Best company cars 2023

Whether you want petrol or electric power, and a saloon or an SUV, you'll find something to suit your needs on this list of the best company cars...

Best company cars 2023

Choosing the right company car can be a tricky business, because as well as wanting a good car in its own right, you also need to be mindful of how much it will set you back in terms of company car tax. While this amount differs depending on whether you're a 20% or 40% tax payer, you'll want something with low CO2 emissions to keep the figure as low as possible

Here, we're looking at the best company cars regardless of their class. That's why you'll see a mixture of models from different classes, including executive cars and family SUVs.

In each case on the list below, you can see the P11D price of our preferred model, as well as how much it will cost you if you're a 20% or 40% tax payer. And don't forget, you can read more about each car in our dedicated reviews, and see how much we can save you through our free New Car Deals service.


The best company car: Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3 2023 tracking

Model RWD | P11D price £42,935| Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £14.33/£28.66

You might be surprised to see the Model 3 trump some of the other electric cars on this list, most notably our reigning Car of the Year, the VW ID Buzz. However, we think the Model 3 deserves top honours here because, for company car drivers covering lots of miles, it comes with an added bonus: access to the Tesla network of superfast and ultra-reliable chargers. 

When you're not plugging in, you'll enjoy rapid performance and a long range. Our real-world testing suggests it should be capable of at least 230 miles between charges. It's good to drive, but also impresses with a strong safety score and rock-solid reliability. That it will only cost company car drivers the price of a couple of high-end coffees in a month is the cherry on top of an incredibly tempting cake.

Read our full Tesla Model 3 review or see our new Tesla car deals


How to find the best company car

Let's face facts head on – if you possibly can, then it pays to drive an electric car or an electric SUV as a company car. Their super-low 2% tax rate means you'll pay substantially less per month than for any other type of car, including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and regular hybrids. The even better news is that those favourable rates are frozen until 2025.

You'll want to consider the types of journeys you'll be doing – whether your commute is short and mostly on urban roads, for example, or if you regularly need to use the motorway – and how practical your car might be for your family. Since most company cars are leased over periods of three or four years, it's also worth considering whether your needs are likely to change in that time, and planning accordingly.

When speccing up a potential company car, be aware that making small changes can add up to big ones. For example, changing the size of the alloy wheels might affect the C02 rating of a car, and could therefore push it up into the next tax bracket, meaning you'll pay more per month. Remember, our free company car tax calculator can help you see how much you'll pay for any model you're considering.


The best of the rest: company cars

2. Volkswagen ID Buzz

Volkswagen ID Buzz front

Model 77kWh Style Pro | P11D price £63,660| Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £21.25/£42.41

The ID Buzz mixes retro styling with future-facing electric power, and the result is truly sensational. Not only does it let you and your family relax in palatial comfort, but it's also good to drive, with punchy performance from its 201bhp electric motor and a comfortable ride. The 77kWh battery pack has an official range of up to 260 miles, and a 10-80% top-up takes as little as half an hour if you can find a charging point providing the Buzz's maximum rate of 175kW.

At the moment, the Buzz is only available in five-seat form, but a long-wheelbase seven-seat model will join the range later this year, boosting its practicality even further. With all of those attributes considered, then, it's little wonder that we named the ID Buzz as our overall Car of the Year for 2023.

Read our full VW ID Buzz review or see our new Volkswagen car deals


3. Genesis GV60

New Genesis GV60 front cornering

Model 168kW Premium | P11D price £53,850| Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £17.91/£35.92

If you want an electric SUV as your next company car, you can't do better than the Gv60. You see, it's based on the same underpinnings as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 (a former What Car? Car of the Year), but improves on those models in several key areas. It has a truly dazzling interior, and plenty of space for your family and all of their luggage, despite being shorter than the Ioniq 6 and EV6.

The GV60 is also more refined, which will be beneficial to company car drivers who spend lots of time behind the wheel, as will the official range of up to 321 miles.

Read our full Genesis GV60 review or see our new Genesis car deals


4. BMW iX3

BMW iX3 2022 front cornering

Model M Sport Pro | P11D price £67,110| Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £22.33/£44.75

The iX3 is an example of the company taking the softly-softly approach to electric car technology. This large SUV truly is cutting edge when it comes to technology, but you might not think that to be the case by looking at it.

What's more, BMW has a reputation for making cars that drive well, and the iX3 is no exception. It’s brisk and handles neatly, and the ride is well controlled, if a touch firm at times. Officially, the car has a range of 285 miles on a charge, equating to around 220 miles in the real world.

Inside, everything feels as luxurious yet businesslike as it does in the regular X3, with only a few blue highlights to remind you that you’re in the electrically powered version. Standard equipment is generous, too, with heated leather seats up front, a panoramic sunroof, parking sensors and a powered tailgate.

Read our full BMW iX3 review or see our new BMW car deals


5. Kia EV6

Kia EV6 2023 nose

Model 166kW RWD GT Line | P11D price £48,190| Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £16.08/£31.16

If you like the look of the Genesis GV60 seen earlier on this list, but want something that's just a little bit different, then why not try its stablemate – the EV6.

For a start, it is capable of travelling a very long way indeed on a charge – most versions have an official range of more than 300 miles – and when you finally get to the point that you need to recharge, the EV6 is capable of doing so more quickly than most (as long as you can find a quick enough charger).

As for space, there’s plenty both in the front and in the back, and the boot is a fair size. Our preferred trim comes with electrically adjustable front seats, and a gizmo that lets you use the charging port as a three-pin plug socket. It really is an outstanding package.

Read our full Kia EV6 review or see our new Kia car deals


6. BMW i4

bmw i4 tracking

Model eDrive40 M Sport | P11D price £59,335| Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £19.75/£39.58

The i4 does most things a company car driver will need very well indeed. For a start, its performance is more than strong enough, and its official range of 367 miles means longer trips should be a doddle. Better still, its battery can be recharged at a rate of 200kW (if you can find a quick enough charger), meaning it can be topped up from 10-80% in just half an hour.

Inside, the i4 is as classy as the closely related BMW 4 Series so it feels good to sit in. Its infotainment system is top notch too, with a huge, curved 14.9in screen, sharp, vivid graphics and, with both touchscreen and rotary-dial control possible, it's easy to use on the move.

There’s loads of leg and head room in the front, and decent leg room behind, but the sloping room inevitably compromises rear head room. Still, the large hatchback rear end is roomy and the rear seats fold in a handy 40/20/40 configuration.

Read our full BMW i4 review or see our new BMW car deals


7. Hyundai Ioniq 5

Hyundai Ioniq 5 2023 front

Model 168kW Premium | P11D price £46,890| Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £15.67/£31.25

The retro-styled Ioniq 5 is the third car in a sibling triangle which also includes the Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60 we've already seen on this list. It shares many of the same virtues as those cars, including a long range, the ability to recharge quickly and a practical interior.

Entry level versions of the Ioniq 5 come with a 168bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels – resulting in a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.5sec. Four-wheel-drive versions keep the same 77kWh battery pack but receive a second motor for a combined 321bhp.

Read our full Hyundai Ioniq 5 review or see our new Hyundai car deals


8. Cupra Born

Cupra Born front cornering

Model 58kWh V1 | P11D price £36,420 Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £12.16/£24.25

It's best to think of the Born as a sportier, more premium sibling to the VW ID 3. So, it does all the good things the ID 3 does, such as having plenty of space for you and your passengers, a reasonable boot, plus lots of standard equipment – including heated front seats, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. Better still, our preferred model has an official range of 264 miles (you can expect around 200 miles in reality), and the sort of performance that will keep you entertained.

The sportier feel comes from the car having slightly sharper steering than the ID 3, and suspension that’s been lowered a touch, to enhance the car’s ability to change direction. Indeed, the Born is that rare thing – a small electric car that’s genuinely good fun to drive along a twisty road.

Read our full Cupra Born review or see our new Cupra car deals


9. Lexus NX450h+

Lexus NX front cornering

Model 450h+ [Premium Pack] | P11D price £54,895 Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £75.17/£146.42

The first model on this list that's not entirely electric is the NX – our reigning Plug-in Hybrid Car of the Year. A combined power output of 305bhp from the 2.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor certainly isn’t to be sniffed at, and it makes this large SUV feel genuinely nippy.

The interior is beautifully designed and is made from some extremely high-class materials. The driving position is good too, aided by the best front seats in any SUV. That driving position is helped by the decent space for your passengers, while the 520-litre boot is on par for the class.

There’s no shortage of equipment either, because the NX comes with heated front seats, keyless entry and wireless phone charging as standard.

Read our full Lexus NX review or see our new Lexus car deals


10. Mercedes C-Class

Mercedes C-Class front cornering

Model C300e AMG Line | P11D price £51,970 Monthly BIK tax rate 2023/24 @ 20%/40% £69.33/£138.58

A popular choice among company car drivers, the latest C-Class is best sampled in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) C300e form, which combines a petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 308bhp – and a resulting 0-62mph sprint time of just 6.1sec. Despite the extra weight of its battery, the PHEV's ride is comfortable, and with an official zero-emission range of 68 miles, your commute could be completed without firing up the engine at all.

Elsewhere, the C-Class impresses with a glitzy interior, while even entry-level models come with most of the equipment you're likely to want, including heated front seats, leather trim and an 11.9in infotainment touchscreen.

Read our full Mercedes C-Class review or see our new Mercedes car deals

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

Quickly calculate your BIK bill with our company car tax calculator >>