rear axles to retain four-wheel drive. The hybrid Outlander will be capable of 32 miles on battery power alone. It can still tow up to 1,500kg to retain its versatility as an SUV. CO2 emissions: 44g/km

VOLKSWAGEN E-UP On sale: February Price: £19,250 What's new: The E-Up comes with a range of up to 93 miles and an 81bhp electric motor to give 0-62mph in 12.4 seconds. All E-Ups will be five-door models and the battery can be quick charged in 30 minutes to 80% of maximum capacity. VW offers a £199 per month lease but it requires a £7,125 deposit.

CO2 emissions: 0g/km

JEEP CHEROKEE On sale: May Price: £25,000 est What's new: Hot on the heels of the wellreceived Grand Cherokee comes a boldlystyled mid-sized SUV. Two petrol models using a 184bhp 2.4-litre four-cylinder or 3.2-litre V6 with 271bhp will be available. However, fleets will be keener to wait for the Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines that will be offered in 138bhp and 168bhp forms coupled to a sixspeed manual gearbox.

CO2 emissions: 263g/km (for 2.4-litre petrol) fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

A D V ICE

C OMPA N Y C A R TA X

To use our car tax calculator CLICK HERE ��

BENEFIT-IN-KIND CO2 BANDS BY TAX YEAR Your at-a-glance guide to what your car will cost you in tax in the future

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rom April 2015, two new CO2-based company car tax bands will be introduced at 0-50g/km and 51-75g/km.

The percentage of the P11D price subject to tax for 0-50g/km cars will be 5% in 2015-16 and 7% in 2016-17. For the 51-75g/km band the figure will be 9% in 2015-16 and 11% in 2016-17.

Although few company car drivers will opt for the zero or ultra-low emission electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid cars that dominate these tax bands, other BIK changes will have an impact.

From April, cars emitting 95-99g/km, like the Vauxhall Insignia Ecoflex (98g/km) will move from 14% to 15% (including the 3% diesel supplement).

For a 20% taxpayer, this increases annual BIK by £57 to £560 on the £18,694 Insignia.

Come the 2015/16 tax year, BIK will be £635 as the Insignia moves into the 17% band, but a year later, when the diesel supplement is scrapped and the car ends up in the 16% band, BIK will fall to £598 – hitting wage packets by around £50 a month.

Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

% of P11D 2013/14 2014/15 price* (g/km) (g/km)

2015/16 2016/17 (g/km) (g/km)

0 0 0 - 5 1-75 1-75 0-50 7 - - - 0-50 9 - - 51-75 10 76-94 - - 11 95-99 76-94 - 51-75 12 100-104 95-99 - 13 105-109 100-104 76-94 14 110-114 105-109 95-99 15 115-119 110-114 100-104 76-94 16 120-124 115-119 105-109 95-99 17 125-129 120-124 110-114 100-104 18 130-134 125-129 115-119 105-109 19 135-139 130-134 120-124 110-114 20 140-144 135-139 125-129 115-119 21 145-149 140-144 130-134 120-124 22 150-154 145-149 135-139 125-129 23 155-159 150-154 140-144 130-134 24 160-164 155-159 145-149 135-139 25 165-169 160-164 150-154 140-144 26 170-174 165-169 155-159 145-149 27 175-179 170-174 160-164 150-154 28 180-184 175-179 165-169 155-159 29 185-189 180-184 170-174 160-164 30 190-194 185-189 175-179 165-169 31 195-199 190-194 180-184 170-174 32 200-204 195-199 185-189 175-179 33 205-209 200-204 190-194 180-184 34 210-214 205-209 195-199 185-189 35 215 & above 210 & above 200-204 190-194 36 205-209 195-199 37 210 & above 200 & above *Add 3% for diesels up to a maximum of 35% in 2013/14 and 2014/15. Add 3% for diesels up to a maximum of 37% in 2015/16 and from 2016/17 onwards the diesel supplement is scrapped.

Exclusive networking opportunity – one night to meet the fleet industry under one roof Book now and secure a premium table position for the Fleet News Awards 2014 19 March 2014 Grosvenor House Park Lane, London

For tickets and tables contact Nicola Baxter on 01733 468289 or email nicola.baxter@bauermedia.co.uk

Sponsored by

www.fleetnewsawards.com

Our Fleet

MAZDA 6

Tested by: Luke Neal "A new windscreen took weeks, not days"

VOLVO V60

Tested by: Simon Harris "I've been achieving 140mpg plus"

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Tested by: Stephen Briers "The Passat hasn't made one false step"

AUDI A3 SPORTBACK

The latest reviews of the team's long-term test cars...

Tested by: Andrew Ryan "The A3 has plenty of long-term appeal"

SEAT LEON

Tested by: Maurice Glover "Leon has delivered a faultless performance"

KIA CEED

Tested by: John Maslen "Ceed ticks all the right boxes"

LEXUS IS

Tested by: Sarah Tooze "I'm not convinced about its fuel economy"

HONDA CR-V

Testedby:GarethRoberts "The CR-V will take a lot of beating for space"

OUR F L EE T

LONG -T ERM T E S T S

COSTS

2 . 2D 15 0 SP OR T N AV

P11D price £25,540 BIK tax band 16% Annual BIK tax (20%) £817 Class 1A NIC £564 Annual VED £0 then £30 RV (4yr/80k) £6,075/24% Fuel cost (ppm) 9.47 AFR (ppm) 18 Running cost (4yr/80k) 39.8ppm

Mazda6 has its new windscreen fitted

MAZDA6 Lengthy wait for a replacement windscreen is finally over

By Luke Neal t last! The replacement windscreen for the Mazda6 has arrived and, as I type, a pleasant man called Brian from AA Autowindshields is in the office car park fitting it for me… a month on from the crack first being reported.

It’s a repair that I would have expected to have been completed in a matter of days rather than weeks; the delay being due to the replacement screen being on back order.

During this wait I've had to use an alternative car, which could be a potentially-costly

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For more Mazda6 road tests CLICK HERE �� Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

exercise for any business in the same situation.

Brian passed on a clever tip to determine whether a crack has been caused by being struck by something: simply take a pointed tool (you can use a ball point pen) and run it along the length of the crack. If the tool or pen stops, that is the point of impact. If you can trace the entire length of the crack without interruption, then the screen has most likely cracked for another reason.

On this occasion, Brian did find a tiny point of impact towards the bottom of the screen, most likely caused by a flying stone.

A new screen takes about an hour to fit and after a few more hours curing time the car will be ready for use.

SPEC Engine (cc) Power (hp) Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec) Test mpg Current mileage

2,191 150 280 108 67.3 131 9.0 47.1 15,449

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

I'm looking forward to being back in the impressive-looking Mazda. Luxuries like heated seats and sat-nav and its sheer size and practicality were sorely missed over the Christmas period.

It's a repair I expected to take days, not weeks

COSTS

1.6 T DI SE

P11D price £18.615 BIK tax band 14% Annual BIK tax (20%) £521 Class 1A NIC £360 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £4,940/27% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.48 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 27.97ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) Power (hp) Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec) Test mpg Current mileage

SEAT LEON Glowing end-of-term report for manufacturer's best car yet

By Maurice Glover ime was when most cars from Seat were regarded as worthy but dull – inexpensive, but equipped to a relatively basic level compared with most of their rivals.

But times have changed. After a switch in product positioning, Seat is earning itself a fresh image as a stylish and highquality alternative with a sporting flavour – and no model illustrates this better than the Leon.

Now leaving us after a sevenmonth stint, the SE is a particularly well fitted-out car and additions like a centre front seat armrest, subdued footwell illumination, seatback storage pockets and rear reading lights allow this hatchback to boast

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some extra niceties to help make motoring far more pleasant.

By any yardstick, the Leon is one of the better-looking compacts from the Volkswagen Group. However, strong performance and economical operation are the more likely reasons behind the car’s spectacular success in business motoring.

In our hands, it has spent most of its time on major routes and the high proportion of cruising speed driving has been reflected in particularly good economy, with tank-to-tank returns topping 70mpg on two occasions.

After more than 12,000 miles, I think an overall figure of more than 64mpg says it all for roomy and versatile transport that copes well with the demands of

1,598 103 184 99 74.3 119 10.7 64.5 12,324

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

business and family travel.

Despite its modest capacity of 50 litres, the Leon’s fuel tank allows a range that stretches to 600 miles.

Comfortable and responsive, the SE has been as good to drive over mundane journeys as it has been during spells of continental motoring and Seat's best model yet has delivered a faultless performance.

A well-engineered design with excellent detail finish, the only minor flaw in this five-star package is the lack of a completely flat cargo floor when the rear seats are folded.

For more Leon road tests CLICK HERE �� fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

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COSTS

D 6 H Y BRID SE E LU X N AV

P11D price £49,220 BIK tax band 5% Annual BIK tax (20%) £984 Class 1A NIC £340 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £9,000/18% Fuel cost (ppm) 4.11 AFR (ppm) 18 Running cost (4yr/80k) 61.67ppm

SPEC V60 has achieved test economy of 80.1mpg

Engine (cc) 2,400 Power (hp) 285 (engine/electric) Torque (lb-ft) 472(engine/electric) CO2 (g/km) 48 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 148.7 Max speed (mph) 143 0-62mph (sec) 6.9 Test mpg 80.1 Current mileage 5,824

VOLVO V60 Longer journeys take their toll on Volvo's fuel economy

By Simon Harris t has been said here previously that the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid makes most sense when used mainly for shorter trips.

They allow full advantage to be taken of charging from the mains, with the diesel engine offering a useful back-up for occasional journeys longer than 30 miles.

Although we took delivery of our V60 with a cable suitable for charging from the mains, Volvo has since sent us a cable compatible with public charging points (which was on back order).

It means charging points can be plotted into longer journeys

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For more V60 road tests CLICK HERE �� Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

fitting in with natural breaks, using free electricity to power more miles than diesel.

The V60 had typically got into achieving 140mpg plus for my commute, with the diesel engine firing up for a few minutes each trip.

When electricity is unavailable for a high-mileage run, fuel economy slips back to a journey average of anything between 50mpg and 100mpg, depending on the distance travelled.

Dragging this average down is the fact that when no charging is available, the car effectively becomes a heavier version of the V60 D5; fuel economy can dip as low as 45mpg. For that you might as well choose a different car.

I’ve also signed up to Ecotricity

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

and can now use charging points at a number of motorway services. It won’t be the same as running 80-mile zero tailpipe emissions stints that might be achieved with a battery EV, but at least it will keep the real-world running costs down.

As a footnote, on my Volvo On Call app on my smartphone, my sausage fingers have entered my password incorrectly too many times and I have had to request a new one.

This is particularly inconvenient in this case as the car is owned

by Volvo UK and the email of a member of staff is registered for this car, meaning that as it happened at the weekend, it could be a few days before I can access the connected services again.

COSTS

1.6 CRDI 3 EC ODY N A MIC S

P11D price £20,040 BIK tax band 15% Annual BIK tax (20%) £601 Class 1A NIC £415 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £4,250/21% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.68 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 31.56ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) Power (hp) Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec) Test mpg Current mileage

KIA CEED Manufacturer continues to close the gap on fleet rivals

By John Maslen ach year, Fleet News organises one of the biggest fleet test drive events in the world, Company Car in Action (CCIA), where hundreds of cars are available for fleets to test backto-back over two days in June.

From a fleet manager’s perspective, it’s a brilliant opportunity to improve and update product knowledge, and having just moved into the Kia Ceed for a short while, I can see the value such events bring.

I have driven a number of other vehicles from a range of brands over the years, but from the point of view of a busy fleet manager, it is incredibly difficult to compare the qualities of a model driven in January with a rival driven in

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December when product update cycles are becoming ever shorter.

Kia has already impressed with the Optima, which I had on longterm test a year ago, and my renewed acquaintance with the brand has shown the Ceed is an even more impressive offering.

While Kia historically could have been considered as an alternative to traditional mainstream fleet brands, where financial savings were gained at the expense of quality or refinement, it is becoming clear that massive investment in product is bringing it close to equal footing with fleet rivals.

All the key boxes are ticked, such as build quality, ride and handling.

There are minor issues, such as noise at motorway speeds, and an odd recess in the rear bumper to

1,582 126 191 100 74.3 122 11.5 10,284 51

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

allow access to the boot release, which fills with water when it rains and gets your hand wet, but apart from that, first impressions are very good.

It is reaching the stage where fleet managers are effectively trying to discern the difference between a £6 bottle of wine and a £10 bottle of wine when comparing rival models.

With manufacturers improving product quality all the time, it can be very hard to clearly discern key differences unless you can compare models back-to-back, which you can do at CCIA, this year at Millbrook from June 10-11.

For more Ceed road tests CLICK HERE �� fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

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COSTS

1.6 T DI SE

P11D price £22,320 BIK tax band 14% Annual BIK tax (20%) £625 Class 1A NIC £431 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £7,375/33% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.48 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 31.3ppm

SPEC The spoked wheels are attractive, but time consuming to clean

AUDI A3 SPORTBACK Attractive hatch proves an ideal long-distance companion

By Andrew Ryan uild quality has long been seen as a traditional strength of the Audi brand, and our time so far with the A3 Sportback has done nothing to challenge that perception.

In the past couple of weeks, it has passed the 10,000-mile mark, roughly one-eighth of the miles a car may be expected to cover while on a fleet.

So far there are no obvious signs of wear and tear in the cabin which, although it is still early days in a typical fleet lifecycle, is a good sign for its appeal at de-fleet time.

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For more A3 Sportback road tests CLICK HERE �� Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

Its short-term appeal has also continued to be high, as it is proving a classy and refined way to travel.

A couple of weekends before Christmas the A3 Sportback was pressed into action as a fourwheeled Santa's sleigh for a 600-mile round trip to visit the Irish side of my family in Dublin.

This saw the car laden with presents, as well as my parents, and it coped admirably with any demands we made of it.

Both my parents were happy with the comfort and room they had, although the shape of the boot meant putting a box or two on the rear seat: it seemed quite narrow, while a high boot lip meant that loading and unloading a heavy parcel was more

Engine (cc) Power (hp) Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec) Test mpg Current mileage

1,598 147 236 99 74.3 121 10.9 57.4 10,149

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

awkward than expected.

Other gripes are minor ones: the spoked wheels are a pain to clean (although they look great when done), while my iPod is too old to connect to the A3's media system. The latter complaint is not the car's fault, but has led me to use my phone as an MP3 player and pair it to the media system using Bluetooth.

Like all other operations using the media system, this was straightforward to do and the controls intuitive enough to not need to refer to the instruction manual.

Average test economy has remained fairly consistent at between 57mpg and 59mpg per tankful, which is a long way short of the official figure of 74.3mpg.

COSTS

1.61 I-DT EC SE-T

P11D price £25,770 BIK tax band 18% Annual BIK tax (20%) £928 Class 1A NIC £640 Annual VED £30 RV (4yr/80k) £7,353/28% Fuel cost (ppm) 10.01 AFR (ppm) 14 Running cost (4yr/80k) 36.65ppm

SPEC A £100 plastic boot tray adds to the CR-V's practicality

HONDA CR-V Lightweight CR-V gives fleet-friendly performance

By Gareth Roberts UVs have fast become the choice for company car drivers looking for a vehicle that can cope with family life.

They have quickly overtaken the traditional estate car, with all the major manufacturers offering an SUV in their line-up.

But if practicality and boot space are the guiding light, how does our Honda CR-V 1.6-litre i-DTEC SE-T compare to the competition?

The CR-V’s dimensions mean that headroom in the rear is good and it will comfortably sit three adults, while the flat floor also offers lots of legroom.

With the rear seats folded, boot capacity has increased by 148 litres over the old model to 1,648 litres.

With the seats up, the capacity is

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still a cavernous 589 litres.

The load length has also been increased, by 140mm to 1,570mm, while the height of the load lip has been reduced by 25mm to make it easier to load heavy or awkward items.

Our car also includes a durable plastic tray at a cost of £100; a neat addition which allows you to throw those muddy wellies in the back without having to seek out a full valet at a later date.

In contrast, the Ford Kuga, even after its boot space was increased from its previous incarnation, offers only 456 litres with all the seats in place. That’s provided you go for the tyre repair kit instead of the spare wheel. The capacity drops to 406 litres if you choose to have the spare.

Engine (cc) Power (hp) Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec) Test mpg Current mileage

1,597 120 300 119 62.8 113 11.2 47.8 2,976

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Compare that to the Kia Sportage which, with the standard-fit 60/40 split-fold rear seats in place, offers 564 litres. Fold down the back seats and that expands further to 1,353 litres.

In short, if space and practicality are likely to define your choice, the CR-V will take a lot of beating.

For more CR-V road tests CLICK HERE �� fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

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2 .0 T DI HIGHL INE BLUEMOT ION T ECHNOLOGY

P11D price £23,175 BIK tax band 18% Annual BIK tax (20%) £834 Class 1A NIC £576 Annual VED £0 then £30 RV (4yr/80k) £5,825/25% Fuel cost (ppm) 10.26 AFR (ppm) 14 Running cost (4yr/80k) 35.49ppm

SPEC Passat is simply a very good car

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Saloon hasn't put a foot wrong since joining our fleet

By Stephen Briers riting about the Volkswagen Passat sometimes puts me in a quandary. Sometimes our longterm test cars develop faults, or you find things that irritate after several months’ driving that you hadn’t noticed previously. It gives you ammunition for reviews.

The Passat isn’t like that. It hasn’t made one false step during the 10 months we’ve had it. No faults, no niggles; and aside from the heavy boot lid, no major irritations.

It’s simply a very good fleet family car, offering space, value, build quality, comfort, efficiency and a

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For more Passat road tests CLICK HERE �� Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk

little soupçon of performance from the 140hp 2.0-litre diesel.

However, this version of the Passat has got only one more year to run before the next-generation car comes to market. Spy shots have already been published in some magazines and websites.

Surprisingly,thiscurrentseventhgeneration model was launched only three years ago. But it was based on the same platform as the version launched in 2005 and, while it came with lots of improvements and enhancements, such as stop-start, new safety equipment and updated styling, it wasn’t exactly a step-change in evolution.

No matter. Fleets have still been buying this car in their thousands – almost 13,000 last year, to be precise, making it the third most

Engine (cc) Power (hp) Torque (lb-ft) CO2 (g/km) Fuel efficiency (mpg) Max speed (mph) 0-62mph (sec) Test mpg Current mileage

1,968 140 236 119 61.4 132 9.8 52 13,340

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/40k)

popular mainstream D-sector family car.

We like it, too, as does much of the consumer media. Take this verdict from Fleet News’s sister magazine Car: “It’s the kind of car that worms its way into your affections because it’s just so good at fitting into your life. Its breadth of ability is impressive: value, comfort, frugality, (adequate) performance, refinement, practicality… it’s even okay to drive. If you had to put your money into one all-round family car, this wouldn’t be a bad choice at all.”

In short, the Passat is a solid allrounder that has served its time on the Fleet News fleet with major honours. Our model goes back in a little over a month’s time: it will be missed.

COSTS

2 .5 SE

P11D price BIK tax band Annual BIK tax (20%) Class 1A NIC Annual VED RV (4yr/80k) Fuel cost (ppm) AFR (ppm) Running cost (4yr/80k)

£32,035 11% £705 £486 £0 £8,050 9.04 24 42.98ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 2,495 Power (hp) 141/178 (electric/engine) Torque (lb-ft) 300/221(electric/engine) CO2 (g/km) 99 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 65.7 Max speed (mph) 125 0-62mph (sec) 8.3 Test mpg 45.3 Current mileage 4,223

LEXUS IS 300H Fuel economy disappoints, but hybrid otherwise impresses

By Sarah Tooze fter a month in the IS 300h, I can see why Lexus is reporting strong sales for the new IS range.

The car was launched in July last year and has increased fullyear sales by almost 90% over the outgoing model in 2012.

Of the 1,751 sales so far, 1,007 have been as company cars.

The manufacturer is now targeting 3,500 sales in 2014 with 1,500 in retail and 2,000 in fleet.

It puts the IS’s success down to “striking sports styling, high equipment specifications and definitively Lexus contemporary luxury and refinement”.

While the IS 300h does feature some sharp, dynamic lines around the front headlights and

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bumper, its popularity with company car drivers is more likely to be explained by the class-leading benefit-in-kind tax rates (click here for more).

But although the IS300h has the upper hand with CO2 emissions, at least on paper, I’m not yet convinced about the real-world fuel economy.

The average fuel economy figure to date is 45.3mpg – an improvement of 3mpg compared to when it arrived on the fleet but still 20mpg shy of the official combined figure (65.7).

On a 124-mile round journey, economy did increase to 48mpg in normal mode, however.

There are five modes to choose from: EV, eco, normal, snow and sport, and I’ve recently switched

*Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

from normal to eco mode which should boost efficiency.

Fuel economy aside, there is little tocriticise the IS 300h for.

It’s a quiet, refined drive and is almost as quick as the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics auto, reaching 62mph from standstill in 8.3 seconds.

Safety is also a strong point, with the IS 300h recently named best in class by Euro NCAP for the ‘large family’ car category.

It achieved the top five-star rating and a 91% score overall with Euro NCAP noting the effectiveness of the active pop-up bonnet, fitted as standard.

For more IS 300h road tests CLICK HERE �� fleetnews.co.uk January 2014 Ignition

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F UEL P RICE S

For full UK fuel price figures CLICK HERE ��

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1 BIRMINGHAM Diesel 138.35 Unleaded 129.73 LPG 69.7*

6 EDINBURGH Diesel 137.77 Unleaded 129.83 LPG 75.9

2 BRIGHTON Diesel 136.88 Unleaded 130.46 LPG N/A

7 EXETER Diesel 140.19** Unleaded 132.9** LPG N/A

3 CAMBRIDGE Diesel 139.66 Unleaded 131.91 LPG 77.9**

8 GLASGOW Diesel 135.83 Unleaded 128.53 LPG N/A

4 CARDIFF Diesel 136.38 Unleaded 128.35* LPG N/A

9 LEEDS Diesel 138.78 Unleaded 130.56 LPG 71.9

5 DERBY Diesel 141.3 Unleaded 131.35 LPG 71.8

10 LIVERPOOL Diesel 137.73 Unleaded 129.73 LPG 71.9 11 LONDON Diesel 136.71 Unleaded 130.46 LPG 73.9

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12 MANCHESTER Diesel 138.51 Unleaded 130.11 LPG 70.9 13 NEWCASTLE Diesel l 136.68 Unleaded 129.79 LPG 75.4 14 NORWICH Diesel 136.32* Unleaded 128.67 LPG 76 * Cheapest ** Most expensive

Ignition January 2014 fleetnews.co.uk