The best BIK-busting PHEV company cars

Our choice: Skoda Superb iV

Superb by name and nature, Skoda’s large family car has recently been refreshed and it's better than ever. Featuring the brand’s typical blend of value, practicality and dependability, the big hatch now offers an extra injection of style and upmarket appeal. What’s not to like?

Sleeker looks and a more upmarket interior give the Superb greater presence, while no rival offers more interior space for people and luggage. Yet for business owners, the most important upgrade is the addition of a larger, 25.7kWh battery that helps push the pure-electric range beyond 60 miles, making it more useful and dropping it into the 8% BIK bracket.

Mechanically, the rest of the car remains largely unchanged, which means the 204bhp petrol-electric powertrain delivers adequate performance, even if the blending of the two motive sources isn’t the smoothest. 

Still, it’s refined enough, complementing the Superb’s low noise levels and reasonably pliant ride. Long motorway journeys are the Czech machine’s bread and butter, but with accurate handling and decent body control, it’s far from out of its depth when pushing on through a series of corners. 

Our choice: Mercedes-Benz C300e

Sometimes only the three-pointed star will do when it comes to impressing your fellow climbers on the corporate ladder. An on-road shorthand for success in the board room, a Mercedes in any form still sends out all the right messages to co-workers and clients alike.

The C300e adds to this appeal with its neatly integrated plug-in drivetrain, which blends plenty of punch with the sort of running costs that will keep fleet managers happy. Combing a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with a muscular electric motor, the Merc manages to serve up an impressive 308bhp and an EV range of 70 miles. As a result, 0-60mph takes 6.0sec (we tested it in the wet, so expect it to be quicker in ideal conditions) and 8% BIK. 

Despite the dragster performance, the Merc isn’t a truly sporting option. The handling is accurate enough, but a BMW 3 Series remains a more dynamic option. Still, few compact saloons are as hushed and comfortable at cruise, while the C300e’s interior offers an unrivalled blend of opulence and tech. 

Our choice: Range Rover P460e

If you’ve climbed all the way up the greasy pole and made it to the CEO’s office, then nothing telegraphs your top-dog status like a Range Rover. Imposing looks, a club-class interior and incredible breadth of dynamic ability make this one of the most formidable 4x4s on and off road.

Sitting up high behind the Rangie’s wheel gives you an imperious view of the road ahead, while the plush air-suspended ride and vault-like refinement mean nothing need disturb you and your passengers on the move. Yet despite its vast exterior dimensions, the big Brit handles with surprising precision, especially with the optional four-wheel steering, which makes it feel far more wieldy than you might expect. And if you do ever head off road (you won’t, because, well, 22in diamond-cut alloys) you’ll discover this is a luxury car that reaches the parts others can’t.

Inside, it melds old-school luxury with all the latest gadgets and gizmos, while space isn’t exactly in short supply. Of course, this capability and upper-rust pampering doesn’t come cheap, but with an EV range of over 70 miles, the P460e softens the blow with a BIK banding of just 8%, which means higher-rate earners will pay less in tax than they would on an entry-level Skoda Kodiaq.

Our choice: Citroën C5 X Plug-in Hybrid

Sometimes it pays to do things differently, which is why the Citroën C5 X makes such a compelling choice of company car for those who don’t like to be pigeon-holed. Something of a return to quirky form for the French firm, this distinctive machine effortlessly blends style, space and serenity.

Effectively Citroën’s left-field take on the traditional large family car, it aims to combine the fashionable appeal of an SUV with the classical style of a saloon and the space of an estate. In many respects, it pulls this off, with the C5 X featuring sleek lines that hide a spacious, neatly designed interior and generous 485-litre boot (although that’s down from 545 litres on the non plug-in version).

Comfort is the order of the day on the move, with squishy and cosseting seats, low noise levels and a ride that almost delivers the supple excellence of the brand’s hydropneumatically sprung forebears. The trade-off is a driving experience that’s capable but largely free of thrills.

The same goes for the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which with a combined output of 222bhp is brisk rather than quick. And while it works smoothly and unobtrusively, its claimed range of 39 miles means it falls into the higher 12% BIK band.

Our choice: Volkswagen Golf GTE

Occasionally in business it’s best to slip below the radar, especially when it comes to creating the impression that you’re a safe bet for your clients’ cash. In those cases, only a Golf will do. As familiar a piece of street furniture as a lamp post or 'no entry' sign, the evergreen hatch also exudes quality and a certain classy classlessness (that may or may not be a phrase).

The recently refreshed Mk8.5 Golf addresses some of the quirks of its Mk8 predecessor. It’s still based on the same MQB platform that make its debut on the Mk7, which is good news. That means it has mature driving dynamics, which combine just enough back-road sparkle with a compliant ride and decent refinement.

However, the car’s infotainment has been improved with enhanced graphics and a more intuitive interface. Crucially, the air-con temperature controls are now backlit, so you can adjust them at night.

Most importantly, the plug-in hybrid model’s 201bhp petrol-electric drivetrain (there’s also a racy 267bhp GTE version) now packs a 25.7kWh battery, which means a remarkable WLTP EV range of 88 miles and a BIK rating of just 5%. 

Our choice: Peugeot 508 SW PSE

Style, speed and space - the Peugeot 508 SW PSE has it all. Better still, it has suspension tuned by the chassis wizards at Peugeot Sport, ensuring this classy plug-in hybrid estate handles with the high-octane excitement of a hot hatch.

Specially calibrated adaptive dampers, revised springs, a wider track and retuned electric power steering combine to give the 508 a deliciously poised and agile balance through corners. It acts as a stark reminder that the French firm hasn’t forgotten how to create the magic that used to flow through legends such as the GTi-flavoured 205 and 306 models. Then there’s the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which delivers a potent 335bhp.

Yet it manages to combine this athleticism with a cushioned ride and strong refinement. The interior is spacious, smartly designed and oozes just enough premium appeal too. There’s a standard hatch version, but for us the SW’s 530-litre boot offers more appealing flexibility for business and family life.

If there’s a catch, it’s that the 508 isn’t a cheap choice. An EV range of just 26 miles means it’s rated at 12% BIK, a high figure that’s compounded by a price that’s the wrong side of £55,000.

Our choice: Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid

When it comes to company car Top Trumps, few cars come close to matching Porsche's plug-in hybrid Panamera. Its combination of electric motor and turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 results in a rippling 671bhp, which means 0-62mph in 3.2sec and a top speed of 196mph.

Heavily updated earlier this year, the Panamera also features even sharper looks and a revised chassis, making it an even more entertaining choice. Not only is it rabidly fast, but it also drives with a sports-car nimbleness and engagement that’s at odds with its hefty, near two-tonne kerb weight and expansive external dimensions.

It also rides with aplomb and the upgraded interior is even roomier and packed with high-grade materials. Company executives will feel pampered and relaxed at the end of a tough day in the board room. Then there’s the tech, which includes more screens than the average IT department.

Of course, you don’t get to be in a position to run a Panamera as a company car unless you’re astute with the business accounts. So it’s good news that the Porsche’s updates run to a larger, 25.9kWh battery that boosts the EV range to 59 miles and slashes the BIK rate from 12% to 8%.

Our choice: Toyota C-HR PHEV

Creating a strong first impression is often vital for business success, which is where the Toyota C-HR shines. Now in its second generation, the high-riding crossover has gone for bold this time around and its coupé-inspired looks and neat two-tone paint job help it stand out from the company car crowd.

Better still, there’s substance to go with the style. Underpinned by the brand’s TNGA architecture, the C-HR is good to drive, with natural and poised handling and a fluid ride. It’s also boosted by a new, smooth and refined plug-in hybrid drivetrain that develops 220bhp and claims 41 miles of EV running for an 8% BIK rating.

There have been improvements inside too, with a neater design and an upgrade in premium appeal. It also benefits from Toyota’s latest and easier-to-use infotainment, plus an array of advanced driver aids. Less impressive is the space for rear passengers, which feels even more cramped because of the incredibly small side windows. Accommodating the hybrid running gear also shrinks the boot to just 310 litres, which is smaller than some superminis.

Still, if you cover most of your work mileage one-up, then the eye-catching, refined and easygoing Toyota deserves a look.