FLEET WORLD - The little Hyundai i10 takes, for the second year, the "Product To Beat" best in class.

• Hyundai i10 named best in class for fleet operators
• Expert panel recognises city car’s outstanding comfort, low running costs and generous equipment levels for business users
• Fleet World honours the Hyundai i10 for second consecutive year, saying it is the ‘product to beat’

The Hyundai i10 has been named as the ‘Best City Car’ in the 2017 Fleet World Honours, recognising it as ‘the car to beat’ for fleet operators. The prestigious awards highlight vehicles that offer the best value, comfort and refinement expected by business drivers.

A panel of judges from Fleet World, an industry title read globally by senior-level fleet decision makers, recognised the i10 as providing an unbeatable combination of superb practicality, generous equipment levels and low running costs. Revisions to the car in 2016 strengthened its offer to fleets, with improved connectivity, safety and comfort.

Fleet World’s Editor, Alex Grant, said: “City cars are a tough product to get right, and the i10 delivers effortlessly. 

A subtle refresh last year bolstered an already strong offer with the latest connectivity and safety technology, improved comfort and a sharper drive too. It means this continues to be the product to beat.”

The i10 offers fleet users a choice of seven trim levels and two refined and efficient petrol engines. The highly efficient 1.0 Blue Drive model boasts combined fuel economy of 65.7mpg and just 98g/km CO₂ emissions – giving it a highly competitive 16% BIK banding. Standard equipment levels are generous for business drivers, while the mid- and high-specification models feature ‘big car’ technology such as cruise control, a heated leather steering wheel and front seats, keyless entry and start, and full automatic climate control.

Hyundai’s commitment to deliver the best service for fleet operators is reinforced by its provision of exceptionally cost-effective and convenient after-sales care. 

Its industry-leading Fleet Aftersales Charter delivers a consistently outstanding experience for fleet customers, setting out transparent pricing and processes, making services easier to use, and helping to reduce the cost of ownership. 

Business users who visit a dealership receive free Wi-Fi access and refreshments as well as ‘hot-desk’ facilities for those who wish to wait on site.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor UK, said, “It’s the second year in a row that the i10 has been recognised by Fleet World as offering an unbeatable proposition in its class. 

This is testament to Hyundai’s efforts in maintaining i10’s outstanding practicality and low running costs, while improving levels of comfort, safety and in-car technology. We are always looking for ways to add value for our business customers, and our award-winning cars are fully supported by an outstanding aftersales offer, not to mention our acclaimed 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty.”

FLEET WORLD - The Nissan Navara takes Best Pick Up for the second year running.

The Nissan Navara has been crowned Best Pick-Up at the prestigious Fleet World Honours for the second year running.

Judges from the influential industry title put all models in the increasingly crowded segment through their paces before choosing the market-leading model as their outright winner.

They were impressed by the Navara’s range of powerful yet efficient engines, superior comfort, towing ability and wide range of trim levels.

The comprehensive five-year/100,000 miles warranty – offered across Nissan’s LCV range – was also singled out for special mention.

Dan Gilkes, Editor of Van Fleet World, said: “With so many new and improved trucks coming to the market last year, the big Nissan was certainly not short of competition.

“Yet despite some very strong new models, Navara remains the truck that we would buy if it was our fleet budget.”

He added: “A 3.5-tonne towing ability, powerful yet relatively frugal driveline and a wide range of trim levels from hard working Visia to luxurious Tekna, show that there is a Navara to suit most applications.”

Priced from £23,920 RRP, the Nissan Navara can be specified with either a double cab or a king cab and a 190PS twin-turbo or 160PS single turbo version of the new 2.3-litre dCi engine.

Many of the model’s advanced safety features – including a number of first-in-class technologies such as Forward Emergency Braking, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control (on 4WD models) – come as standard.

Receiving the latest award, Darren Payne, Sales Director at Nissan Motor (GB) said: “We are thrilled the Navara has won this prestigious award for a second successive year.

“Despite a number of high profile competitors coming to market in the past year, Navara continues to set the benchmark in the pick-up sector.”

FLEET WORLD - The Citroen Dispatch takes the honours as best medium van in this years ceremony.

New Citroën Dispatch has continued its award-winning ways by taking the Best Medium Van prize in the 2017 Van Fleet World Honours.

The New Citroën Dispatch has been named Medium Van of the Year in the 2017 Van Fleet World Honours. The award was won jointly with the Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace at a prestigious ceremony earlier today at the RAC Club in Pall Mall.

This latest award in the New Citroën Dispatch trophy cabinet joins the What Van? Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year 2017 and Medium Van of the Year 2017 awards, which were presented at the end of last year. 

Van Fleet World Editor, Dan Gilkes, said; “The New Dispatch is quite simply a great mid-weight van that has taken a huge step forwards from its predecessor. 

The van is not simply a like-for-like replacement, as the addition of a third compact model broadens the line-up, opening up new opportunities and providing customers with increased choice to suit specific operating requirements.

“There’s a good choice of 1.6 and 2.0-litre engines delivering a good mix of economy and low emissions, with power and refinement. The vans can also be supplied with a very high specification, including industry first head-up display and hands-free side door opening.

“Citroën has managed to deliver strong load volume and payload capacities, while providing a comfortable, car-like driving environment in a van with perfect dimensions for urban use.”

The Van Fleet World Awards are chosen by a panel of expert journalists at the publication, who have considerable experience of the van market.

Commenting on the award, Jeremy Smith, Citroën UK’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Sector Operations, said; “We thought we were on to a winner with the New Dispatch range.

The awards from What Van?, and now Van Fleet World, show that others with experience in the van sector think so too. We are delighted that the experts at Van Fleet World have recognised the strengths of the New Dispatch with this latest award.”

FLEET WORLD - Renault takes a triple win at this years awards ceremony, and its well deserved too !

• Renault picks up three awards at the Fleet World Honours 2017
• 100 per cent electric Renault ZOE wins Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
• All-New Mégane wins Best Lower Medium Car
• All-New Grand Scénic wins Best MPV
• Renault range is praised for head-turning design, efficiency and technologies

Renault has picked up three awards at the Fleet World Honours 2017 with the Renault ZOE, All-New Mégane and All-New Grand Scénic all winning their categories at the awards ceremony hosted by Fleet World magazine and held today at the Royal Automobile Club in London.

The all-electric Renault ZOE updated for 2017 and now available with a 250-mile range (NEDC) – the longest of any mainstream electric vehicle – was awarded Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle thanks to its new longer range, smartphone apps and ease to live with.

The All-New Renault Mégane, launched in the UK in summer 2016, won Best Lower Medium Car and was praised in particular for its comfort, efficiency and technology.

The distinctive All-New Grand Scénic collected Best MPV thanks to its space, style and value for money.

Steve Moody, Publisher, Fleet World, said: “Beneath head-turning design, the Mégane feels a class above most rivals. It’s quiet, comfortable and effortlessly efficient, with clearly laid-out displays showing all the information drivers need at a glance. Extra space and efficient diesel engines to stretch the time between fill-ups means it’s perfect for a life on the road.

Renault has rediscovered its love for compact MPVs with the new Scenic. Beneath concept car styling, with vivid colours and large, aerodynamic wheels across the range, it’s still a genuinely practical mover of people and things… The pioneer has never been in better shape.

Meanwhile, Renault has always had a very complete EV offering with the ZOE, and the high-capacity battery option broadens its appeal. Drivers who need long range can now travel almost 200 miles under ‘real-world’ conditions, but there’s still a competitive smaller-capacity battery for those who don’t. With apps to alleviate anxiety by planning routes including charging stops, not only is the ZOE a great EV, but it needn’t be more challenging to live with than any other supermini.”

Paul Flanagan, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK said: “2016 saw us complete the renewal of our family car line-up with the arrival of All-New Mégane and All-New Scenic alongside the Kadjar crossover, as well as revising ZOE to give it the longest range of any mainstream EV on sale today. We’re delighted that Fleet World has recognised all three models.  2017 is set to be another busy year as we add the Koleos crossover to Europe’s youngest model line-up.”

The Renault ZOE is an all-electric, five-door supermini available in a choice of three trim levels and with two battery options. With the new Z.E.40 battery, ZOE’s range is 250 miles (NEDC) – the longest of any mainstream EV.  Renault estimates that in real-world driving conditions that this equates to around 186 miles in summer and 124 miles in cold winter conditions. ZOE can charge from zero to 80 per cent full in as little as 60 minutes thanks to its patented Chameleon Charger™ that allows it to make the most of the widest range of power supplies and also keep charging times to a minimum. Renault’s Range OptimiZer technology ensures ZOE is highly efficient with its heat pump, a bi-modal braking system and Michelin ENERGY E-V tyres.  ZOE is available to purchase from £13,995 (OTR) after the Government Plug-in Car Grant with battery leasing from £49 per month.

The All-New Mégane – more dynamic, more comfortable and more refined than its predecessor – offers unique technology with an 8.7-inch portrait central touchscreen, Active Emergency Braking and convenient driver assistance systems such as Hands Free Parking and Adaptive Cruise Control. CO₂ emissions are as low as 96g/km with economy as high as 76.4mpg.  The All-New Renault Mégane range is available from £17,250 on-the-road.

The All-New Grand Scénic – part of the fourth generation Scénic family with its innovative design and distinctive 20-inch wheels – remains as impressively practical as ever thanks to its modularity and class-leading storage and boot space. The seven-seater also achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating with Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection as standard – the only car in its class to have the safety feature applied throughout the range. Technologies such as Handsfree Parking and Adaptive Cruise Control are also available. The Grand Scénic’s One Touch Folding seats feature is another unique-in-class option whereby a button can be pressed, either from within the boot or from the multimedia system in the dashboard, to fold the rear seats, either individually or altogether, effortlessly to achieve a completely flat floor. The All-New Renault Grand Scénic is available from £23,375 on-the-road.

FLEET WORLD - The Skoda Superb flagship model takes best upper medium car 2017

• ŠKODA flagship crowned Fleet World Best Upper Medium Car 2017
• Superb retains title it first won in 2016
• Judges praise Superb’s practicality and value for money
• Superb SE Technology models designed for business customers

The ŠKODA Superb has added to its incredible list of industry and media accolades with another awards win. Fleet World magazine has awarded ŠKODA’s flagship model its Best Upper Medium car title for the second year in succession – confirming its status as one of the most accomplished all-rounders in the sector.

Commenting on the Superb’s triumph, the Fleet World Honours judging panel concluded: “With its upmarket styling, cavernous interior space and incredible value for money, the Superb punches well above its weight in this segment. 

Factor in some great engine options and it’s impossible to argue with, increasingly taking customers from premium brands and with sales weighted towards higher trim levels.”

Since its launch in 2015, the Superb has won 19 UK automotive industry titles, including Scottish Car of the Year, Auto Express Best Family Car and Estate Car, The Telegraph Best Family Car and What Car? Best Estate Car. 

The Superb has proved to an exceptionally popular choice with fleet operators and company car drivers since its introduction. 

Along with the Yeti and Octavia, the Superb range features a special SE Technology trim grade that has been specifically fine-tuned to meet the demands of fleet drivers and operators. For example, all Superb SE Technology models include Adaptive cruise control (ACC), Amundsen satellite navigation, SmartLink connectivity, Drive mode selection and Alcantara / leather upholstery. The Superb SE Technology GreenLine returns 76.4mpg and emits just 96g/km CO₂, further reducing running costs for business customers.

Superb SE Technology prices start from £22,780 for the hatch and £24,060 for the estate version.

FLEET WORLD - FCA takes the Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer title for 2017.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has been named Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer in the prestigious Fleet World Awards.

The award recognises the strides made by the company’s fleet and business department, which represents Fiat, Fiat Professional, Alfa Romeo and Jeep®.

Judges were impressed not only by the strength and breadth of the vehicle line-up but also by the changes made in the last year to improve the fleet offering.

Steve Moody, Publisher at Fleet World, said:  “With the ability to cross-sell between its different brands, FCA Group has a unique and compelling offer for fleets.

“Newcomers such as the Fiat Tipo, Alfa Romeo’s Giulia and Stelvio, and commercial vehicles including the Talento van and Fullback pickup mean it’s becoming a complementary line-up suitable for the most diverse fleet needs.

“It’s also well supported, with a central fleet and business organisation and a growing network of specialist dealers.”

Receiving the award at a ceremony at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, Francis Bleasdale, Fleet and Remarketing Director at FCA, said: “We’re honoured to have won this category in these prestigious fleet awards and delighted that our work to improve the bespoke service we offer to business customers has been recognised.

“We are continuing to fine-tune our already competitive TCO position, ensuring all customers, no matter their size or requirements, benefit from a cost-effective fleet partnership.

“We have expanded the network and the sales team, improved our online tools on our dedicated business web pages, as well as introducing a dedicated TCO specialist, the result being that customers are already reaping the financial benefits of lower running costs.

“In addition to building on our renowned low running costs and excellent service, we are continuing to expand the Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Jeep® model ranges including specially-developed, business-focused editions that will thrill both head and heart.  These include the UK launch of the compact luxury crossovers Alfa Romeo Stelvio and the all-new Jeep Compass plus the exciting Fiat Professional range that showcase our commitment to delivering distinctive vehicles to our business customers.”

FLEET WORLD - Audi takes two awards for the A3 and A4 at this years ceremony.

All-round appeal of Audi premium compact hatchback and compact executive saloon is recognised by top fleet title

• Best Premium Lower Medium award for Audi A3, Best Compact Executive Award for Audi A4 presented in London at annual Fleet World Honours ceremony

Factors such as efficiency, connectivity, premium quality and range variety feature particularly prominently in the decision making process for fleet managers, and it is against these and many other key criteria that the Audi A3 compact hatchback and A4 compact executive saloon have been judged best-in-class in the 2017 Fleet World Honours.

Presented yesterday at the RAC Club in London, the Fleet World Honours include a total of 20 car-focused award categories, each  requiring the models within them to be assessed not only on the basis of ‘real world‘ attributes such as performance, refinement, economy, accommodation and connectivity, but also on their ‘on-paper’ viability from a fleet perspective.

AUDI A3

AUDI A4

The importance of the A3 in carving out the compact hatchback segment wasn’t lost on the judges, and nor were the many benefits of the significant revisions the three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback, Saloon and Cabriolet underwent in mid-2016. 

In summarising their decision they wrote: “Audi created this segment with the original A3, but it hasn’t rested on its laurels. Refreshed last year, the A3 now features the latest connectivity and safety features, as well as two compelling petrol alternatives to the default diesel engines. Peerless cabin quality, and trims to suit all tastes and needs, mean it’s still leading the way.”

The judges were even more emphatic in their praise for the A4, describing the compact executive Saloon and Avant as “a revolution in its segment”. They went on to pronounce it “better than ever to drive, with more space for passengers and an interior good enough to suit cars costing twice as much. Factor in a line-up of fleet-friendly diesel, and now petrol, engines, a versatile estate and rugged Allroad versions, and it’s a great offer for fleets.”

Head of Audi Fleet Sales James Douglas welcomed the excellent result for these two vitally important Audi fleet sector contenders, saying: “Fleet World is a respected title with a specific focus on director level fleet decision makers, so the appearance of two of our most compelling company car offerings at the forefront of their respective Honours award categories could potentially have far-reaching positive implications for us. Fleet managers take endorsements such as these seriously, and so do my team and I – we thank Fleet World for showing such confidence in the viability of these two heartland Audi ranges.”

The Audi A3 ranges received a raft of important updates in 2016, taking on board new features such as the Audi Smartphone Interface and standard Xenon or LED lighting and introducing numerous new driver assistance and infotainment options from the larger classes including Matrix LED headlamps, the fully digital Audi Virtual Cockpit and Audi Phone Box wireless charging and connection. A new three-cylinder 1.0 TFSI engine also added to the already highly economical range of four-cylinder TFSI and TDI engines, one of which – the 1.4 TFSI with 150PS – works alongside a powerful electric motor to deliver 166mpg and 38g/km potential in the A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid.

A completely new A4 range encompassing Saloon, Avant, allroad quattro and S quattro models became available in the UK in late 2015, and quickly distinguished itself by way of near luxury class levels of refinement and quality, exceptional in-car technology and a range of extraordinarily efficient four and six-cylinder TDI and TFSI engines contributing to a highly cost effective ownership proposition.