Mid-size Company Car of the Year 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the 2021 Auto Express Mid-size Company Car of the Year, with the BMW 3 Series and Tesla Model 3 commended
Much like our Small Company Car of the Year, VW’s ID.3, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 takes the Mid-size Company Car crown due to the incredibly low Benefit-in-Kind rates made possible by its electric drivetrain. The Hyundai sits in the lowest one per cent tax bracket, so a higher-income earner can expect to settle for annual deductions of just £157 for the entry-level model; the driver of a similarly sized petrol SUV with roughly the same power will have to brace themselves for eye-watering costs of more than £5,000.
The Ioniq is cheap to top up, too. Those able to recharge at home can expect to pay roughly £10 for up to 298 miles of range – potentially less if their energy provider offers cheaper rates overnight. The larger of the two battery options (58kWh and 73kWh versions are available) can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes.
But the Ioniq is about far more than the numbers. Inside and out, it looks unlike any other new car. Its hatchback proportions have been inflated to family SUV levels, giving it an imposing almost crossover stance, while unique details make it look like it’s driven off a motor show – not a showroom – floor.
A company car is likely to be a family’s main vehicle, and here the Hyundai offers more than enough versatility for everyday life. The back seats are spacious enough to accommodate even the tallest passengers; the 540-litre boot is large enough to hold all the gear for a fortnight away. Even ignoring its fantastic BiK rates, the Ioniq 5 would have been a likely winner in this category; they merely serve as a bonus on an already talented and desirable company car.
Best deal
Hyundai Ioniq 5 73kWh Premium (£41,945)
Of the three powertrain options, the company car choice has to be the middle 214bhp motor paired with the largest 73kWh battery. Thanks to its one per cent tax classification, a full year’s deductions total £168 for Premium trim – thousands less than an equivalently priced petrol or diesel car.
Commended
As ever, the 3 Series remains a phenomenally competitive offering for company car users and private buyers alike. Available in saloon and estate form, few cars at this price are as fun to drive, refined, well finished inside and packed with tech. The engine range is as vast as it is strong, with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options. It lacks a BiK-friendly full-EV option, but BMW will soon answer that with the forthcoming all-new i4.
Our 2019 Car of the Year was the model that showed Tesla hitting its stride. The Model 3 offers fantastic range and the brand’s Supercharger network, which is still unmatched among EV rivals, and it backs them up with an entertaining drive, while the car’s size is perfect for UK roads. The infotainment system is excellent, too, and top-end dual-motor options deliver supercar-rivalling acceleration.
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