A budget of £150 a month can provide a surprising level of comfort for a company car driver, as long as you pick a sensible, low CO2 emitting engine.
We’ve picked our favourite luxurious executive cars using the Parkers Company Car Tax Calculator for a 20 percent tax payer, including details on kit, performance and fuel economy.
Could one of these smart motors be your next car? Read on to find out.
1. BMW 5 Series Saloon – 520d M Sport 4d Step Auto
The 5 Series Saloon is a seriously big hitter in the world of luxurious business class cruisers, offering great handling, limousine-like comfort and a quiet and relaxing cabin.
With a huge amount of interior space you could be forgiven for assuming the 5 Series would be compromised in terms of driving enjoyment, but nothing could be further from the truth. It feels agile and offers incredible grip when pushing on, and relaxes into smooth cruising while sitting steady on the motorway.
All cars are well equipped, with cruise control, parking sensors, automatic air conditioning, multi-function steering wheel, seven-inch colour display with iDrive and Bluetooth connectivity.
Upgrade to M Sport for sports suspension, an aerodynamic bodykit and 18-inch alloys. Inside you get sports seats, an M leather-covered steering wheel and M gearknob, and extra aluminium trim
The 520d may be one of the smaller diesel engines offered but it punches above its weight in terms of performance and economy. It offers plenty of pulling power in-gear and won’t drain your wallet either.
At a glance…
Parkers rating: 5 stars
P11d price: £36,660
BIK tax band*: 21
Monthly tax cost**: £128
Power: 190bhp
Running costs: 62mpg – 119g/km of CO2
For our full BMW 5 Series Saloon review click here
2. Jaguar XF Saloon – 2.2d Luxury 4d Auto
The XF saloon was quite a departure for Jaguar when it replaced the S-Type. Although there are plenty of design cues, the new car fits in better with the established rivals in this list.
Inside you get plenty of wood but it’s combined with aluminium to give a more contemporary look than its predecessors.
The 2.2-litre diesel engine was released to compete with the BMW 520d and is slightly louder than the 3.0-litre V6 but offers a good balance of grunt and frugality.
As standard the XF includes a stop/start system, 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, keyless entry and ignition, and rear parking sensors, while Luxury spec bags you full leather upholstery and satellite navigation.
It’s worth mentioning that a new XF will be on its way to the UK soon which is lighter and more efficient with CO2 emissions starting as low as 104g/km.
At a glance…
Parkers rating: 4.5 stars
P11d price: £34,365
BIK tax band*: 25 percent
Monthly tax cost**: £143
Power: 200bhp
Running costs: 55mpg – 139g/km of CO2
For our full Jaguar XF Saloon review click here
3. Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon – E220 BlueTEC SE Premium Plus 4d Tip Auto
The focus for this version of the E-Class was a solid and durable look and feel. In the UK we benefitted from equipment grades and low-emission engines that were particularly aimed at company car drivers, so you are well catered for whichever you choose.
There are two trim types – SE and AMG Line. We’ve gone with the softer SE, which has a 15mm higher ride than the sporty AMG Line, bringing with it supreme comfort levels.
As standard you get 17-inch alloys, partial LED headlights, COMAND multimedia system, DAB digital radio, Active Park Assist and folding door mirrors with auto-dimming function.
The 220 diesel engine is one of the most popular choices due to its ample power and good economy, making it an easy thing to recommend.
At a glance…
Parkers rating: 4 stars
P11d price: £38,310
BIK tax band*: 20 percent
Monthly tax cost**: £128
Power: 174bhp
Running costs: 64mpg – 114g/km of CO2
For our full Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon review click here
4. Audi A6 Saloon – 2.0 TDI Ultra Black Edition 4d S Tronic
Although the Audi A6 looks slightly forgettable from the outside, the interior, where you will spend most of your time, is a different story.
As well as looking smart, the cabin offers a world of refinement and exclusion from the outside world. Solid in look and feel, every switch and button is blessed with a satisfying weight. It’s a really comfortable place to while away a long journey, with more space than the smaller A4.
This top of the range Black Edition comes with 20-inch alloys, a Bose sound system, LED headlights, sports seats and a black styling pack inside and out.
The 2.0-litre Ultra diesel engine offers plenty of grunt even in this larger car, while promising 64mpg and low CO2 emissions of 116g/km. An automatic S Tronic gearbox makes light work of everything from town driving to a long commute.
At a glance…
Parkers rating: 4 stars
P11d price: £38,470
BIK tax band*: 21
Monthly tax cost**: £135
Power: 187 bhp
Running costs: 64 mpg – 116g/km of CO2
For our full Audi A6 review click here
5. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – 2.2 SD4 Pure 5d
A bit of a wildcard choice we admit but with a head-turning design and the Land Rover Terrain Response system, the Evoque ticks a lot of boxes in terms of usability.
If you’re looking for something luxurious yet different from the standard saloon then this could be the car for you.
With a 2.2-litre diesel engine that produces 187bhp, running costs are slightly higher than others mentioned in this list due to higher emissions and lower mpg.
This also means selecting standard Pure trim, which includes 18-inch alloys, DAB digital radio, a 380-watt Meridian sound system and eight-inch touchscreen, MP3 compatibility and USB plug-in, Bluetooth, heated front seats, leather steering wheel, cruise control, climate control, electric heated wing mirrors.
At a glance…
Parkers rating: 4 stars
P11d price: £31,305
BIK tax band*: 27 percent
Monthly tax cost**: £141
Power: 187bhp
Running costs: 49mpg – 149g/km of CO2
For our full Range Rover Evoque review click here
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*BIK tax bands are based on the current 2015/16 tax year
**Monthly tax costs are based on a 20 percent tax payer