COMPANY CAR & VAN AWARDS 2022

Perhaps we thought that 2021 could only be better than 2020? In the end Covid subsided, but the global supply of semi-conductors faltered, meaning that dealerships struggled to get new vehicles to sell and in the short term, this looks set to continue through 2022. It means that, from an SME fleet perspective, leasing that new car, van or pick-up meant waiting longer for your vehicle to arrive. But despite the challenges, the new vehicles coming on stream were superb, with a host of innovative, exciting models in both car and van form to choose from. Electrics were at the very centre of this new wave as manufacturers embraced the new powertrains with enthusiasm, bringing forward the next generation of cars and vans.

You’ll see over the following pages that our annual Company Car & Van Awards reflect this, with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 our Car of the Year. Read on to find out who’s won.

IONIQ 5 ... In a year where more electric cars appeared then ever before, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 stood out above the rest and that’s why it’s our Car of the Year 2022. The highest praise we can give it, is that it’s the first electric car we’ve driven that has tempted us to make it our own company vehicle. Not only does it look fantastic, both inside and out, but it’s spacious, very well equipped and the on-board tech is some of the best out there. Factor in a real world range of 250 miles, 1% BIK and company car drivers should be taking a long hard look.

Hyundai UK’s Robin Hayles with the IONIQ 5’s CC&V Car of the Year Award

Hyundai TUCSON... There was a raft of plug-in mid-range SUVs to choose from this year but we felt that the TUCSON PHEV pips all the others to the post and is a deserved winner of our SUV Plug-In Car of the Year for 2022. Visually it stands out from the crowd, it’s comfortable, spacious, quiet and refined. Furthermore, all Hyundais come with a five-year warranty and you’ll not want for any safety features, either. For company car drivers, the low BIK is a bonus and makes this the one to choose.

The Cupra Formentor... is an excellent addition to the burgeoning SUV sector and wins our SUV Car of the Year Award 2022. It’s different, too. Both inside and out, Cupra has created a car that stands out in a crowd, which has to be a good thing. Works well as a family car while offering the driver a chance to indulge in bit of Cupra fun. There’s a plug-in version, too. What’s not to like?

Craig Cavanagh, Cupra and SEAT National Fleet Sales Manager, with the CC&V award

Vauxhall Corsa... is currently Britain’s best selling car and who are we to argue, as it’s now also our Small Car of the Year 2022. The Corsa offers a great range of petrol and diesel engines and 70mpg is possible. Importantly, Apple Car Play and Android Auto are offered as standard across the range and it’s available in a choice of funky colours, so it’s right on-trend. Undoubtedly the Corsa is one of the best small cars you can buy.

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall UK with the CC&V award

For the third year in a row, the Peugeot e-208 is our Small EV Car of the Year. Why? It’s still the best-looking small electric car out there, offers a 200-mile driving range, features Peugeot’s gorgeous i-Cockpit and is competitively priced. And we haven’t even mentioned the 1% BIK you’ll pay if you pick one. Marvellous!

BMW iX3... An electric SUV that drives as well as a conventional BMW SUV – that would be the BMW iX3, our Premium Electric Car of the Year 2022. It’s brilliantly built, comes with a 250+ mile range and offers just 1% BIK. Where other premium EVs’ ride quality suffers from the extra battery weight, the iX3 makes an excellent fist of making you forget the battery is even there. The power on offer and the torque only add to the fun factor. Our favourite electric SUV.

Rob East, General Manager, Corporate Sales, BMW (UK), with the CC&V award for the iX3... and below, for the 530e

Plug-Ins don’t get much better then the BMW 530e, our Large Plug-In Car of the Year 2022. BMW has managed to produce a great driving, tax-breaking executive saloon that offers business users significant BIK savings, coupled to an electric range of 41 miles. Factor in BMW’s excellent cabin, on-trend tech, plenty of creature comforts and space for five and it has to be the large executive PHEV of choice for fleet users.

Skoda Octavia iV... is our 2022 Medium Plug-In Car of the Year. Despite a raft of new PHEVs being launched during the year, the Octavia iV still offers a package of quality and value for money that’s hard to beat. With an electric range of 43 miles it’s at the top end of plug-in electric range, too. And, with a choice of saloon or estate, no other plug-in comes close to being this versatile.

Left and below, Skoda UK’s Head of Press and PR, Pietro Panarisi, with the company’s three CC&V awards

Skoda Superb... Comfortably ahead of the pack and retaining the award from last year, the Skoda Superb wins our Large Car of the Year 2022. Choose from saloon or estate, with a plug-in iV offered for serious personal tax savings. Excellent motorway cruiser with acres of space inside and all topped off by a quality cabin furnished with the latest tech and safety. The Superb has it all.

Skoda Enyaq... wins our inaugural title of SUV Electric Car of the Year 2022. Why? First and foremost, it’s a proper family five-seater, offering loads of practical space. It also comes with on-trend tech and the latest safety features. Furthermore, for company car drivers the BIK benefits it offers are almost impossible to ignore. And as a bonus, there’s now 120kW and up to 125kW DC fast charging on the ENYAQ iV 60, 80 and 80 SportLine models, so you can plug-in and go in less than 40 minutes.

Mercedes-Benz A250e... You’d be hard pressed to find a better premium plug-in hybrid tax avoider than the A250e, deservedly our Small Plug-In Car of the Year 2022. It’s finished in the quality you’d expect from a Benz and features Mercedes’ fabulous digital cockpit. Add in that it takes only two hours to charge the battery to full at home, has a pure electric range of 45 miles and its excellent road manners, and it really is a no brainer!

Q4 e-tron... Audi’s electric cars are getting better and better, with the Q4 e-tron Sportback the best yet and a deserved winner of our Large Electric Car of the Year for 2022. What you get is an interior hewn from stone, a great infotainment system, plenty of safety features and with Sportback looks, something just that little bit different. Furthermore, with a real world range of 275 miles and fast charging on board, it’s an electric car that will work for those driving longer distances.

KIA EV6 ... there’s a number of very good reasons why the EV6 is our Medium Electric Car of the Year. It’s realistically priced, looks fantastic, drives exceptionally well and feels like a car you could live with every day. Add in a 300-mile real world battery range, plus a top notch cabin and the EV6 offers a compelling argument to make that switch to a full-electric car.

Paul Philpott President & CEO, Kia UK Ltd, with the award for the stunning EV6

Volkswagen Golf... Still the benchmark car in its class and still the one to beat, the VW Golf rightfully retains our Medium Car of the Year Award for 2022. The latest model features a class-leading interior, the latest on-trend tech and the best drive in class. Others have tried and some have come close, but for us the Golf is still the stand-out five-door family hatchback and is practically perfect in every way.

The Proace Electric is our Medium Electric Van of the Year. Why? It’s great to drive, features a 200-mile range, comes with a competitive payload, has a user-friendly cabin and offers the connectivity that van operators demand from their commercial vehicles. One of the best electric vans you can buy.

Gareth Matthews, Head of LCV Toyota UK, stands in front of a Proace Electric with the company’s awards for Medium Electric Van and Medium Van

The Toyota Proace retains our title of Medium Van of the Year 2022. It’s slightly different from its Stellantis siblings, offering more standard equipment and a longer warranty, with a slightly higher price point. It also features a cleverly designed cabin, a raft of safety features and the latest tech, plus the peace of mind that comes with owning a Toyota.

Maxus eDeliver 3... With a choice of two battery sizes and an electric range of 213 miles, the Maxus eDeliver 3 stays ahead of the pack and deservedly retains our Small Electric Van of the Year Award 2022. Parent company SAIC knows a thing or two about EVs and that’s clearly on show in the eDeliver 3. It comes competitively priced, with a decent payload and in a number of conversions. Standard equipment includes SatNav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and cruise control.

Bill Laidlaw, UK Sales Manager, Harris MAXUS with the MAXUS eDeliver 3

Isuzu D-Max... While other manufacturers have shied away from the pick-up sector, Isuzu is to be congratulated on not only launching a new model, but a massively improved one to boot. This D-Max looks and drives better than before and now features class-leading safety, on-trend tech, a far better passenger experience and does most of what a pick-up is supposed to do. Furthermore, the amount of choice across a range of single, extended and double cab models means that there’s a D-Max priced for everyone.

Left, Alan Able, Brand Director, ISUZU UK, with the CC&V award

Volkswagen Caddy Cargo... We loved driving the Caddy Cargo and it’s comfortably the best small van we’ve driven, so an easy winner of our Small Van of the Year 2022. It comes with brilliant build quality, on-trend tech and plenty of safety features. If you want a van that leaves you feeling like you’ve been driving a car, then the Caddy 5 is your best bet.

Vauxhall Vivaro-e... In the electric van sector, the Vivaro-e is the leader of the pack and is our Medium Electric Van of the Year 2022. Not only does it offer the best range, coupled to the best carrying capacity, with the same internal dimensions as the petrol/ diesel Vivaro, it’s also good to drive, comes well equipped and being electric, is cheap to run and service. In 2022, if you’re looking for a medium electric van, then the Vivaro-e should be in pole position.

Vauxhall Managing Director Paul Willcox with the Vivaro-e’s award

Peugeot e-Expert... is deservedly our Medium Electric Van of the Year. Offering one of the best all around packages of any electric van, it features great battery range, a competitive payload, user friendly tech and plenty of on-board safety. It’s also good to drive and is definitely one of the best electric vans that you can buy.

Citroen e-Dispatch... With the same load volume as the Dispatch, the e-Dispatch shines as our Medium Electric Van of the Year 2022. Time spent in Citroen’s e-Dispatch proved to us that for many businesses, an electric van would work and the e-Dispatch, with its top-notch interior, excellent payload and car-like handling, would be at the top of that list.

Vauxhall Managing Director Paul Willcox with the Vivaro’s award

Citroen Dispatch... Recent engine upgrades, plus a lower price than 12 months ago, mean that the Dispatch makes an even better fist of being our Medium Van of the Year 2022. Add in its excellent payload and quality cabin and it is really hard to fault. We also think that it’s the best-looking version of this Stellantis van.

Vauxhall Vivaro... deservedly retains our title of Medium Van of the Year 2022. Everything about the latest Vivaro is better than before. It gets a larger payload and towing capacity, plus improved fuel economy from newer, cleaner diesel engines, putting it right at the top versus its rivals. The cabin features a number of clever design touches and all versions get the latest tech. Medium van customers need look no further.

Peugeot Expert... Retaining its title as our Medium Van of the Year, the Peugeot Expert offers classleading payload, in a wide range of variants. Add in the car-like cabin, good fuel economy, low emissions and excellent drivability and the Expert offers an all-around package that’s hard to beat.

Fiat Professional e-Ducato... Retaining its title from 2021, the e-Ducato is our Large Electric Van of the Year for 2022. What makes the e-Ducato stand out is its choice of two battery options, 47kWh or 79kWh, offering a range of 113-230 miles. Add in a best-in-class payload of 1,885kg, 22 versions and volumes of between 10m3 - 17m3 and it’s very hard to fault.

FIAT Professional’s Head of Commercial Vehicles, Richard Chamberlain, with the company’s twin awards for the Ducato range

Fiat Professional Ducato... For the third year in a row, the Ducato is our Large Van of the Year 2022 – but don’t think that Fiat has rested on its laurels. The latest Ductao has been updated and improved across the board, and now comes fitted with the latest safety features and tech. Moreover, it’s also available in a myriad of conversions and offers customers a nine-speed auto gear box with torque convertor, to make those urban delivery runs that much more enjoyable.

Despite the challenges, the new vehicles coming on stream were superb, with a host of innovative, exciting models in both car and van form to choose from ... electrics were at the the very centre of this “ new wave as manufacturers embraced the new powertrains with enthusiasm, bringing forward the next generation of cars and vans.