Best company cars £50,000 and above
These are the best company cars for a budget of over £50,000
If you’re fortunate enough to have a large budget for your next company car, you’re probably looking for something that’s rather luxurious as well as being low on the Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax scale. There’s plenty of choice at this end of the market, so to help you decide, our list of the best company cars for £50,000 and above comprises just about everything ranging from hybrid executive saloons to fully-electric SUVs.
The best company cars for £50,000 and above
Read on below to find the best company cars that you can buy for £50,000 or more, listed in reverse order.
8. Audi Q8 e-tron
The Q8 e-tron was Audi’s first mainstream electric car — originally just named e-tron — and today the updated model acts as the flagship of the brand’s expanding EV lineup. Along with its new name, the Q8 e-tron was also given a range boost and styling upgrades to help keep it up to date.
It may be a slightly older model, but the Q8 e-tron is still a premium electric SUV that’s very well built, supremely comfortable to drive and chock-full of impressive technology. If you prefer a sportier-looking car, there is also a Sportback variant available. This version has a coupe-SUV body, and although this means a bit less interior space, the more aerodynamic roofline results in a slight boost to battery range.
7. Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Only one car successfully blends the retro charm of flower power with the modern advantages of a zero-emission powertrain, and that is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. This fully-electric MPV is a spiritual successor to the classic Type 2, and while it’s certainly a colourful and eye-catching homage, it’s also a hugely practical car that’s very family friendly. A maximum battery range of 258 miles on the WLTP combined cycle only sweetens the deal.
When testing the ID. Buzz against the best-selling Tesla Model Y, we achieved a real-world range of 208 miles when driving in near-freezing conditions, so this bodes well for the VW’s battery performance in normal weather. One big advantage that the Tesla had, though, was a much lower price. The ID. Buzz is a great EV, but it’s also a pricey one at around £60,000.
6. Lexus NX 450h+
Electric cars are rapidly taking over as the best company car candidates, but if you’re not entirely sold on making the switch just yet, the plug-in hybrid Lexus NX could be the perfect halfway point.
This luxurious mid-size SUV offers the typically high standards of refinement, plushness and quality that Lexus has become renowned for, along with its stellar reputation for customer service. While the NX will be able to carry your whole family while returning over 40mpg, the PHEV powertrain can also return up to 40 miles of purely-electric range. When testing the NX over a period of six months as part of our long-term test fleet, we managed to achieve this battery range with a surprising level of ease in the real world. This EV capability means combined CO2 emissions of as low as 21g/km, which results in equally low Benefit-in-Kind charges.
5. BMW iX
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the BMW iX’s design is one that definitely causes mixed opinions among those who gaze upon it. What’s undeniable, though, is just how well this electric SUV performs in just about every other area. It’s alarmingly good to drive for a car of its sheer bulk, the interior and ride are both incredibly comfortable, the technology is class-leading and the whole line-up will cover well over 200 miles on a charge. It’s not just a good company car, it’s our 2023 Large Company Car of the Year.
If you are a big fan of tech, the latest iteration of BMW’s iDrive system and its two 14.5-inch curved screens should put a smile on your face; the system performs brilliantly and the graphics look very clear. However, the options list is a big one, so it can be very easy to push up the price.
4. Mercedes C 300 e
While German executive saloons aren’t quite the company car byword that they once were, they’re far from being out of the running just yet. The Mercedes C 300 e is one of the best options for drivers who want to stick with tradition; as the plug-in hybrid variant of the C Class, not only do you get a classic executive car, but it also comes with the financially and environmentally friendly bonus of a modern, low-emission powertrain.
For the most part, the C 300 e features the same qualities as the standard C Class, and it looks and feels just like a Mercedes should. However, 60 miles of pure-electric range and claimed fuel economy of up to 565mpg mean it’s actually worlds apart from the rest of the line-up. Of course, achieving this claimed economy will prove very difficult in the real world, but during our own testing the C 300 e held steadily within the range of 60-70mpg. This is a similar level of efficiency to a traditional diesel saloon, but without the emissions or running costs.
3. Audi e-tron GT
If you’re spending a lot of time in your company car, you may as well have some fun. The Audi e-tron GT is closely related to the hardcore Porsche Taycan, but it’s a little bit more subdued than its sibling from Stuttgart. Tweaks to the suspension and steering mean the Audi is a bit less demanding to drive and more comfortable on motorway runs. This is still a punchy performance EV at heart, though, with up to 637bhp on tap in boost mode. Floor it and you’ll see 0-62mph dealt with in as little as 4.1 seconds.
Oddly, the e-tron’s head-turning exterior design is almost contradicted by the familiarity of its interior. Functionality-wise, there’s plenty of high-tech gadgetry including Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, but the brand has taken a far more conservative approach to the layout. If you’re a fan of the futuristic, this might prove a little disappointing. If you’re stepping into the e-tron GT from a combustion-powered Audi, though, this familiarity could prove somewhat assuring. Whatever your view, the quality matches the driving experience; both are excellent.
2. Porsche Taycan
The Porsche badge is one of the most respected in the sports car business, so when the brand announced that it was building an electric car, some fans’ had high hopes while others had high scepticism. When it arrived, the Taycan quickly proved that an EV can indeed be a fully-fledged Porsche, with enough agility, performance and appeal to give the 911 a run for its money.
If you like the idea of a performance car but still need a decent amount of practicality, there’s also the option of a Cross Turismo estate version. With a 446-litre boot, it isn’t the largest wagon out there but, during long-term testing, our editor-at-large John McIlroy found it to be a very capable family car that could also take on several supercars when it came to performance. All variants of the Taycan offer tempting company car credentials, but this does come at quite a high price. You get a very desirable badge for your money, though, as well as 231 to 323 miles of battery range depending on your chosen spec.
1. BMW i5
The BMW 5 Series has been a firm favourite of company car drivers for decades. With every generation offering eye-catching looks, luxurious interiors and strong practicality, this executive saloon continues to be a strong-seller for the Bavarian brand. What really helps the 5 Series to stand out from its Audi and Mercedes rivals, though, has always been the way it drives, so there was some concern when the brand announced that electric power was coming to the line-up for the first time. Thankfully, it’s good news as the i5 is still a fully-fledged 5 Series, just without the exhaust.
BMW describes the i5 as having “the tech of a 7 Series, with the dynamics of a 3”, and this does ring true to an extent. Inside, the layout is indeed very similar to the brand’s flagship luxury car; the twin screens run BMW’s latest infotainment software — which is one of the best systems in the business — and the materials are of a very high quality. Hit the road and everything feels refined and reasonably engaging but we think the steering feel is a little bit lacking compared to the standard 5 Series, and there is a sense that the i5 is still a bit more focused on comfort rather than outright fun. This is still a very enjoyable car to drive, though, with solid battery range. We managed to achieve over 300 miles during testing.
Best company cars for £50,000 and above
