There’s no doubt about it. Winter is here. We’ve seen snow, ice and freezing fog. Not all cars can cope in these conditions.
If you’re on the lookout for your next company car and you’re concerned about wintry conditions yet want to keep tax bills down, Parkers can help.
Here is our guide to our top five snow-busting small cars. We’ve laid out exactly how much they’ll cost per month and have given you an idea of how big their boots are too.
Why buy? The Panda 4×4 is a fantastic little car for rough or slippery surfaces. It has genuine off-road capability and is one of the best-loved small cars around. Fiat markets it as the only city car with four-wheel-drive and it’s the smallest car in this article by quite a margin. P11d value: £13,940 CO2 emissions: 114g/km Monthly tax*: £33 Fuel economy: 57.6mpg Boot size: 225 litres |
Why buy? The Countryman is the ‘crossover’ version of the popular MINI. It’s bulked-up and higher-riding than the normal car and has the option of a 4×4 system, which means it’ll work when the snow begins the fall. P11d value: £20,515 CO2 emissions: 129g/km Monthly tax*: £68 Fuel economy: 57.6mpg Boot size: 350 litres |
Dacia Duster Access 1.5 dCi 4×4
Why buy? New brand Dacia is a subsidiary of Renault and takes aim at the cheaper end of the crossover market. The list price is low and you can order one with 4×4, making it a realistic proposition for winter motoring. P11d value: £13,515 CO2 emissions: 137g/km Monthly tax*: £40 Fuel economy: 53.3mpg Boot size: 408 litres |
Mitsubishi ASX 3 1.8 Diesel 4WD
Why buy? The ASX is a small crossover which aims to provide potential hatchback buyers with a different option to the usual suspects. Equipped with the 1.8-litre diesel engine and 4×4, it’ll work off road without breaking the bank when the tax man comes knocking. P11d value: £22,499 CO2 emissions: 138g/km Monthly tax*: £83 Fuel economy: 54.3mpg Boot size: 442 litres |
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.6 DDiS SZ-T ALLGRIP 5dr
Why buy? The SX4 S-Cross is a Swift-sized hatchback with rugged 4×4 looks. It’s available with four-wheel-drive and with the 1.6-litre diesel engine it isn’t unrealistic as a company car. P11d value: £21,494 CO2 emissions: 114g/km Monthly tax*: £61 Fuel economy: 64.2mpg Boot size: 270 litres |
*Company car tax is calculated on the 20% pay scale using 2012/13 tax bands and assuming no optional extras.