We’ll be getting behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Cascada soon for a full review. It’s a four-seater drop-top that’s aiming to move Vauxhall upmarket and take on premium convertibles such as the Audi A5 Cabriolet. With a P11D value starting at less than £24,000, Vauxhall will be hoping that the Cascada will catch the eye of a few user choosers looking for something different.
That got us thinking: what other convertibles out there would be a good choice for the sun-worshipping company car driver?
Here are five potential convertible company cars that’ll be perfect when (or should that be ‘if’?) warmer weather finally reaches British shores.
-1.jpg)
Why buy? It’s upmarket cars like the A5 that the Cascada hopes to undercut with its cheaper pricing. You’ll have to pay through the nose if you want an A5, with P11D values north of £30k, but there’s no denying it’s a desirable machine. Lowest emissions belong to the lowest-powered 143bhp 2.0 TDI diesel, but the current three per cent BIK tax surcharge for diesel cars means you’ll pay less overall every month for the 1.8 TFSI petrol version thanks to its lower P11D value. Monthly tax from*: £102 Roof opens in: 15 seconds |
Why buy? Citroen’s fashionable DS3 has been a big hit, and the addition of a fabric soft-top has given it an extra dimension. The electric-powered roof takes 16 seconds to close and can be operated even at motorway speeds. Petrol power is the only engine option across the DS3 Cabrio range, but the entry-level 1.2-litre VTi version emits only 112g/km of CO2 meaning a BIK rate of 15 per cent. Most buyers will appreciate the extra power of the 1.6 VTi however, which kicks out 136g/km of CO2 meaning a higher BIK rate of 20 per cent. Monthly tax from*: £37 Roof opens in: 16 seconds |
.jpg)
Why buy? No company car park would be complete without a BMW or two, and the 1-Series is the most affordable way into a new Munich-made convertible. It’s a bit on the cramped side, especially if you plan on carrying more than one passenger, and you’ll have to put up with old-hat styling – an open-topped version of the latest 1-Series isn’t yet available – but the original 1-Series remains a popular car with plenty of reasons to recommend it. The diesel 118d has the cleanest CO2 emissions, at 127g/km, and therefore qualifies for the lowest BIK band of the range at 21 per cent. Monthly tax from*: £91 Roof opens in: 22 seconds |
.jpg)
Why buy? There’s an all-new Golf Cabriolet on the way later this year, but if you can’t wait until then there could be run-out deals to be had on the current Mk6 Cabrio. Older rag-top Golfs had a distinctive looking ‘picnic basket handle’ rollover bar, but the Mk6 has an automatic pop-up roll bar for cleaner lines. Manual BlueMotion diesel versions emit less than 120g/km of CO2, meaning a BIK rate of 19 per cent. Alternatively you could go for the sleeker-looking Eos, which is a little long in the tooth these days but features a clever folding roof made from a combination of steel and glass with a built-in sunroof. The uber-clean 2.0 TDI BlueMotion version has CO2 emissions of 125g/km and qualifies for a 20 per cent BIK charge. Monthly tax from*: £71 Roof opens in: 9.5 seconds |
.jpg)
Why buy? The 308CC features an ‘Airwave’ system that blows warm air around the driver and passenger’s necks so you can keep the roof down even in British summertime. Like the 1-Series, you’ll struggle to fit much in the rear seats and it’s afflicted with Peugeot’s old ‘wide mouth’ design theme, but it’s still a head-turning convertible with surprisingly decent bootspace when the roof is fully up. The 1.6 e-HDi diesel engine offers the lowest CO2 emissions in Access trim at 123g/km, meaning a BIK rate of 20 per cent. Monthly tax from*: £76 Roof opens in: 20 seconds |
*Monthly company car tax is worked out using our tax calculator and is quoted at 20% pay scale assuming no optional extras.
