Best Fords for company car drivers 2023
If you're looking to replace your company car, these are the models from Ford that are worth considering...
For years, Ford has sold more cars in the UK than anyone else. In 2021 it was beaten to top spot by Volkswagen, but this was in no small part due to the shortage of semiconductors, which hit Ford’s and many other car makers' factories particularly hard. It’s still a very popular brand, both with private buyers and company car drivers.
Ford hasn’t been as quick off the mark as some rivals in bringing fully electric cars to market, but it’s begun to put that right with the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV. There are also a growing number of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and mild hybrids, all of which promise low emissions and affordable tax bills for business users.
Ford models come in a broad range of body styles, with hatchbacks, estates, SUVs and MPVs all sharing space on the showroom floor.
Unsure which Ford to choose as your next company car? These are our five favourites. In each case, we’ve named the best model within each range, and calculated the monthly tax bill for a 40% taxpayer; if you're a 20% taxpayer, just cut our monthly figures in half. There are also links to our full reviews of each car, so you can find out everything you might want to know.
5. Ford Galaxy
Best model 2.5 FHEV 190 Titanium | What Car? rating 4/5 | CO2 emissions 148g/km | P11D price £39,675 | Monthly BIK tax rate 2022/23 @40% £449.65
A few years ago, a diesel engine would have been the obvious choice to power a big seven-seat MPV like the Galaxy. Now Ford no longer offers a diesel Galaxy; instead, the only option is a full hybrid.
High-mileage company car drivers might miss the long-distance economy of a diesel, but for tax purposes the hybrid option makes a lot more sense. Emissions of just 148g/km are low for a car of this size and performance. The Galaxy FHEV is in the 34% tax bracket, with a monthly bill of less than £450 if you’re a 40% taxpayer.
The Galaxy makes a fine tool for business or family use, with a roomy and flexible interior and a degree of driver involvement that puts most other MPVs in the shade.
Read our full Ford Galaxy review >>
4. Ford Focus
Best model 1.0 Ecoboost Hybrid 155 ST-Line | What Car? rating 4/5 | CO2 emissions 117g/km | P11D price £26,190 | Monthly BIK tax rate 2022/23 @40% From £244.44
There are better all-round family cars, but very few are more enjoyable to drive than the Ford Focus. From the way it steers to its agility in corners, it proves that you don't need a hot hatch to enjoy yourself.
It makes a sensible choice for a company car driver, too. There’s a choice of mild hybrids with either 123bhp or 153bhp. Both combine lively performance with reasonable emissions, but we’d choose the more powerful of the two for its extra punch.
ST-Line trim has sports suspension to maximise the Ford’s driver appeal. It does make for a firm ride, but we think it’s worth it for the sharp handling.
If we’re being picky, the Focus could be better finished inside, and the boot is nothing like as large as a Skoda Octavia’s.
Read our full Ford Focus review >>
3. Ford Mustang Mach-E
Best model Standard Range RWD | What Car? rating 3/5 | CO2 emissions 0g/km | P11D price £43,275 | Monthly BIK tax rate 2022/23 @40% From £28.85
Make the switch to an electric vehicle and you’ll pay far less in tax than if you drive a car with an internal combustion engine. For the 2022/23 tax year, the benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rate for electric cars is just 2%.
The Mustang Mach-E combines the name of Ford’s famous muscle car with electric power. It can cover big distances, with an official range of 273 miles even if you pick the standard version with the smaller of the two available batteries. In our test, the car achieved a range of 211 miles in real-world conditions. This is the model we’d recommend, because the models with more power or a bigger battery are more expensive and will drive your costs up.
The Mach-E is practical and has a good infotainment system, but its unsettled ride is disappointing.
Read our full Ford Mustang Mach-E review >>
2. Ford Puma
Best model 1.0 Ecoboost Hybrid 155 ST-Line | What Car? rating 5/5 | CO2 emissions 125g/km | P11D price £24,610 | Monthly BIK tax rate 2022/23 @40% From £246.10
As a former What Car? Car of the Year, it’s no surprise to see the Puma near the top of this list. No other small SUV is so much fun to drive, although that’s not the only reason we rate the Puma so highly; it does all the sensible things well, too. There’s room inside for a growing family, and the boot is huge, with lots of extra storage under the floor.
Our favourite engine is the 153bhp 1.0-litre Ecoboost mild hybrid. Ignore the modest cubic capacity; this is a punchy engine that’s a perfect foil for the Puma’s superb chassis. CO2 emissions of just 125g/km make this a relatively cheap company car to own, as well as one that's a hoot to drive.
Read our full Ford Puma review >>
1. Ford Kuga
Best model 2.5 Duratec PHEV Titanium | What Car? rating 4/5 | CO2 emissions 23-25g/km | P11D price £36,850 | Monthly BIK tax rate 2022/23 @40% From £147.40
The Ford Kuga is available with a petrol engine or as a regular hybrid that you don't have to plug in, but for company car drivers we’d recommend the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, because it will cost you a pittance to run compared with anything other than an electric car. For the 2022/23 tax year, a 40% taxpayer will lose just £147.40 to HMRC to run a 2.5 Duratec PHEV Titanium, for example.
The Kuga is a decent large SUV, too. It handles neatly, although it can’t match the smaller Puma’s sparkle. There’s plenty of space inside, plus a healthy list of standard equipment.
Pick the PHEV and the official electric range is just under 40 miles. Even taking that with a pinch of salt, many daily commutes can be completed on electric power alone. With all of these attributes combined, the Kuga is the best Ford model for company car drivers in 2022.
Read our full Ford Kuga review >>
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