BMW 330e
With a BIK rate of 11%, you’ll pay a bit more for the privilege of running a BMW 330e although it’s one we’d say is easily worth it. A 37-mile electric only range is nothing to be sniffed at while a hefty 292hp means rapid acceleration. That allows you to make the most of one of the 330e’s best features, its handling. Put simply, there are few plug-ins that are as much fun to punt down your favourite B road. Thankfully it settles down to a comfortable and quiet cruise, making this a fine mile muncher.
Inside you’ll find a plush interior with plenty of high-quality materials. It’s easy to use too thanks to plenty of good old-fashioned buttons and the best infotainment system on the market today. Space in the back isn’t bad at all and equipment levels are by no means stingy. Add all that up and you’re left with the most recommendable company car out there.
RUNNERS-UP
TOYOTA RAV4
If the Octavia’s 43 mile range is impressive, the Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid’s 46 miles is even more of an achievement given the size of the thing. That’s enough for many to do all of their driving on electric alone, or at least cut fuel consumption by a hefty amount.
Unsurprisingly that makes for low BIK tax, but what might surprise is the RAV4’s mighty 306hp output, enough to give plenty of hot hatches a dusting away from the lights. With plenty of standard kit, a practical, well built interior and one of the best reliability records in the business, it’s a fantastic choice.
SKODA OCTAVIA ESTATE iV
Let’s be honest for a second, if there’s one figure you’re looking at when picking a company car it’s the BIK rate. With an electric-only range of up to 43 miles the Skoda Octavia iV sits in the 7% bracket, a good 4% below the vast majority of rivals. Keep it charged and it’ll also mean far fewer trips to the pumps.
But the Octavia is more than just a low tax bracket, it’s got one of the biggest boots of any plug-in hatchback or estate, a comfortable ride and an interior that’s even classier than a Volkswagen Golf’s. Yes, really. In other words, it’s a seriously sensible choice.
