Latest news with #companycar
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Small Company Car of the Year 2025: Kia EV3
Kia has hit a hot streak with its electric cars. The flagship EV9 won our Large Company Car title in 2024 and its striking design has now shrunk down to VW Golf-size to create the EV3. The result is another winner, thanks to its mix of long-range electric efficiency, thoughtful practicality and good running costs. Advertisement - Article continues below The base 58kWh model (£33,005) can do 270 miles, but spend £3k more for the 81kWh battery and you'll add 100 miles. It also gets 127.5kW DC charging for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in 30 minutes. We've averaged 3.3mi/ kWh in winter and 4.6 mi/ kWh in warm weather. Kia's EV is easy to drive, with great visibility, nicely weighted steering and snappy throttle responses. It also has a broad spread of braking modes, to harvest energy. Motorway noise could be better, though. Inside, the EV3 packs decent tech even at entry level: dual 12.3-inch displays, adaptive cruise control, heated seats, nav, plus front and rear parking sensors are standard. Boot space is best-in-class and the car's width gives an airy feel with lots of shoulder room, even if the back seats are better for kids than adults. Running costs are critical for company cars, and like all EVs, the EV3 qualifies for Benefit-in-Kind tax at just three per cent of the car's value. It depreciates as well as its VW and Cupra rivals and is covered by Kia's seven-year warranty. It all adds up to another winning Kia. Configure your perfect Kia EV3 through our Find A Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on a new Kia EV3 from stock or top prices on used Kia EV3 models... Our choice Kia EV3 Air 81.4kWh (£36,005) The entry-level Air has pretty much all the kit you need; the one option we'd recommend is the £3k upgrade to the bigger battery. That creates the EV3 with the biggest range – 375 miles. It also lets you add £625 metallic paint without busting the £40k luxury-tax surcharge barrier. Commended Hyundai Kona The futuristic-looking Hyundai Kona, last year's class leader, gets nudged into silver-medal position. There's a Kona for everyone, with a choice of petrol, hybrid and electric drivetrains, plus it offers plenty of space and a comfortable, refined drive. MG4 The budget choice is the MG4 EV. With rear-wheel drive, responsive steering and a comfortable suspension, it's the most fun to drive of our contenders. The styling and fiddly touchscreen won't suit all, but the powertrain choice is broad and the biggest battery will do 329 miles.
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Mid-size Company Car of the Year 2025: Tesla Model 3
If stats matter above all else – and if you're choosing a company car, they're likely to play a big part in your decision – then the Tesla Model 3 is a car to choose with your head. Taking all emotion out of the equation sees the Model 3 take the Mid-size Company Car category for the second year running, still leaving its closest rivals reeling from the series of mid-life changes that saw it take control of this category in 2024. Advertisement - Article continues below Pick almost any metric – whether it be performance, range or charging speeds – and the Model 3 comes out at the top of its class, or at least incredibly close to it. Tesla even sought to move some of these specs further away from its rivals; a subtly reprofiled nose improved aerodynamic efficiency, allowing the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant to cover a WLTP-certified 436 miles between charges. And those charges will be quick too, because the Model 3 can charge at up to 250kW, and Tesla's Superchargers are still the UK's easiest and most effective charging network. However, it's some of the more subjective changes that explain just why we rate this facelifted model so highly. Thanks to a focus on refinement, the inclusion of uprated suspension bushings, extra soundproofing and even acoustic glass make this updated car significantly quieter than early Model 3s – and as a result, even better on the sort of motorway journeys that many of these cars will spend much of their time doing. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Finally, thanks to competitive list prices, Benefit-in-Kind tax figures are very cheap, too, so running costs are cheap all round. Stack all those figures up, and it makes for a very compelling proposition. Advertisement - Article continues below Configure your perfect Tesla Model 3 through our Find A Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on used Tesla Model 3 models... Tesla Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (£44,990) For company car drivers, the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model is the one to have. There are more potent models higher up the range, but its performance is still excellent, while the official 436-mile range means that it'll go further on a single charge than any other Model 3, too. Company car buyers could do much worse than choose our first commended option in this category. In some ways, the BMW i4 even has our overall winner beaten; it's better to drive with superior ride and handling, and it feels like a more expensive product. If badge appeal matters more than pure numbers, then the i4 is still well worth a look. For those hunting competitive BiK costs without making the step to a full electric car, the Mercedes C 300 e is a company car driver's dream. A 71-mile electric-only range combines with the practicality of a 2.0-litre petrol engine to allow rapid refuelling on longer trips. All of this comes in one of the most convincing Mercedes models currently on sale; its quality, refinement and comfort all impress. Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It's our Deal of the Day for 29 June Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand's hot-SUV onslaught Every future Skoda will get the go-faster treatment, with the brand also working on making cars sharper and more engaging
