What are the most popular car makes for company cars?
Being offered a company car is a key perk in any role, and something for which many jobseekers actively seek. As a business owner, you might be considering a company car programme to better serve your staff, or simply to raise your profile with job candidates.
But, aside from the legal responsibilities you have with regard to supplying a company car, the biggest difficulty can present in the form of choosing a make of company car full stop. What are some of the most suitable and popular makes of car for company fleets, and why?
Mercedes
Mercedes is practically industry-standard amongst executive offices, and for extremely good reason. Mercedes vehicles are professional executive vehicles to the core, with sleek design and high build quality – to say nothing of the smooth ride offered under the hood. This is the pre-eminent option, particularly for management staff.
Mercedes’ solid reputation comes at a cost, though, with new E-Class saloons coming it at well over £60,000. This cost might be too much to swallow for smaller businesses, or for a larger business investing in a ‘fleet’ of company cars. But Mercedes’ quality is such that buying used Mercedes is a viable alternative, without needing to worry about vehicle condition.
Audi
Next on the list is Audi – another German manufacturer with serious pedigree, and serious appeal amongst executive staff. Audi vehicles are endlessly comfortable experiences, both to drive and for passengers. They are similarly sleek in design, too, with a corresponding impact on impressions from new clients and potential partners.
Newer models of Audi benefit from hybrid-electric design, which can allow your business to save costs on fuel expenses in the long-term. While internal concerns such as these might not be the defining factors in buying up company cars, they can be extremely helpful in narrowing down options.
Volvo
Volvos are not typically thought of as executive vehicles, being usually mid-range vehicles with austere elements to their design. Indeed, often the first thing that comes to mind when one says ‘Volvo’ is the unflattering form of the old Volvo estates – boxy affairs better suited to family moving days than professional business trips.
But the Volvo of today is a very different beast, with sleeker designs that go toe-to-toe with chic-er models on the market. Volvo is also a bastion for vehicle safety and reliability, making it one of the more practical choices. This, coupled with the additional boot space many models offer, suit Volvos well to those visiting sites in the capacity of engineer or foreman.
BMW
Last but certainly not least, we come to BMW. Yet another German manufacturer, and Mercedes’ biggest rival when it comes to executive vehicles. BMWs are built on a rich history of engineering perfection, and their smooth driving experiences reflect that still today. They are practically luxury on wheels, and an extremely strong choice for executive personnel.