ŠKODA Superb claims ‘Best Upper Medium Car’ title at Fleet World Honours making this, the fifth award this year.

• ŠKODA Superb claims ‘Best Upper Medium Car’ title at Fleet World Honours
• Judges impressed by space, style and efficiency
• Fifth award win for ŠKODA’s flagship this year

The ŠKODA Superb was named ‘Best Upper Medium Car’ at the 2016 Fleet World Honours, at The Royal Automobile Club in London last today. The annual Fleet World Honours celebrates the very best in the fleet industry.

Voted best in category, the ŠKODA Superb boasts space, style and the ideal combination of technology, comfort, desirability and value for money, all with a P11D rate that starts from £19,005 and BiK of 19%.

Steve Moody, Editor of Fleet World, commented: "ŠKODA’s excellent new Superb makes a great case for itself. Understated and stylish, it’s spacious enough to shame much larger cars, with equipment levels to match.

“ŠKODA also scores highly on fuel efficiency, with the 95g/km Greenline III diesel available in most trim levels, including fleet-focused SE Business versions. It makes it hard to argue for any other winner in this sector."

Speaking after the win, Henry Williams, Head of Fleet for ŠKODA UK said: "Being named ‘Best Upper Medium Car’ in this year’s Fleet World Honours is testament to the Superb’s compelling residual values, class-leading space, eye-catching design and sophisticated technology. The success of the ŠKODA Superb is the perfect showcase for the brand’s continued growth in the fleet sector.”

Launched in the UK in September 2015, the new Superb has picked up five awards this year alone, including the What Car? title for Best Estate Car.

For the 3rd year in succession, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has been named ‘Best MPV’ at the Fleet World Honours

For the third year in succession, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has been named ‘Best MPV’ at the Fleet World Honours annual awards event, which took place in London earlier today.  Having triumphed in the category in the two years since its launch, the Grand C4 Picasso has proved it is still the benchmark in this highly competitive sector.

Steve Moody, editor of Fleet World magazine – and Fleet World Honours judge – praised the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso for its style, practicality and efficiency. “The Grand C4 Picasso moved the MPV segment forward when it launched in 2014, and nothing has come close since. 

This remains the only non-hybrid seven-seater under 100g/km, and there are no compromises on flexibility or comfort to get there. Futuristic styling, generous equipment levels and long-distance refinement mean Citroën is still ahead of the curve.” 

Built on the advanced and lightweight EMP2 modular platform, the Grand C4 Picasso has been recognised for its efficiency, use of interior space and low cost of ownership. The model’s ability to emit less than 100g/km of CO₂ without the use of hybrid technology remains an attractive proposition, as does its wide range of equipment options. 

These features include: Park Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring; 360° Vision technology; 7-inch Touch Drive interface; active seat belts; a 12-inch HD central display screen and dual-zone air conditioning. The range-topping Grand C4 Picasso Exclusive+ even has a front passenger seat with a massage function and an electric leg rest, as standard.

Martin Gurney, PSA Group UK’s Director of Fleet & Used Vehicles, remarked; “Citroën is delighted that the Grand C4 Picasso has won the Fleet World Honours ‘Best MPV’ award in each of the three years since it was launched. 

This achievement highlights its impressive design and engineering credentials, and reflects Citroën’s process of continuous improvement. The Grand C4 Picasso’s latest-generation Euro 6 engines provide improved fuel economy of up to 74.3mpg and CO₂ emissions as low as 99g/km. All of which – combined with strong residual values – gives the Grand C4 Picasso significant fleet appeal.”  

FLEET HONOURS AWARD - Mitsubishi continues to reap the rewards of a stunning PHEV Car.

Mitsubishi Motors UK is celebrating today after the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was awarded the ‘Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle’ at this year’s Fleet World Honours, at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, London.

The Fleet World Honours are presented annually to those motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals that have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.

The Fleet World Honours are open to all motor manufacturers. The judging process combines the expert opinion of the Fleet World editorial team with the values provided by a number of leading leasing companies and fleet data providers.

The judging panel is chaired by Steve Moody, Editor of Fleet World, and includes John Kendall, Alex Grant, Natalie Wallis and Dan Gilkes from the Fleet World editorial team. 

Residual value, maintenance and reliability data is provided by ALD Automotive, LeasePlan and Arval. Market value data is provided by EurotaxGlass and CAP.

Fleet World Editor, Steve Moody, said:

"Helped by price parity with the diesel version, the Outlander PHEV’s phenomenal success has transformed Mitsubishi’s presence in fleet. Over 10,000 sold in the UK in its first eight months, overtaking the Nissan LEAF’s four-year total. 

Two thirds of Outlander PHEV sales went to business users. 

With ongoing investment in the dealer network and production being expanded in Japan, Mitsubishi Motors UK reckons it’s only the beginning. But what a start."

Commenting on the overall standard of entries in this year’s awards, Steve added:

“The EV market has had a significant year with a number of strong new entries, and for the first time it looks as though it can gain a firm foothold in the UK car market. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has been instrumental in this change."

The combination of the Outlander’s powerful electric motors and petrol engine give it a smooth, quiet, refined ride with the potential of reaching 148mpg^[1]. It only emits 44g/km CO₂^[2], which means no Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Most significantly, the entry model Outlander PHEV is available to buy at the same price as its diesel equivalent, starting at £28,249^[3].

What’s more, company car drivers will further benefit - a 40% tax paying customer will pay company car tax on the Outlander PHEV of £665 in the first year. Businesses benefit because they can write-down the vehicle’s full value in the first 12 months.

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors UK, said;

“The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is very different to other hybrids in the market and we are delighted that it has won this award at the Fleet World Honours. Having the best-selling EV of any kind in the UK market that boasts such credentials has already generated a lot of interest from fleet operators and leasing companies – it’s a very exciting time for Mitsubishi Motors UK.” 

^[1] Based on official testing and figures

^[2] Based on EU drive cycle figures

^[3] Post P-ICG Grant

FLEET WORLD HONOURS - Volkswagen takes award for the 2015 Passat.

The new Volkswagen Passat, which went on sale in the UK in January, has been named Best Upper Medium Car at the 2015 Fleet World Honours.  The trophy was presented at a ceremony held at the Royal Automobile Club in London today.

The Fleet World Honours are presented annually, and the judging process combines the expert opinion of the Fleet World editorial team with the objective values provided by a number of leading leasing companies and fleet data providers.

This year’s judging panel was chaired by Steve Moody, Editor of Fleet World, and includes John Kendall, Alex Grant and Ross Durkin from the Fleet World editorial team.

Judges were looking for vehicles which had a significant impact in the fleet market, offering the right combination of low running costs, environmental credentials and driver appeal.

Commenting on the Passat, Fleet World Editor, Steve Moody, said: ‘Smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, yet larger inside, the Passat shows premium quality isn't the reserve of the premium brands.  

The new SE Business trim offers all the essentials the fleet-heavy customer base demands, while the forthcoming BlueMotion version and plug-in hybrid can only build the Passat appeal.’

National Fleet Sales Manager, Mark Johnson, collected the award on behalf of the Volkswagen brand and said: ‘The new Passat is Europe’s Car of the Year for 2015 and we’re pleased to be able to add this Fleet World trophy to the cabinet.  

This car is hugely important to us and the most significant fleet vehicle we’ve launched in a number of years.  It’s great to see that since launch the Passat has proved its appeal to fleet managers and drivers in equal measure, and the range will be expanded further later this year with the addition of the BlueMotion, the Alltrack and the GTE plug-in hybrid.’