Ignition September 2013

Ignition Issue 15 Sept 2013

Car views and news by FleetNews

FIRST DRIVE: VOLVO V60 D4

Volvo delivers more for less GO More efficiency and power from new engines ●

All the latest Should Vauxhall GO GO cars tested ● cap fleet sales? ● Manufacturer wants to become overall market sales leader

Reports include BMW 4 Series, Vauxhall Insignia, Ford Mondeo

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F IR S T DRI V E

DOING MORE WITH LESS Volvo's new smaller engines are quieter, cleaner and more efficient

VOLVO V60 NEED TO KNOW

n Volvo developing its own engines n Phasing out fiveand six-cylinder engines n CO2 emissions from less than 100g/km on S60

2.0 D4

V

By Andrew Brady olvo is developing a range of four-cylinder engines to make its vehicles more attractive to fleet customers.

The move will see the company attempt to end its dependence on Ford engines as well as phasing out its own larger engines.

The new range – developed in Sweden – will all be four-cylinder 2.0-litre engines, rolled out over the next two years and starting with a 306bhp petrol unit (known as the T6) and a D4 diesel unit we have tested in the V60.

Volvo's Derek Crabb, the man in charge of this new range of engines, sums it up: “The power you get from an engine has nothing to do with its size; it is about the amount of air that you can get to flow through it. You can also make an engine more efficient if you make it smaller. So, if you can get more air through a smaller engine, you can still get the same power but at better efficiency.”

The D4 uses a host of technologies to reduce fuel consumption and decrease emissions. The most ground-breaking of these is the i-Art technology, which gives each injector its own engine control unit (ECU, ensuring each gets the right amount of fuel, providing more efficient combustion for lower CO2 and fuel consumption.

The results are impressive. The automatic we tested emits 111g/km of CO2 while returning 67.3mpg and the manual produces 102g/km and 74.3mpg. At idle, there is a slight rumble, but once moving it's a very refined engine. Volvo is aiming

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

The interior is where Volvo seriously rivals the Germans

New IS isride more comfortable than before A compliant soaks up bumps squarely at the German premium brands, saying its cars cater for people who enjoy driving. For its size, the V60 holds the road very well, with little body roll and enough feedback via the steering wheel to let the driver know when to slow down.

The gearbox is a new eight-speed transmission which, when wanting to make progress, can be a little hesitant. It is keen to get in as high a gear as possible to aid economy, but if you need a burst of power for overtaking on A or B-roads, there is a slight delay while the 'box drops down a gear or two. This can be overcome by using the paddles, but the novelty will soon wear off and fuel economy will take a hit if drivers regularly use lower gears.

On the motorway, however, the V60 is a competent cruiser. The ride is compliant, soaking up bumps well without being overly wafty. At cruising speeds, the engine cannot be heard and there is plenty of power available for sudden changes of speed.

The interior is where Volvo seriously rivals the Germans. The quality is up there with the best, while the floating centre console and three-spoke steering wheel wouldn't look out of place in Ikea.

The new D4 engine makes the V60 a more serious contender for fleets, and within a few years, as Volvo continues to roll out its four-cylinder engines across the range, the figures are only going to get more impressive.

The company says the new engine is designed with electrification in mind, so it would appear that the brand is planning to further develop the plug-in hybrid technology as already seen in the V60. With Volvo demonstrating a strong desire to lower emissions and reduce fuel consumption, it'll be interesting to see the next generation of Volvos. In the meantime, the V60 is definitely giving its rivals a hard time.

COSTS P11D price £31,000 (est) BIK tax band 14% Annual BIK tax (40%) £2,108 (est) Class 1A NIC £727 (est) Annual VED £0 then £30 RV (4yr/80k) n/a Fuel cost n/a Running cost n/a

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,969 Power (bhp) 178 CO2 (g/km) 111 Fuel economy (mpg) 67.3 Max speed (mph) 140 0-62mph (sec) 7.6

To compare running costs, click here

T E S T ED T HIS MON T H

BMW 420d SE

BMW wants its new 4 Series coupé to stand out from the 3 Series saloon more than the previous 3 Series Coupé managed.

This extends to more than a fresh numerical tag, starting with an exterior that has only the bonnet in common with the saloon.

Every other panel is new, and neat details such as the vents behind the front wheels help make the car more aerodynamic as well as look good.

Inside, there’s more space front and rear thanks to a 50mm longer wheelbase of the 4 compared to the last 3 Series Coupé.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi Tech Line

The Insignia was responsible for helping change the perception of Vauxhall with its upmarket looks and feel.

Although never quite class-leading in outright terms, it had a strong enough appeal to make its way to the top of the sector in sales terms, and has been particularly popular with fleets.

But as the Insignia is now due a facelift, Vauxhall’s plans have become far more ambitious.

Styling changes have done little to change the car at first glance, but under the bonnet and inside the car the new version is rather more impressive.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Fiat 500L Trekking 1.6 Multijet

Given the precarious state Fiat’s business was in eight years ago, it is perhaps unsurprising that executives want to maximise the ingredients that have turned its fortunes around.

And maximise is an apt phrase. A few months ago we reported on the 500L. It isn’t related to the successful retro-styled 500 city car, but a larger, practical small car in its own right.

But if you thought the 500L was big, one of two slightly larger versions is now on the market. To be fair, the newest edition to the range is taller rather than bigger.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X Business Edition

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

Ford is marking 20 years of Mondeo (and the final year of the current model’s life) with the launch of two new models – the Graphite and the Titanium X Business Edition.

Almost 1.4 million Mondeos have been sold in the UK since it was unveiled in 1993 and, while the all-new Mondeo is due in 2014, Ford has moved to strengthen the appeal of its current offering.

The new Titanium X Business Edition, which follows the launch of the Zetec Business Edition, offers fleets even higher standards of technology and interior luxury.

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Citroen DS3 Cabrio 1.6 THP D Sport

Convertibles are far less common as company cars than in the past as their restricted appeal can cause reallocation problems should an employee leave the business.

But they still exist on some policies, and are at least becoming easier to justify. As Citroën’s hugely-successful DS3 ages, the company has introduced a Cabrio version.

Unlike Citroën’s previous attempt at a convertible, the C3 Pluriel, the DS3 soft-top is far less complex and, from the manufacturer’s point of view, far less expensive to produce.

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Peugeot 308 1.6 HDI Active

The new 308 is the first Peugeot to come from the new EMP2 platform – which is PSA Peugeot Citroën’s versatile modular components set that will be the basis for many future products, helping the loss-making company reduce costs.

It has enabled Peugeot to reduce the weight of the new 308 compared with its predecessor by up to 140kg and, along with other improvements, make significant reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The 308 also adopts premium features and higher levels of ‘perceived quality’.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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

Should Vauxhall cap fleet sales?

Manufacturer may need to act to become a more creditable retail brand

A

By Jay Nagley, Redspy Automotive t a figure of 32,386 units, the fleet market took 49.1% of the total market last month.

That is the lowest August proportion since 2009, but it is such a small month that the variance is not significant – all eyes will be on the September figures.

Among leading manufacturers, Ford grew at almost the same rate as the overall market in August (up 6.22% compared to the total fleet figure rising 7.41%).

However, Vauxhall shot up by 30.0% last month.

Interestingly, the manufacturer has been publicly musing recently about overtaking Ford for overall market leadership within three years.

However, that does not automatically mean that it also hopes to increase fleet sales: Vauxhall has traditionally been seen as a fleet brand, and one way to increase overall penetration is to be seen as more of a retail brand. That may imply putting a cap on the company's fleet sales.

Of the next tier, the strongest growth this year has come from Nissan (up 13.6% year-to-date). That presents an interesting case study for Vauxhall: Nissan could sell almost any number of Qashqais and Notes to fleet buyers without damaging the strong retail image of those models.

However, the strongest growth of any significant Despite healthy fleet sales, Nissan Qashqai has a strong retail image

The 500L has helped Fiat increase fleet sales by 46.4% YTD brand so far this year has come from Fiat, with sales up 46.4% YTD and 81.4% in August. Most of the growth has come from the new 500L B-segment MPV. As the B-segment Punto is now the living dead, sales of the 500L are nearly all incremental.

Another brand with strong growth so far this year is Mazda (up 34.1% YTD).

It suffered mightily when the Japanese yen soared – as a company which sources nearly all its UK cars from Japan, it was hit much harder than the likes of Nissan or Toyota.

However, now the yen has fallen and the new lowerCO2 SkyActiv technology is appearing in more Mazda models, the company can counter-attack.

Similarly, Mitsubishi’s fleet sales have risen by 34.8% YTD, albeit from a very low base.

As usual, the same cannot be said of fellow Japanese manufacturer Subaru, which is now barely visible to the naked eye. Given that Subaru is a huge success in the USA (not that far behind Volkswagen), and is short of US production capacity, one has to wonder if the UK is worth bothering with.

Now the focus shifts to September – the month when successful brands can consolidate their standing for the full-year, and the last chance for brands with falling sales to recover their position.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

August Manufacturer fleet 2013 fleet 2012

Vauxhall 5,211 4,006 Ford 5,158 4,856 Volkswagen 3,204 3,455 BMW 2,546 2,082 Nissan 2,022 2,006 Audi 1,901 2,321 CitroĂŤn 1,657 1,631 Peugeot 1,554 1,953 Mercedes-Benz 1,464 1,091 Hyundai 1,130 982 Kia 1,053 876 Toyota 692 653 Honda 597 435 Seat 590 504 Skoda 582 542 Fiat 566 312 Renault 441 567 Mini 437 508 Volvo 351 306 Mazda 294 218 Chevrolet 210 198 Suzuki 162 163 Land Rover 136 132 Lexus 89 64 Jaguar 78 56 Mitsubishi 48 36 Smart 40 18 Alfa Romeo 40 87 Porsche 22 20 Bentley 21 5 Chrysler 18 21 Dacia 16 0 Jeep 8 21 Aston Martin 7 5 Subaru 2 4 SsangYong 2 7 Other 37 12 Total 32,386 30,153

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

% change fleet 2013

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

YTD fleet 2012 % change

30.08% 90,257 83,870 7.62% 6.22% 100,857 101,292 -0.43% -7.26% 67,317 66,487 1.25% 22.29% 43,591 43,623 -0.07% 0.80% 36,938 32,527 13.56% -18.10% 45,195 43,899 2.95% 1.59% 25,199 19,956 26.27% -20.43% 37,144 37,248 -0.28% 34.19% 33,958 29,211 16.25% 15.07% 23,988 21,699 10.55% 20.21% 20,650 20,912 -1.25% 5.97% 21,616 21,217 1.88% 37.24% 14,214 13,156 8.04% 17.06% 12,918 12,098 6.78% 7.38% 17,165 14,984 14.56% 81.41% 12411 8475 46.44% -22.22% 8,852 9,352 -5.35% -13.98% 9,855 12,391 -20.47% 14.71% 13,210 12,138 8.83% 34.86% 5,797 4,323 34.10% 6.06% 3,647 6,448 -43.44% -0.61% 3,095 2,928 5.70% 3.03% 9,520 8,063 18.07% 39.06% 2,603 2,740 -5.00% 39.29% 4,406 4,144 6.32% 33.33% 1,334 990 34.75% 122.22% 1,204 1,169 2.99% -54.02% 1,156 2,308 -49.91% 10.00% 595 567 4.94% 320.00% 273 267 2.25% -14.29% 946 927 2.05% 0.00% 268 0 0.00% -61.90% 449 490 -8.37% 40.00% 209 183 14.21% -50.00% 409 591 -30.80% -71.43% 111 193 -42.49% 208.33% 351 735 -52.24% 7.41% 671,708 641,601 4.69%

F UEL P RICE S

5

7

13

1 BIRMINGHAM Diesel 141.08 Unleaded 136.36 LPG 72.9**

6 EXETER Diesel 142.32 Unleaded 136.9 LPG N/A

2 BRIGHTON Diesel 140.68 Unleaded 136.54 LPG N/A

7 GLASGOW Diesel 138.2* Unleaded 134.86 LPG N/A

3 CAMBRIDGE Diesel 143.54** Unleaded 138.2 LPG 71.9

8 HEREFORD Diesel 140.9 Unleaded 138.9** LPG N/A

4 DERBY Diesel 141.24 Unleaded 137.7 LPG N/A

9 LEEDS Diesel 139.95 Unleaded 134.07* LPG N/A

5 EDINBURGH Diesel 140.96 Unleaded 137.19 LPG 69.4

10 LIVERPOOL Diesel 140.7 Unleaded 135.77 LPG 71.9 11 LONDON Diesel 140.88 Unleaded 136.37 LPG 69.4

9

10 12

4 1 8

13 3 11

6

2

12 MANCHESTER Diesel 141.44 Unleaded 135.49 LPG N/A 13 NEWCASTLE Diesel 140.65 Unleaded 135.58 LPG 69.9 14 NORWICH Diesel 142.65 Unleaded 136.87 LPG 67.9*

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

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OUR F L EE T

HONDA CIVIC

1.6 I-DTEC ES-T

Drivers love their Hondas – now the company needs to get fleets on board NEED TO KNOW n Overall test fuel economy of 64mpg n Engine is beautifully engineered

COSTS 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) 8.31 AFR (ppm) 12 Running cost (4yr/80k) 30.0ppm

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 64 Current mileage 7,400 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Civic tests

H

By John Maslen onda is going back into Formula 1 in a move that neatly ties in with its latest plans to return to the front of the grid in the fleet market.

The strategic push into sport and fleet mirrors events in 2008 when it pulled back from the top echelons of motor sport, and endured a precipitous fall in sales in the UK, from a high of 106,018 in 2007 to its current level of about 54,000 units a year.

After six months with our Civic, which has now returned to the manufacturer, it’s clear that Honda’s changing fortunes have never had an impact on its products.

In addition to the 1.6-litre diesel engine returning the highest fuel economy of any standard diesel I have driven (a high of 70mpg and consistent returns of more than 62mpg in real-world tests), it has proved itself as a worthy contender for the attention of any fleet operating rival volume brands.

The new 1.6 i-DTEC fitted to our ES-T test car emits just 94g/km of CO2, qualifying the car for the lowest diesel tax band, £0 VED and 100% first-year capital allowances. The engine is so beautifully engineered, it doesn’t even sound particularly like a diesel and this attention to detail is reflected in the rest of the car.

I found the doors don’t thud in a Germanic way, or twang like some European rivals – they whoosh. There is something so effortless in the way they close that adds to the overall aura of quality that exudes from the Civic.

It’s clear from reviews from a wealth of sources and through research, such as the Sewells User-Chooser Barometer, that drivers love their Hondas – the next challenge is to get more fleet managers to return to the brand.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

TOYOTA AURIS

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

HYBRID EXCEL 1.8 CVT

Comparatively short service intervals don't bring SMR cost penalties NEED TO KNOW

n Auris due for one-year/10,000mile service n Interior shows good durability

COSTS

Test fuel economy is averaging 59.2mpg

T

By Andrew Ryan he Auris hybrid is due to make its first visit to the local Toyota dealership this week for its one-year/10,000-mile service.

It's cropped up perhaps a little sooner than expected, but the delivery mileage on the hybrid was about 5,000 when it arrived on our fleet in June as it had already spent some time on demonstrator duty with other publications.

The 10,000-mile service interval seems short given that some diesel rivals have much longer intervals, such as the Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi Ecoflex 130 Techline, which needs servicing only every 20,000 miles.

This means that for a car on a typical fleet cycle covering 20,000 miles annually, the Auris needs two services a year, compared to the Astra's one.

However, this isn't reflected in higher SMR costs over a four-year/80,000-mile replacement cycle. Figures from KeeResources say the Astra's costs will be 3.74 pence per mile compared with the Auris's 3.56ppm.

This means that, with no impact on running costs, the main drawback of the short service interval boils down to the inconvenience of taking it to the garage one extra time each year.

Otherwise the Auris has continued to impress. The interior is showing no signs of wear and no squeaks have developed either, which reflects the initial impression of good build quality. Fuel economy on a tank-by-tank basis is a consistent 57-60mpg, while the smooth ride and decent level of refinement make the Auris a relaxing car in which to cover many miles.

P11D price £22,090 BIK tax band 10% Annual BIK tax (20%) £442 Class 1A NIC £305 Annual VED £0 RV (4yr/80k) £5,425/25% Fuel cost (ppm) 8.41 AFR (ppm) 17 Running cost (4yr/80k) 32.79ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,798 Power (bhp) 98/80 (engine/electric) Torque lb-ft 105/153 (engine/electric) CO2 (g/km) 91 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 72.4 Max speed (mph) 112 0-62mph (sec) 10.9 Test mpg 59.2 Current mileage 9,962 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Auris hybrid tests

OUR F L EE T

2.0 TDCI ZETEC AWD

FORD KUGA

Running costs strengthen Kuga's SUV appeal against key rivals NEED TO KNOW n Fuel economy of 47.9g/km n Our AWD model has CO2 of 154g/km – 2WD version produces 139g/km

COSTS P11D price £23,170 BIK tax band (2013/14) 25% Annual BIK tax (20%) £1,159 Class 1A NIC £799 Annual VED £175 RV (4yr/80k) £8,675/37% Fuel cost (ppm) 13.15 AFR (ppm) 14 Running cost (4yr/80k) 36.15ppm

SPEC Engine (cc) 1,997 Power (bhp) 140 Torque (lb-ft) 236 CO2 (g/km) 154 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 47.9 Max speed (mph) 117 0-62mph (sec) 10.7 Test mpg 39.8 Current mileage 1,633 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Kuga tests

Fleets are unlikely to opt for the Kuga in AWD guise

T

By Gareth Roberts he Kuga faces stiff competition in the fast-growing European SUV market. Kia has achieved success with the Sportage and Honda is hoping the CR-V in its 1.6-litre diesel guise will appeal to the userchooser market.

The front-wheel drive 140bhp 2.0 TDCi Kuga will be targeted at the fleet market, with emissions of 139g/km, compared to our AWD version, which is a more polluting 154g/km. But how do the three fleet-focused derivatives compare in terms of costs? P11D values for the 2WD Kuga 2.0 TDCi Zetec and the 2WD Sportage 1.7 CRDi EcoDynamics models are virtually identical, with them priced at £22,215 and £22,200 respectively. But the 2WD CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC SE is more expensive, with a P11D value of £24,605.

The CR-V does lead the way where emissions are concerned, with fleets having a sub-120g/km option at 119g/km, giving it a benefit-in-kind charge of 18%.

Meanwhile, emissions of 143g/km for the Sportage, giving it a 23% BIK tax bracket, and 139g/km for the Kuga, resulting in a BIK charge of 22%, soften the blow of the CR-V’s higher P11D value.

In fact, it means a 20% taxpayer would only face an annual charge of £886 if they opted for the CR-V, compared to £977 for the Kuga and £1,021 for the Sportage.

However, when depreciation, SMR and fuel are all taken into consideration to give overall running costs* it is the Ford Kuga which triumphs. It will cost 34.23ppm to run, compared 35.92ppm for the CR-V and 36.55ppm for the Sportage.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

COMING SOON

OUR FLEET

D2 SE NAV

VOLVO V40

Grubby seats take some of the sheen off fresh, modern interior The instrument panel has a classy, minimalistic look

NEED TO KNOW n Cabin full of nice details and touches n 62.5mpg average test fuel economy

COSTS

T

By Andrew Ryan he Volvo V40's true premium credentials have been debated in these pages before, and after a few weeks of running it I sit firmly in the 'yes, it is premium' camp.

It's doesn't offer a traditional premium feel as delivered by the usually dark, sombre cabins of an Audi or BMW, but its interior offers a fresh, modern feel, with materials and build quality as good as that found in the German manufacturers' cars.

It's also full of nice touches which on their own may not seem like much, but have a much greater cumulative effect. These include a rear-view mirror without a plastic surround, a brushed metal finish for the centre console and a gearknob which has a clear top illuminated by a white LED. The dials, instrument panel and media/sat-nav screen are also illuminated white, which gives a clean, clinical and classy feel. A good example of this is the speedometer. When the car is in motion, only the numbers 20mph each side of the actual speed are illuminated white – the remainder stay hidden on the black background. It's a really nice touch.

Unfortunately in our test car, the use of light colours extends to the cloth seats, which have become grubby through normal use and are beginning to let the overall appearance of the interior down. However, they are exceptionally comfortable, which goes a long way to making up for their looks.

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) 15 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 62.5 Current mileage 16,494 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous V40 tests

OUR F L EE T

SEAT LEON

1.6 TDI SE

Newcomer has the makings of a smash-hit success for manufacturer NEED TO KNOW

n £1,075 technology pack currently a no-cost option n Test fuel economy of 62mpg

COSTS 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) 1,598 Power (bhp) 103 Torque lb-ft 184 CO2 (g/km) 99 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 74.3 Max speed (mph) 119 0-62mph (sec) 10.7 Test mpg 62 Current mileage 4,800 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Seat Leon tests

Full LED headlights are available on a family hatchback for the first time

S

By Maurice Glover everal thousand fleet motorists have chosen to drive a Seat Leon since the latest version of the popular hatchback went on sale in March.

Having taken delivery of our latest long-term test car in June, I’m a relatively late addition to that total – but only a few weeks’ experience of the car suggests everyone should be happy with their choice.

After too long in the doldrums, the Spanish manufacturer has finally got around to producing the kind of vehicles that meet the needs of a wide range of business customers and the Leon has the makings of becoming a smash-hit success.

Company drivers demand a lot from their cars and the level of comfort that comes with SE trim makes this an easy car to live with as a result of supportive seats, a good driving position, convenient controls and well laid out instrumentation.

But that’s only part of the story. Thanks to LED lighting, a navigation system and DAB radio – a £1,075 technology pack option bundle available for £500 when the car was launched but currently on offer at no cost – this model brings an unusual degree of sophistication to workhorse motoring.

Full LED headlamps are making their first appearance on a family hatchback.

Sleek and smart, they provide a flood of illumination that’s close to natural daylight and noticeably superior to that from either xenon or halogen bulbs.

Touching the large dashboard screen makes satellite navigation operation particularly easy and the system constantly monitors speed limits as well as providing a handy back-up display directly ahead of the driver.

All in all, the best model from Seat so far is an impressive package.

FIRST DRIVE

KIA CEED

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

1.6 CRDI 3 ECODYNAMICS

Hatchback lives up to carmaker's traditional strength of value for money NEED TO KNOW

n Official combined fuel economy of 74.3mpg n CO2 emissions of 100g/km

COSTS

Ceed is achieving an average test fuel economy of 54.1mpg

O

By Sarah Tooze ne of Kia’s strengths is value for money and this holds true with the Ceed when compared with fleet favourite the Ford Focus.

I pitted our long-term Ceed against the Focus 1.6 TDCi Titanium using the Fleet News car running costs tool (www.fleetnews.co.uk), provided by KeeResources on an operating cycle of four years/80,000 miles. Overall, the Ceed works out more than 1 pence per mile (ppm) cheaper to run than the Focus, costing 31.56ppm compared with 32.85ppm.

That’s largely down to fuel costs. The Ceed has a combined fuel economy of 74.3mpg and its fuels costs are 8.68ppm while the Focus has an mpg of 67.3 and costs 9.58ppm in fuel.

The Ceed also costs marginally less to maintain at 3.15ppm compared with 3.83ppm. Where the Focus has the edge is residual value and depreciation, holding its value better than the Kia at £4,536 compared with £4,250.

Other key rivals in this sector outperform both the Ceed and the Focus on overall running costs, however.

The Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC ES-T and Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI Elegance, for example, cost 30.7ppm and 31.27ppm respectively. One of the key differences is that the Civic and Octavia both have CO2 emissions below 100g/km. The Civic emits 94g/km while the Octavia’s figure is 99g/km. In contrast, the Ceed emits 100g/km and the Focus emits 109g/km. The Civic also has the best mpg at 78.5.

Of course real-world mpg is a different matter. My colleague John Maslen achieved 60-plus in his Civic long-termer while I am in the 50s in the Ceed.

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) 1,582 Power (bhp) 126 Torque lb-ft 191 CO2 (g/km) 100 Fuel efficiency (mpg) 74.3 Max speed (mph) 122 0-62mph (sec) 11.5 Test mpg 54.1 Current mileage 6,391 *Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Kia Ceed tests

OUR F L EE T

2.0 TDI HIGHLINE BLUEMOTION TECHNOLOGY

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Solid fleet performer exceeds official fuel economy figure on first long run NEED TO KNOW

n Ticks all the boxes for a family company car n Overall test fuel economy of 54mpg

COSTS 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 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 54 Current mileage 8,285

*Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Passat tests

Passat returned 69mpg for one journey

O

By Luke Neal ur long-term Passat has been with Fleet News since March this year and has so far covered 8,285 miles. A look back through our previous reviews (click here to read them) shows it has already established its position as a reassuringly sophisticated and solid fleet performer, which ticks all the boxes for a family company car.

Something I noticed from my first trip in it was its fuel consumption. The 10-minute journey up the A1 from the office to drop a work colleague home saw an indicated average of 64mpg. This was higher than I had managed to achieve in the Audi A3 Sportback I had been driving.

A recent trip to Millbrook to photograph the new Vauxhall Insignia gave me the chance to give the Passat a longer fuel economy test.

The journey from the Fleet News office to the Bedfordshire centre is 45 miles of mainly dual carriageway. The roads were relatively clear and the cruise control set to 65mph.

When I reached my destination, the readout was showing an average fuel economy of 69mpg; an amazing figure for a regular diesel-engined car.

Of course, that wouldn’t be achieved day to day but on my regular stop-start, part-town part-dual carriageway route to the office, the Passat is still returning a very respectable 54mpg.

FIRST DRIVE

TESTED THIS MONTH

SALES FIGURES

FUEL PRICES

MAZDA6

OUR FLEET

COMING SOON

2.2 D 150 SPORT NAV

Faulty sensor in SCBS safety system meant a visit to the local dealer

O

By Stephen Briers ur Mazda6 made an unscheduled visit to local dealer Donalds recently after two warning messages flashed up on the dashboard. One stated that the engine needed an urgent inspection while the other was more specific; it alerted me to an issue with the smart city brake support (SCBS).

Given that this system warns drivers if they are approaching a line of slow or stationary traffic too quickly, before activating the brakes if it thinks a crash is likely, I wasn’t too concerned. It was just like driving most cars without this latest technology – a case of paying attention to other road users.

Nevertheless, the car needed checking over.

It’s not the first time we’ve experienced issues with Mazda’s SCBS; our sister publication AM suffered a similar problem with its CX-5 a few months ago. The CX-5 required a simple re-set of the diagnostics; this time a faulty sensor was to blame.

While the Mazda6 is packed with safety technology – rear vehicle monitoring and lane departure warning are also options on our test car – it is missing one much-loved piece of technology: digital radio.

With Japanese manufacturers so often in the vanguard of technological innovation, it’s surprising that this company has decided to hold back on making DAB an option. Given that I recently switched to the Mazda 6 from the Volkswagen Passat, and the Vauxhall Insignia before that, both with DAB as standard, this oversight was glaringly obvious and left me forced to change my listening preferences, ironically from ‘6’ Music to Radio 2/5 Live.

Mazda6 is packed with safety technology

NEED TO KNOW

n DAB radio not available on Mazda6 n Official combined fuel efficiency of 67.3mpg

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 48.4 Current mileage 11,682

*Running cost data supplied

by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

Click here for previous Mazda6 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...

Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer On sale: November 2013 What’s new: Rugged 4x4 version of the Insignia Sports Tourer with automatic 4x4 transmission fitted as standard and 20mm extra ground clearance.

Engines: 165bhp 2.0-litre CDTi available with manual or automatic gearbox; 195bhp BiTurbo 2.0-litre CDTI available with automatic gearbox.

CO2 emissions: Likely to be below 130g/km for the 165bhp CDTi. Price (estimated): from £31,000

BMW i3 On sale: November 2013

Mazda3 On sale: January 2014 What’s new: All-new model which will be lighter and more efficient than the outgoing car, thanks to Skyactiv technology. With styling very similar to the Mazda6, it’s likely to provide tough competition for the likes of the Volkswagen Golf. We expect there to be a smaller diesel engine in the pipeline with ultra-low CO2 emissions.

Engines: 1.5-litre 100bhp petrol; 2.0-litre petrol (120/165bhp); 2.2-litre 150bhp diesel.

CO2 emissions: 2.2-litre diesel will emit 104g/km of CO2 and return 72.4mpg.

Performance: 2.2-litre diesel accelerates from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds and has a top speed of 130mph.

What’s new: The i3 will be available either as a pure electric vehicle powered by a 168bhp motor which will provide a range of 80 to 100 miles, or as a range-extender with a 34bhp 650cc motorbike engine that increases the range to 170 miles. It’s been designed as a city car with a turning circle of less than 10 metres, but with room for four adults.

Performance: 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds (7.9 rangeextender) and top speed of 93mph.

Price: £25,680 (electric only) or £28,830 (rangeextender)

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 Skoda Rapid Spaceback On sale: October 2013

What’s new: The Spaceback is a more conventional hatchback version of the Rapid. It has the same 2,602mm wheelbase but a shorter rear overhang, meaning bootspace drops from 550 litres to 415.

CO2 emissions: New 88bhp diesel unit emits 99g/km and is capable of 74.3mpg.

Price (estimated): Expected to have a small premium over the current Rapid range, which currently starts at £12,905.

Ford Transit On sale: Late 2013 What’s new: The new Transit offers a two-tonne payload and will be available with a range of body styles and a choice of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Like-for-like, the new Transit will be around 10% larger than the outgoing model.

Engine: 2.2-litre TDCi with 100bhp, 125bhp, 155bhp Price: (estimated) £23,000 (excluding VAT).

Range Rover Hybrid On sale: January 2014 What’s new: Land Rover is mating its TDV6 engine with an electric motor to create a powertrain that produces 335bhp.. Adding just 120kg to the kerb weight of the diesel model, performance isn’t hindered with a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 135mph.

CO2 emissions: 169g/km and fuel economy of 44.1mpg.

Price (estimate): £80,000

Mercedes S300 Bluetec Hybrid On sale: Spring 2014 What’s new: A 2.1-litre diesel engine is being offered to UK S-Class buyers for the first time, combined with a 27bhp electric motor. The result is a combined fuel economy figure of 64mpg.

Although it won’t be as powerful as S-Class buyers are used to, the figures are still impressive for a car of this size and it can accelerate to 62mph in 7.6 seconds.

CO2 emissions: 115g/km Price (estimated): £60,000

Search begins for the UK’s best van fleets CATEGORIES FLEET MANAGER AWARDS • Van Fleet of the Year – Utilities • Van Fleet of the Year – Transport/Logistics • Van Fleet of the Year – Public Sector • Van Fleet of the Year – Business Services • Van Fleet of the Year – Wholesale/Retail/Food • Safe Van Fleet of the Year • Green Van Fleet of the Year SUPPLIER AWARDS • Van Fleet Management and Leasing Company of the Year • Van Rental Company of the Year • Best New Product or Service • Technology Initiative of the Year MANUFACTURER AWARDS • City Van of the Year • Small Van of the Year • Medium Van of the Year • Large Panel Van of the Year • Pick-up Truck of the Year • Best Van Chassis Derivative • Green Manufacturer of the Year HEADLINE AWARDS • Supplier of the Year • Van Fleet Manager of the Year • Commercial Vehicle of the Year • Van Fleet Manufacturer of the Year

Entry deadline is Friday 11 October 2013 Sponsored by

and is open to all van fleet operators, van suppliers and van manufacturers

For more details or an entry form please contact Kate Howard on 01733 468146 or email kate.howard@bauermedia.co.uk