Ignitionjune2013

Ignition Issue 13 June 2013

Car views and news by FleetNews

FIRST DRIVE: PORSCHE PANAMERA S E-HYBRID

A Porsche for fleet choice lists?

GO Plug-in hybrid offers 71g/km CO2 and 93mpg ●

All the latest Ford fleet sales GO GO cars tested drop significantly ● ● Overall market increases to reflect improving economy

Reports include Citroën C4 Picasso, Alfa Romeo Giulietta

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F IR S T DRI V E

PORSCHE LAUNCHES SUB-75G/KM HYBRID Plug-in technology puts car on radar of high-end user-choosers

PORSCHE PANAMERA NEED TO KNOW n 71g/km and 91.3mpg on the official combined cycle n Free from London congestion charge n Plug-in car grant status still undecided n Carry-over pricing from current Panamera Hybrid

T

S E-HYBRID

By Simon Harris here aren’t that many fleets that include Porsche on their choice lists.

In fact, for those that do, the high-performance German sportscars, saloons and SUVs would be available only to company directors.

But from September the brand could be well placed to make a greater impression, particularly among London-based businesses.

The Panamera Hybrid caught people's attention as a company car because of its CO2 emissions of 159g/km, which, at launch, fell below the 160g/km threshold for enhanced capital allowances.

But changes were made in April and the threshold was reduced to 130g/km.

However, Porsche was well advanced along the road to the next stage of its hybrid programme, and the facelifted Panamera range includes a plug-in version.

The S E-Hybrid comes with CO2 of just 71g/km and fuel economy of 91.3mpg on the official combined cycle. This makes it sound like an ultra-economy version but performance-wise it’s placed squarely in the middle of the Panamera range.

The combined output of both petrol and electric power is 416bhp, with maximum torque of 435lb-ft, enough to propel the car from rest to 62mph in just 5.5 seconds.

The 71g/km rating takes it out of July’s new lower CO2 limit for the London congestion charge zone, ensures it’s in 100% write down allowance territory and falls into the lowest BIK tax band.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

LEFT: Instrument panel features a dial showing how efficiently the car is being driven

New rear light clusters are LEFT: S E-Hybrid has an eight-speed among styling revisions Tiptronic automatic gearbox New IS is more comfortable than before Whether it will qualify for the £5,000 plug-in car grant or not is still being discussed but should be resolved by the time deliveries commence in September.

But this is still an expensive and relatively exclusive car and should not see a significant rise in sales, although it should make Porsche much more visible to fleet operators and high-end user-choosers.

The Panamera facelift is subtle: minor cosmetic changes with new headlamps, rear light clusters and bumper designs mark out the new model, although the instrument panel of the plug-in hybrid is different from other models in the range.

It replaces the analogue speedometer with a dial that shows when the car is driving more efficiently and when it’s in a regenerative charging mode.

It is driven through an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox. It will travel for between 12 and 24 miles on the plug-in charge when used in E-power mode, but will default to combining both power sources until the plug-in charge is depleted.

Performance certainly doesn’t have an ‘economy’ feel, with savage acceleration from the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 combined with the electric motor when required. Ride comfort is also exceptional, given the performance available: a little firmer than in a BMW 7 Series, but never jarring, while on twisty roads the Panamera makes the driver supremely confident about selecting a desired line and remaining composed.

The Panamera can perform the role of a high-performance executive express as well as fulfil any low-CO2 requirements on company policies. Depreciation is likely to be competitive against other luxury saloons, but represents better value than the full-hybrid car it replaces because pricing is virtually unchanged while you get better performance and a substantial zero-emissions driving range.

COSTS P11D price £87,300 (est) BIK tax band 5% Annual BIK tax (40%) £1,746 (est) Class 1A NIC £602 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) n/a Fuel cost n/a Running cost n/a

SPEC Engine (cc) 2,995 Power (bhp) 416 (engine + motor) CO2 (g/km) 71 Fuel economy (mpg) 91.3 Max speed (mph) 168 0-62mph (sec) 5.5

To compare running costs, click here

T E S T ED T HIS MON T H

Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi VTR+

Distinctive styling is one of Citroën’s former attributes that has been making a comeback.

The C6 showed the French company could still be bold when it came to styling and this has continued through the DS models and the previous C4 (although not so much with the current model). It has now injected a strong dose of style into its latest MPV. The company says the styling of the new Picasso-badged model is a taste of future revamps and new models as it tries to show a more expressive exterior design.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Dacia Duster 1.5DCi Laureate

Dacia has made little impact in the fleet market since its launch in the UK at the start of the year, instead making a much bigger splash among retail customers.

However, a small but increasing number of its models have been registered to corporate buyers; SMMT figures show that out of the 3,994 vehicles it has sold in the UK this year up to the end of April, 136 have been into fleet.

This number is still tiny, but it shows that some businesses have been persuaded by the manufacturer’s value credentials.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 Sportiva

Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta has worked hard at winning back fleet business for the Italian brand after years of disappointing service and reliability.

A user-chooser asking to run a Giulietta for three or four years doesn’t bring with it the headaches of running an Alfa of a decade ago, and while the car is more robust, it hasn’t lost any of the beguiling looks you would expect of the brand.

For ultimate thrills, Alfa Romeo has its Cloverleaf models, and although this is relatively efficient for its 235bhp at 177g/km and 37.2mpg it will be out of the reach of most user-choosers.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

Volkswagen Golf GTD 2.0 TDi 5DR

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

A significant cut in tailpipe emissions looks set to produce an increase in orders for the diesel version of the ultimate Volkswagen Golf.

At just 109g/km, the CO2 figure for the latest GTD model with manual transmission should help cut costs for corporate drivers as well as putting smiles on their faces with better performance, believes fleet business development manager Claire English.

“We’re delighted with this figure,” she said. “It places us at the forefront of what has become a critical area influencing car choice."

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Subaru Forester 2.0D XC

A change of government in Japan could soon be driving a dramatic revival in the fortunes of a specialist four-wheel drive car firm in Britain.

The move by the new administration to devalue the yen has allowed importer International Motors to return to competitive pricing with the latest sport utility model from Subaru, claims UK operations director Paul Tunnicliffe.

“The change in monetary policy coincided with the arrival of the new Forester and ended a fairly bloodied period for us after the weakness of sterling raised our prices by 4%,” he said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

BMW i3

Britain’s fleet industry is set to play a key role in shaping the destiny of the first European battery car with a premium badge.

BMW has named the UK as a “significant” market for its i3 electric vehicle and believes company drivers will help steer the groundbreaking city car to showroom success.

Available as a battery-only car, or with a motorcycle engine range-extender option, the hatchback due to arrive in the UK at the end of the year is already winning interest from the sector, said corporate operations manager Steve Chater.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

F L EE T S A L E S F IGURE S

Fleet market strengthens Rising share reflects improving economy but Ford's sales drop significiantly

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By Jay Nagley, Redspy Automotive he fleet proportion of the overall market was 49.9% in May. While that was well down on the peak figure of 55.3% in May 2011, it is still ahead of 2008 and 2009 when the figures were between 48% and 49%. Thus the fleet market was not as weak last month as is often supposed.

Its rise of 3.2% in May 2013 was quite a respectable figure, and is in line with an economic picture which appears to be improving. Current UK economic estimates are that the second quarter of 2013 could see economic growth of 0.5%, which is not far below the pre-recession average of 0.6% per quarter.

At a manufacturer level, Ford’s fleet sales fell significantly, but this was mainly because Ford pulled back on fleet sales of the Fiesta. Only 35.5% of Fiesta sales were to fleets last month, compared to 56.9% for the Vauxhall Corsa. In fact, Vauxhall’s much smaller sales fall was actually due to the Corsa, which lost more than 1,000 sales compared to March 2012.

However, as non-fleet sales of the Corsa also fell, the decline was due more to the fact that the Corsa now looks old compared to the facelifted Fiesta, new Renault Clio and new Peugeot 208. The fact that the Corsa does not yet have a downsized turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is also not helping.

56.9% of Vauxhall Corsa sales last month were to fleets

DS3 is Citroën's biggest seller and accounts for 26.8% of the manufacturer's sales

Among the mid-table brands, Citroën has had the strongest growth (up 34.3% YTD). This has been led by the DS3, which is easily Citroën’s biggest seller (accounting for 26.8% of all sales), but other models have seen increases as well.

Meanwhile, Honda’s recovery has started to gather pace with an increase of 7.1% YTD, but there is a long way still to go. Perhaps most surprisingly, the growth has largely come from the new CRV rather the downsized 1.6-litre diesel in the Civic.

Renault is still losing fleet sales. Now that all the deadwood has been cut, and the new Clio has been launched, one would have expected 2013 to be the year sales started to increase again. There is still time, but it will all depend on the reception to the Captur B-segment crossover. That is the model tasked with reinvigorating Renault’s image in the UK. One range that won’t be helping Renault’s fleet sales target is Dacia. Renault’s budget brand has the unusual target of keeping fleet sales to a minimum, as the idea is to sell to private buyers on a budget.

In an ideal world, there will be a growing gap between Renault’s fleet sales and Dacia’s.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

May May YTD YTD Manufacturer fleet 2013 fleet 2012 % change 2013 2012 % change

Ford 13,999 15,938 -12.17% 64,330 72,266 -10.98% Vauxhall 13,269 13,831 -4.06% 60,106 54,676 9.93% Volkswagen 9,274 8,725 6.29% 44,629 45,200 -1.26% Audi 6,007 5,185 15.85% 31,183 29,967 4.06% BMW 6,033 5,929 1.75% 27,287 28,507 -4.28% Peugeot 4,749 5,333 -10.95% 25,978 25,571 1.59% Nissan 4,385 3,414 28.44% 25,087 21,119 18.79% Mercedes-Benz 4,362 3,688 18.28% 23,514 19,848 18.47% CitroĂŤn 3,912 2,530 54.62% 17,216 12,816 34.33% Hyundai 3,333 2,031 64.11% 16,767 14,025 19.55% Toyota 2,516 2,453 2.57% 14,548 14,989 -2.94% Kia 2,604 2,896 -10.08% 13,214 13,905 -4.97% Skoda 2,484 2,174 14.26% 10,826 10,390 4.20% Honda 1,495 1,299 15.09% 9,402 8,781 7.07% Volvo 1,503 1,683 -10.70% 8,952 8,771 2.06% Seat 1,958 1,630 20.12% 8,841 8,479 4.27% Fiat 1,395 1,159 20.36% 7,147 5,508 29.76% Land Rover 1,059 1,090 -2.84% 6,916 5,502 25.70% Mini 1,092 1,402 -22.11% 6,730 7,055 -4.61% Renault 878 1172 -25.09% 5,811 6,713 -13.44% Mazda 643 413 55.69% 3,922 3,155 24.31% Jaguar 571 602 -5.15% 3,261 2,928 11.37% Chevrolet 781 988 -20.95% 2,517 5,009 -49.75% Suzuki 203 214 -5.14% 2,213 2,090 5.89% Lexus 327 411 -20.44% 1,715 2,032 -15.60% Mitsubishi 98 210 -53.33% 1,140 856 33.18% Smart 316 113 179.65% 991 792 25.13% Alfa Romeo 122 267 -54.31% 892 1,641 -45.64% Chrysler 227 76 198.68% 722 548 31.75% Porsche 74 62 19.35% 398 383 3.92% Subaru 41 13 215.38% 355 545 -34.86% Jeep 40 31 29.03% 284 311 -8.68% Dacia 33 0 169 0 Aston Martin 23 20 15.00% 152 146 4.11% Bentley 25 58 -56.90% 136 198 -31.31% SsangYong 19 20 -5.00% 96 136 -29.41% Other 48 61 -21.31% 230 641 -64.12% Total 89,898 87,121 3.19% 447,677 435,499 2.80%

F UEL P RICE S

5

1 BIRMINGHAM Diesel 138.87 Unleaded 134.18 LPG 57.0*

6 EXETER Diesel 140.53 Unleaded 135.4 LPG 73.9

2 BRIGHTON Diesel 139.35 Unleaded 134.83 LPG 68.9

7 HEREFORD Diesel 140.4 Unleaded 138.9** LPG N/A

3 CAMBRIDGE Diesel 141.55** Unleaded 136.37 LPG 70.9

8 LEEDS Diesel 137.9 Unleaded 132.9 LPG N/A

4 DERBY Diesel 136.9 Unleaded 131.15* LPG 67.9

9 LIVERPOOL Diesel 138.13 Unleaded 133.56 LPG 73.8

5 EDINBURGH Diesel 137.42 Unleaded 132.7 LPG N/A

10 LONDON Diesel 138.68 Unleaded 134.18 LPG 72.74 11 MANCHESTER Diesel 138.82 Unleaded 133.62 LPG 66.9

8

9 11

4 1 7

6

13

12 3 14 10 2

12 NORWICH Diesel 138.53 Unleaded 133.14 LPG N/A 13 OXFORD Diesel 140.02 Unleaded 135.11 LPG 79.0** 14 WATFORD Diesel 136.4* Unleaded 132.21 LPG 63.95

For full UK fuel price figures Click here * Cheapest ** Most expensive

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

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MAZDA6

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

2.2 D 150 SPORT NAV

Well-equipped upper-medium saloon lacks a hill-holder function

W

By Simon Harris

ith so many features fitted as standard on our Mazda6, it’s too easy to be distracted by all the shiny things.

The only factory options available on the 2.2D Sport Nav are metallic paint, upgraded leather trim (leather-faced seats are standard), and the safety pack.

Everything else is standard, which means heated front seats, TomTom navigation, and reversing camera with steering guide as well as proximity sensors. Many things to look at and that perform a valuable role.

One item that doesn’t seem to be fitted is a hill-holder function. This is particularly useful when waiting at junctions on an incline because it means that after using the foot brake to stop, when releasing it the driver has a short time in which to select a gear and set off before the car rolls back.

It has become an increasingly common feature in cars during the past 10 years or so. It shouldn’t be a difficult feature to include on a car as it would be part of a package of technology available with the ABS/ESC. I suspect Mazda might not have included it because of the i-Stop stop-start system which would encourage people to save fuel by using the system as much as possible and applying the handbrake when at junctions. The trouble is some pauses at junctions are too short to want the i-Stop to activate.

There has been more encouraging news in its fuel efficiency. The most recent tanks of fuel have returned more than 55mpg. Still short of the official combined figure, but we’re getting close.

Mazda5 is fitted with i-Stop stop-start technology

NEED TO KNOW

n Heated front seats and sat-nav fitted as standard n Fuel economy edges closer to 60mpg

COSTS 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

SPEC Engine (cc) 2,191 Power (bhp) 150 Torque (lb-ft) 280 CO2 (g/km) 108 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 67.3 Max speed (mph) 131 0-62mph (sec) 9.0 Test mpg 55.8 Current mileage 8,351

Click here for previous Mazda6 tests *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

OUR F L EE T

A180 CDI BLUE EFFICIENCY SE

MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS

Premium hatch continues to impress by breaking the 70mpg barrier NEED TO KNOW n Sat-nav system proves frustrating n CO2 emissions of 98g/km

A-Class is hard to fault

COSTS P11D price £21,170 BIK tax band (2013/14) 14% Annual BIK tax (20%) £593 Class 1A NIC £409 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £7,575/36% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.78 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 29.28ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,461 Power (bhp) 109 Torque lb-ft 192 CO2 (g/km) 98 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 74.3 Max speed (mph) 118 0-62mph (sec) 11.3 Test mpg 64.2 Current mileage 5,745

Click here for previous A-Class tests *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

I

By Sarah Tooze ’ve only been in the A-Class for a few weeks but have already achieved a first.

On the 44-mile drive from Peterborough to Millbrook to attend Fleet News’s Company Car In Action event I hit the 70mpg mark, which isn’t far off the claimed official combined figure of 74.3mpg.

My test average fuel economy (64.2mpg) is pretty good too. But I can’t help being sceptical about the reported figure as I’ve never achieved an average 70mpg in a test car before.

The last test car Fleet News had which achieved more than 70mpg turned out to have an inaccurate trip computer so I’ll be checking the accuracy of the A-Class’s read-out over the next few weeks.

On the drive to Millbrook I also discovered it’s not always possible to put the full postcode in the sat-nav, which means you have to find a street nearby to type in.

I’ve since had the same problem on a different journey and ended up at the wrong address. It’s a bit disappointing for a sat-nav that costs £495.

The sat-nav on the Kia Ceed, which I was testing prior to the A-Class, had the ability to put the whole postcode in and is standard equipment.

Sat-nav aside, it’s hard to fault the A-Class and I can see why it’s in high demand.

Its modern, young image bears no relation to the original A-Class and its looks are combined with a very attractive sub-100g/km CO2 figure.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

2.0 TDI HIGHLINE BLUEMOTION TECHNOLOGY

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Diesel saloon's fuel economy increases as its mileage rises NEED TO KNOW n Average test fuel economy of 52.4mpg n Equally at home with urban driving and motorway journeys

COSTS

T

By Stephen Briers he last road test on the Volkswagen Passat highlighted my 12-mile commute to work and commented on the anticipated fuel efficiency improvements once its engine was fully run in.

Some people believe that modern cars do not need the running in period. Our experience begs to differ.

After a heavy six weeks of driving, the Passat has now clocked just over 4,000 miles: what a difference those extra few hundred miles have made!

Average commuting fuel consumption was 47-49mpg when we took delivery of the car; now it’s 53-55mpg.

Where we’d previously topped out at 59.9mpg on a longer journey, now the record is 63.1mpg over an 80-mile route, which is actually 1.7mpg higher than the official 61.4mpg combined figure. It’s worth emphasising this point at a time when the official testing process is under intense scrutiny from everyone from the national press to the Advertising Standards Agency.

With the efficiency box ticked, attention turns to other matters. A little over three months into our test and the Passat is proving to be a highly competent fleet car, tackling long distances and urban driving with equal aplomb.

For fleets considering a family car, the Passat meets all the key criteria from both company and driver perspective.

P11D price £22,955 BIK tax band 18% Annual BIK tax (20%) £826 Class 1A NIC £570 Annual VED £0 then £30 RV (4yr/80k) £5,850/25% Fuel cost (ppm) 10.63 AFR (ppm) 14 Running cost (4yr/80k) 35.55ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,968 Power (bhp) 140 Torque lb-ft 236 CO2 (g/km) 119 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 61.4 Max speed (mph) 132 0-62mph (sec) 9.8 Test mpg 52.4 Current mileage 4,132

Click here for previous Passat tests *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

OUR F L EE T

D2 SE NAV

VOLVO V40

Premium hatchback suffers on running costs compared to key rivals NEED TO KNOW

n CO2 emissions of 98g/km n Average test fuel economy of 52.5mpg

COSTS P11D price £22,740 BIK tax band (2013/14) 13% Annual BIK tax (20%) £591 Class 1A NIC £408 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £6,602/31% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.31 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 33.06ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,560 Power (bhp) 115 Torque lb-ft 270 CO2 (g/km) 94 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 78.5 Max speed (mph) 118 0-62mph (sec) 11.7 Test mpg 52.5 Current mileage 13,496 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous V40 tests

V40 is in the 13% benefit-in-kind tax band

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By Gareth Roberts aced with choosing between a Volvo V40, a Mercedes A-Class or an Audi A3, badge appeal may put the Swedish car in third place. However, where does it rank when considerations such as CO2, P11D price, fuel efficiency and running costs are considered?

The V40 D2 SE Nav has a P11D price of £22,740, higher than the £21,945 for the A3 Sportback 1.6TDI Sport and even more expensive than the £21,170 quoted for the Mercedes-Benz A180 CDI Blue Efficiency SE. The V40, however, is the greenest of the three with CO2 emissions of 94g/km, compared to 98g/km and 99g/km for the A-Class and the A3 respectively. That puts it into a benefit-in-kind tax band of 13%, lower than the 14% of its rivals.

And, with fuel efficiency closely mirroring emissions, it’s not surprising to see that at 78.5mpg, the V40 trumps the 74.3mpg official combined of both the A3 and A-Class. All three models are currently on the Fleet News long-term test fleet and the A-Class has the best real-world economy of 64.2mpg. The V40 suffers a shortfall of 33% on its official combined with 52.5mpg, while the A3 is achieving 50mpg, again a 33% shortfall.

Looking at a four-year, 80,000-mile cycle, the A3 and the A-Class are closely matched when it comes to residual values. The A3 will provide a 35% (£7,410) return, while the A-Class would give you a 36% (£7,575) return. The V40, however, offers less than its two rivals at 29% (£6,602).

It is therefore perhaps not that surprising to find the V40 in third place when running costs are also assessed. At 33.06ppm, it is more expensive to run than the A3 at 30.15ppm and the A-Class at 29.28ppm.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

1.6 I-DTEC ES-T

HONDA CIVIC

Diesel hatchback breaks 70mpg barrier for the first time NEED TO KNOW

n Test fuel economy of 65mpg n Rear seats fold up to create more space

COSTS Civic's 'magic seats' are a simple but brilliant idea

T

By John Maslen he Honda Civic is the most economical fleet car I have ever driven – fact.

I just cracked the 70mpg barrier in our long-term Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC ES-T and I overshot the target by 5mpg for good measure, to take account of our over-optimistic trip computer.

The extra push has resulted in real-world fuel economy of 70mpg, covering a mix of urban, rural and motorway driving, with a fuel cost of around nine pence per mile. Admittedly, the Civic’s achievement took very careful driving and on motorways I stuck resolutely to around 65mph, so it’s not the sort of economy you would return every day.

However, with similar effort in other cars, my fuel economy has always languished at the low-60mpg level.

I should point out though that my assessment of the Civic as the most fuel efficient car I have ever driven includes hybrids, but range-extender electric vehicles are excluded, as they blow all other vehicles out of the water for lifetime fuel economy.

In the past month I have also ventured away from the driving seat to delve into the wonders of the Honda’s ‘magic seats’. Put simply, the rear seats don’t just fold down, they fold up. It frees up all the floor space in the back, which is great for carrying bulky objects.

It is a simple idea, but it’s brilliant and another area where the Civic stands out from the intense competition in this sector.

P11D price £21,720 BIK tax band 13% Annual BIK tax (20%) £565 Class 1A NIC £390 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £6,725/31% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.31ppm AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 30.3ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,597 Power (bhp) 120 Torque (lb-ft) 221 CO2 (g/km) 94 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 78.5 Max speed (mph) 129 0-62mph (sec) 10.5 Test mpg 65 Current mileage 3,922 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Civic tests

OUR F L EE T

TOYOTA YARIS

HYBRID T SPIRIT

Hybrid epitomises almost everything a modern supermini should be NEED TO KNOW

n Relaxing driving experience n Average test fuel economy of 58.3mpg

Yaris combines smart looks with decent practicality

COSTS P11D price £17,790 BIK tax band 10% Annual BIK tax (20%) £356 Class 1A NIC £246 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £4,650/26% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.25 AFR (ppm) 17 Running cost (4yr/80k) 29.02ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,497 Power (bhp) 101 Torque lb-ft 82 (engine only) CO2 (g/km) 85 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 76.3 Max speed (mph) 103 0-62mph (sec) 11.8 Test mpg 58.3 Current mileage 13,183 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Yaris Hybrid tests

O

By Andrew Ryan ur Yaris Hybrid long-termer has now been returned to Toyota, and having used it for several months there's just one thing which, for me, prevents this from being at the top of the supermini class – a spark.

In many ways it epitomises what a modern supermini should be.

It has smart looks, a roomy interior with a decent-sized and practically-shaped boot, is well-built and has excellent efficiency. CO2 emissions of 85g/km and an official combined fuel economy of 76.3mpg keep costs down for both employer and employee.

However, it doesn't engage the driver in the way a rival like a Ford Fiesta might.

It's pleasant to drive but never exciting, with comfort and refinement valued far above an entertaining driving experience.

After initially being underwhelmed by this, it didn't become a problem. In fact, it became one of the qualities I liked most about the Yaris. It's a very calming and serene drive, and does much to take away the stresses of rush-hour motoring.

You know there's no reward in pushing on, so why bother?

This approach also suits the characteristics of the petrol-electric powertrain and CVT gearbox perfectly, although it hasn't helped me achieve the official fuel economy figure. I've averaged 58.3mpg, but most of my driving involves A-roads, so the hybrid has been out of its natural habitat.

However, any urban-based fleet should be closer to the official figure.

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TESTED THIS MONTH

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AUDI A3 SPORTBACK

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

1.6 TDI SPORT

Practical hatchback provided ideal transport for a lads-only weekend NEED TO KNOW

n Larger boot than a Ford Focus n Impressive rear passenger legroom

COSTS

A3 impressed with a full load on board

T

By Luke Neal he A3 has now covered 1,354 miles, with 300 of those accounted for by a round trip from Peterborough to the Wye Valley for a lads-only canoeing weekend. This provided a good test of long-distance comfort and load-carrying performance.

The boot made a valiant effort to accommodate three people's assortment of tents, sleeping bags, clothes and alcohol. However, with every inch filled and one more person still to collect, it was obvious it wasn’t all going to fit in, leaving us to make use of the footwells and fifth seat for the remaining bags.

This was no embarrassment though – the Sportback's 380-litre boot is bigger than those offered by the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Mazda3 and matches the capacity of the Volkswagen Golf.

Performance was impressive. Fully loaded and with 90% of the trip covered at motorway speeds, the A3 averaged 50mpg with no obvious lack of power or adverse effect on the handling due to the extra weight. All my passengers were impressed with the car's overall capabilities.

The return journey to Peterborough offered me the chance to hand over the driving and relax in the back. This was the first time I’d travelled in the rear and first impressions were good; there is an impressive amount of rear legroom.

Forward visibility from the back seats, however, is poor. The front seats are so big and while they offer great comfort and support for their occupants, they block most of the view for the rear seat passengers, leaving them to either crane their neck around to see out of the front, or just lay back and have a sleep.

P11D price £21,945 BIK tax band 14% Annual BIK tax (20%) £614 Class 1A NIC £424 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £7,648/35% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.78 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 30.63ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,598 Power (bhp) 147 Torque lb-ft 236 CO2 (g/km) 99 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 74.3 Max speed (mph) 121 0-62mph (sec) 10.9 Test mpg 50 Current mileage 1,354 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous A3 tests

OUR F L EE T

T27 2.0TDI BLUEMOTION

VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER

Van takes 600-mile round trip in its stride while efficiency also impresses NEED TO KNOW n Standard stop-start and gear-shift indicator n Bluemotion model available only as standard body T27

COSTS Price (exc VAT) £19,035 RV (4yr/80k) £4,675/25% Fuel cost (ppm) 14.57 Volume (cu m) 5.8 Running cost (ppm) 36.36 GVW (kg) 2,700 Towing (kg) 2,200

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,968 Power (bhp) 114 Torque (lb-ft) 114 CO2 (g/km) 166 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 44.8 Max speed (mph) 102 0-62mph (sec) 14.8 Test mpg 38.0 Current mileage 1,423

Click here for previous Transporter tests *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

C

A full steel bulkhead limits how far back the driver’s seat can move

By Simon Harris ab comfort for vans has long lagged behind that of cars, and it isn’t difficult to understand why.

Vans are primarily a business tool and their ability to do the job with low operating costs has been a priority.

However, our Transporter seems to have a few concessions to comfort. The optional SE pack provides air conditioning and it has electric windows.

The driver’s seat has height adjustment as well as forward and backward adjustment for the base and the seatback. The steering wheel also adjusts for height and reach.

There should be no reason for me to be uncomfortable behind the wheel, but the addition of a full steel bulkhead limits how far back the seat can travel, and in my case it isn’t quite far enough. Raising the seat slightly means it can be reclined a little further, but ideally I’d be happier with more movement.

I was a little concerned that a 600-mile round trip (where the Transporter would be put to work using all of its 5.8 cu m cargo area) could cause problems with backache, and wondered whether some physiotherapy might have been necessary at the end of the job.

Fortunately, I needn’t have worried. It took long motorway stretches in its stride and is also relatively easy to manoeuvre around town.

Carrying a load hasn’t hurt fuel consumption too much, either, with the trip computer settling at around 38mpg. This is around 15% lower than the official combined cycle figure.

The bespoke gearing of the Bluemotion model is paying dividends when it comes to fuel economy and it hasn’t had an adverse effect on how the van feels to drive.

We have only a month left to run with the Transporter, but already we’re won over by this capable van and the merits of the Bluemotion fuel-saving technology.

FIRST DRIVE

KIA CEED

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

1.6 CRDI 3 ECODYNAMICS

Get past its divisive looks, and the hatchback should be considered NEED TO KNOW n Styling divides Fleet News opinion n Car impresses from behind the wheel

COSTS Ceed handles perfectly well in most situations

M

By Andrew Brady y colleague Sarah Tooze was reluctant to hand over the keys to the Ceed when it was my turn to spend some time with it.

And I can see why – it’s comfortable, efficient and has a great deal of standard equipment.

I also suspect she quite liked how it looked – because most people do. Kia’s design boss Peter Schreyer is the man behind the design of the original Audi TT and, more recently, redesigning the Kia line-up and implementing the tiger nose face as seen across the current range.

But looks are massively subjective and I apologise Mr Schreyer, but I think the Ceed looks ghastly. Well done to Kia for being brave enough to inject some personality into the Ceed, which is more than its rivals have managed (ahem, Volkswagen Golf). And I don’t think the awful placenta colour of our test car helps. All I’m saying is that I’ve found myself parking the Ceed further down our street so I don’t have to look at it out of my window.

The Ceed’s handling appears to be another controversial subject, with my peers on other publications slating it. If you enjoy the occasional lift-off oversteer and like to fling your family hatchback down twisty B-roads, the Ceed won’t put a grin on your face. However, driving in a manner that doesn’t put your licence at risk, it handles perfectly well.

If you can get on with the Ceed’s looks, then it should definitely be considered. But please, I beg you, don’t bother if you live near me. The Golf is much easier on the eye.

P11D price £20,040 BIK tax band 15% Annual BIK tax (20%) £601 Class 1A NIC £415 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £4,375/22% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.78ppm AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 31.52ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,597 Power (bhp) 120 Torque (lb-ft) 221 CO2 (g/km) 94 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 78.5 Max speed (mph) 129 0-62mph (sec) 10.5 Test mpg 52.1 Current mileage 3,917 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Cee'd tests

T E S T ED T HIS MON T H

FOR A F UL L NE W C A R L AUNCH C A L ENDA R , CL ICK HERE

COMING SOON...

Ford Ecosport On sale: winter What’s new: Compact crossover model uses Ford’s latest petrol and diesel engine technology.

Engines: The 125bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, a 110bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine, and a

BMW X5 On sale: November What’s new: Third-generation model comes with a four-cylinder diesel engine and twowheel drive for the first time.

CO2 emissions: Preliminary figures of of 149g/km.

Price: From £42,590

90bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine are expected to deliver class-leading fuel efficiency.

CO2 emissions: Estimated at 100g/km.

Price (estimated): From £15,000

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV On sale: autumn What’s new: The plug-in hybrid uses a battery which can offer a range of up to 30 miles. It also has a petrol engine to ensure the car can continue to be driven beyond the plug-in range.

It is the first hybrid to allow all four wheels to be driven by its electric motor.

CO2 emissions: Early figures suggest 49g/km.

Price (estimated): £37,000

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

New models you need to know about in the next few months

Maserati Ghibli On sale: autumn What’s new: Parent company Fiat’s strategy to take Maserati into the executive car sector begins with the latest Ghibli. It will be targeting drivers of cars such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar

Audi A3 saloon On sale: autumn What’s new: Audi is launching a four-door version of the A3, seeking a share of the drivers looking at the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class as well as a few of its own drivers downsizing from an A4 saloon.

CO2 emissions: from 108g/km Price (estimated): £20,50

XF and Mercedes-Benz E-Class and CLS. Engine: 3.0-litre V6 diesel.

CO2 emissions: Less than 160g/km.

Price (estimated): From £45,000

Lexus GS 300h On sale: winter What’s new: Based on the latest GS saloon launched in 2012, the GS 300h uses a fourcylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor to deliver better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions than the current GS 450h.

CO2 emissions: Target is less than 110g/km.

Price (estimated): From £36,000

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