Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI eHybrid Style: The evergreen Golf has always been a family hatch hit, but the latest, eighth-generation model puts the versatile VW back at the top of the class. Of course, there’s a Golf for every taste and budget, and for company car drivers, it’s the plug-in 1.4 TSI eHybrid in lavishly equipped Style trim, which, with CO2 emissions of 21g/km and 42 miles of EV range, attracts a lowly 8% BIK rate. Yet with 204bhp on tap, it’s no slouch and, like other Golfs, it serves up a perfectly judged balance of ride and handling. The touchscreen infotainment system is fiddly and unlit temperature controls for the air-con will drive you to distraction, but in all other respects, this is a car that’ll keep drivers and fleet managers happy.
Compact family saloon
BMW 330e Sport: Such is the brilliance of the BMW 3 Series that you wonder why rivals even bother, especially as a recent facelift has only enhanced its appeal. A mixture of engaging handling, impressive refinement and a hewn-from-solid quality make it the default choice for those who love driving and are also climbing the corporate ladder. The 320d used to be the default tax-busting choice, but the plug-in 288bhp 330e delivers more performance (its 0-62mph sprint of 5.9sec is nearly 3sec faster) yet, with 30g/km CO2 emissions, it’s rated at 12% BiK so a lower-rate earner will pay £1,043 in tax compared with £2422 for the cheapest diesel model. The latest plug-in version of the latest Mercedes C-Class can crack 62 miles of EV range and falls in the 8% BiK bracket, but unlike the 3 Series it won’t lift the spirits after a hard day at the office
