One of the biggest concerns for the motorway focused company car driver is how many miles the thing will do to a tank of fuel.
While it’s always helpful to have a car with decent fuel economy, it’s also great to have one with a long range so you don’t have to spend a lot of time on petrol station forecourts. Remember: less time wasted = less money wasted.
With that in mind we thought we’d compile a list of the saloon cars that can cover the most distance per tank. To do this we’ve taken the manufacturers’ claimed fuel economy figures, so it’s likely in the real world you’ll find the cars going less distance, but it gives you an idea which models are at the top of the tree.
1. Peugeot 508 Diesel HYbrid4 200
Why buy?
They don’t come much better as a long-range cruiser than the 508. While it may not be the most exciting of cars, it’s comfortable and easy to drive as well as using a very smooth diesel engine coupled with a quiet electric motor. You even get four-wheel drive when you need it. What’s not to like?
Parkers rating: 4 stars
Fuel economy: 80.7mpg
Fuel tank size: 72 litres
Range: 1,278 miles
CO2 emissions: 91g/km
Monthly company car tax*: £75
2. Volvo S60 D4 Business Edition start/stop
Why buy?
The recent introduction of the new ‘D4’ engine range to the Volvo repertoire is very significant indeed. It means not only low running costs but surprisingly high performance too. With 179bhp this model will cover 0-62mph in less than seven seconds, which is faster than some sports cars.
Parkers rating: 3.5 stars
Fuel economy: 74.3mpg
Fuel tank size: 67.5 litres
Range: 1,103 miles
CO2 emissions: 99g/km
Monthly company car tax*: £58
3. Mercedes-Benz C-Class C220 BlueTEC SE
Why buy?
The new C-Class is a deeply impressive step forwards from the previous model. It’s one of the most comfortable cars in its class and sports a beautifully luxurious cabin designed with real quality in mind. There’s a new range of engines coming soon, but even the older powerplants are capable of propelling the C220 for over 1,000 miles. For lower still costs, there’s a hybrid model on the way soon.
Parkers rating: 5 stars
Fuel economy: 70mpg
Fuel tank size: 66 litres
Range: 1,078 miles
CO2 emissions: 103g/km
Monthly company car tax*: £78
4. Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion 1.6 TDI 105
Why buy?
While it’s perhaps a little more non-descript than many of the cars in this article, the Passat quietly gets on with the job of providing comfortable, reliable and safe transport for those who value the lower running costs associated with the firm’s fuel-saving BlueMotion technology. This works through a stop/start system coupled with tweaked aerodynamics, brake energy regeneration and low-rolling-resistance tyres.
Parkers rating: 4.5 stars
Fuel economy: 68.9mpg
Fuel tank size: 70 litres
Range: 1,061 miles
CO2 emissions: 109g/km
Monthly company car tax*: £60
.jpg)
Why buy?
The Q50 is a bit of a tech-fest and includes many interesting safety and multimedia features which help remind the driver they’re in something a little different. The engine in this model is actually borrowed from Mercedes, and as such it’s very efficient. It also has a very large fuel tank, so creeps into our Top 5.
Parkers rating: 2.5 stars
Fuel economy: 64.2mpg
Fuel tank size: 74 litres
Range: 1,045 miles
CO2 emissions: 114g/km
Monthly company car tax*: £84
*Monthly company car tax is worked out for the 20 percent pay scale and assumes no optional extras.
