The most popular company cars in the UK
New SMMT figures reveal the 10 most popular car and SUV models chosen by fleet and company car drivers in the UK so far in 2023. Here's the full list.....
The fleet car market represents a big chunk of new car registrations in the UK each year, but which models are the most popular choices for company car drivers?
Well, so far in 2023, the Nissan Qashqai has been the top pick in this section of the market, followed by the Kia Sportage and – the first electric car on the top 10 list – the Tesla Model Y.
They were followed in fourth and fifth place by two models that are available in petrol and electric versions, the Vauxhall Corsa and the Vauxhall Mokka.
Reflecting the market as a whole, the list is dominated by SUVs. In fact, the only traditional cars to feature in the fleet cars top 10 – based on new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) – are the Corsa and the Volkswagen Golf (in 10th place).
And despite the tax advantages of running an all-electric vehicle as a company car, the majority of models listed here are available only with regular petrol, diesel or hybrid engines.
Read more fleet and company car advice
Below we list the 10 most popular cars by fleet registrations based on the SMMT's figures for January 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023.
We also give our What Car? road testers' rating, details of the cheapest version based on list price and how much it will cost to run in benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax, plus a link to our full new car review.
Note that for some models, a version with a higher list price might work out cheaper to run as a fleet car if the CO2 emissions figure is much lower (or zero, as is the case with fully electric cars). You can find out more with our cheapest company cars guide.
The 10 most popular fleet cars in the UK
1. Nissan Qashqai
Number of registrations 22,524
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.3 Visia
List price £26,820
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £147.50
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £295
This immensely popular family SUV has long been a big seller, so it's no surprise to see that it's a favourite with company car drivers too. Our road testers have been impressed by its smart interior and great driving position, but if you're looking for a fun-to-drive model, there are other strong contenders to consider.
2. Kia Sportage
Number of registrations 20,875
What Car? rating 5/5
Cheapest version 1.6T GDi 2
List price £29,045
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £164.58
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £329.17
As a category winner at our 2023 Car of the Year Awards, the Sportage is top of its class right now. It gives you plenty of practicality at a competitive price, and is also available with a wide choice of engines, including a mild hybrid (MHEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
3. Tesla Model Y
Number of registrations 19,883
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version RWD
List price £44,935
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £15
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £30
The first fully electric model on this list is an electric SUV that takes many of the qualities of the Tesla Model 3 but combines them with a bit more interior space and a higher driving position. Performance is quick and the official range varies from 283 miles to 331 miles, depending on the version you choose.
4. Vauxhall Corsa and Corsa Electric
Number of registrations 19,611
What Car? rating 3/5
Cheapest version 1.2 Design (petrol)
List price £19,360
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £93.58
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £187.67
The Corsa has been one of the UK's most popular models for years, offering low-costs motoring to small car buyers. And now its available not only with a choice of 1.2-litre petrol engines, but also as an electric car. It's a solid choice if you can get a good deal, but we think there are better rivals out there.
Vauxhall Corsa review
Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
5. Vauxhall Mokka and Mokka Electric
Number of registrations 19,035
What Car? rating 3/5
Cheapest version 1.2 Turbo 100 Design (petrol)
List price £22,395
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £117.92
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £235.83
Like the Corsa, the Mokka small SUV comes with traditional 1.2-litre petrol engines with various power outputs or as an electric SUV. Also like the Corsa, our road testers have given it a three-star rating, so we think it's wise to consider whether other models meet your needs better before committing.
Vauxhall Mokka review
Vauxhall Mokka Electric review
6. MG HS
Number of registrations 17,616
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.5 T-GDI SE
List price £22,795
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £140.58
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £281.17
This big SUV gives you a lot for your money. As well as a big interior and boot, the HS comes with plenty of standard equipment, including front and rear parking sensors (handy with such a big car), built-in sat-nav and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.
7. Hyundai Tucson
Number of registrations 17,258
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.6 TGDi SE Connect
List price £30,800
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £178.67
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £359.33
Like the closely related Kia Sportage, the Tucson has a high-tech engine range featuring various types of hybrids to help you keep fuel costs down. It also has a big boot, lots of passenger space and a smart interior. You also get plenty of standard equipment on all versions.
8. Ford Kuga
Number of registrations 15,710
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.5 EcoBoost 150 Vignale
List price £32,270
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £211.17
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £422.42
Company car drivers consider this big SUV would be wise to take a look at the PHEV version, because it should bring down your BIK tax considerably compared with the non-PHEVs. It also impressed our road testers as being one of the better-handling PHEV SUVs. The boot is smaller than many rivals' though.
9. Nissan Juke
Number of registrations 15,181
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.0 DiG-T 114 Visia
List price £20,675
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £106.83
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £213.67
When it was first launched, the Juke was an early sign of SUVs' impending domination of the car market, and it has been a big seller ever since. The second-generation model gained a hybrid option and a bigger boot, and we like the smart interior, but it's worth considering other small SUVs before you commit.
10. Volkswagen Golf
Number of registrations 14,682
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.0 TSI Life
List price £26,440
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £127.83
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £255.58
The only family car on this list has been a strong seller for eight generations for a reason. The Golf is comfortable, good to drive and available with a wide range of engines (including the 242bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol in the iconic GTI hot hatch). There are cheaper rivals that can do the same for less though.
Top 10 car models by UK fleet registrations
1. Nissan Qashqai (22,524)
2. Kia Sportage (20,875)
3. Tesla Model Y (19,883)
4. Vauxhall Corsa and Corsa Electric (19,611)
5. Vauxhall Mokka and Mokka Electric (19,035)
6. MG HS (17,616)
7. Hyundai Tucson (17,258)
8. Ford Kuga (15,710)
9. Nissan Juke (15,181)
10. Volkswagen Golf (14,682)
(Figures for January 1 to October 31, 2023. Source: SMMT)
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