Saloon cars are coming back into fashion. It’s mainly down to their popularity over hatchback models in some markets, which means we’re faced with a number of hatchback-based saloons to review.
That’s no bad thing though. More choice is rarely a bad thing and in this case it opens up an interesting market for cheap saloon cars, so in this article we pick our favourites.
Crucially, we’ve also shown the cheapest version to tax, which should further help in the company car-choosing decision.
To find out more about tax or to calculate how much your next company car will cost per month, head to our company car tax calculator here.
Our top five
What is it?
It’s difficult to imagine expecting more from such a large car at this sort of price point. Thanks to the firm’s BlueMotion Technology, which pushes tax bills and fuel costs right down by boosting efficiency, we’re faced here with a huge, comfortable and refined car for not much money at all.
Bear in mind though that a new Passat will be making its way to the UK in the Autumn offering lower emissions, the latest kit, a refreshed design and more space than ever before. If you have time on your side then it’ll definitely be worth waiting for.
Parkers rating: 4.5 stars
Cheapest version to tax: 1.6 BlueMotion 4d
Monthly tax from*: £61
Boot size: 565 litres
What is it?
As one of the more recent entrants into this class, it comes as no surprise that Audi’s attempt at a small saloon is very good. It’s based on the same platform as the other A3 models – which is a great start – and benefits from an extremely well-developed set of engines and gearboxes. The interior is a lovely place to be, and one of the biggest appeals for many will be the fact that it looks just like a big Audi but without the big bills.
Parkers rating: 4 stars
Cheapest version to tax: 1.4 TFSI (150bhp) Sport 4d
Monthly tax from*: £53
Boot size: 390 litres
What is it?
Building a car to rival the brilliant BMW 3 Series is no mean feat, but Lexus has had a credible crack at it with the IS. It’s a bit of a left-field choice for sure, but thanks to parent company Toyota’s expertise in building efficient and comfortable vehicles the IS really is a decent place to find yourself. It’s available with a hybrid petrol powertrain too, which means very low emissions thanks to the assistance of an electric motor.
Parkers rating: 3.5 stars
Cheapest version to tax: 300h SE 4d CVT Auto (hybrid)
Monthly tax from*: £59
Boot size: 450 litres
What is it?
It may initially surprise you to find a car as long-in-the-tooth as the S60 in a feature like this, but bear with us. Thanks to a brilliant new engine the firm has dubbed ‘D4’, there’s an entirely new set of reasons to choose it. Driving CO2 emissions below 100g/km is crucial if you want your car to be a realistic prospect as a company car, and that’s just what Volvo has done. Furthermore, if safety is a priority, look no further.
Parkers rating: 3.5 stars
Cheapest version to tax: D4 (181bhp) Business Edition 4d
Monthly tax from*: £58
Boot size: 339 litres
What is it?
If you’re reading this article, here is a car aiming straight for you. Kia claims a huge 80 percent of Optimas will go to fleets. That’s primarily due to the single – albeit very efficient – diesel engine on offer and the high level of standard equipment you get. Kia doesn’t really do optional extras, you see. While it’s not without its foibles, it’s certainly one of the better-looking saloon cars around.
Parkers rating: 3.5 stars
Cheapest version to tax: 1.7 CRDi 1 (14-) 4d
Monthly tax from*: £69
Boot size: 505 litres
Other rivals:
French charm: Citroen C5 Saloon
Amazingly comfortable: Peugeot 508 Saloon
Golf-based Spaniard: SEAT Toledo
Dependable Japanese: Toyota Avensis Saloon