Finding a balance between a small P11D price and low CO2 emissions can be a bit of a minefield but it’s the only way to ensure your tax bills stay low.
That’s why we’ve done the leg work for you by picking our top 10 low-tax, five-door cars – all of which produce less than 100g/km of CO2.
We’ve even picked a selection of different body styles and equipment levels to ensure there’s something for everyone.
Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi 16V ecoFLEX Tech Line (Start Stop)
Vauxhall reckons about 70 percent of its Astras will be bought by company car drivers and with tax bills as low as £55 a month, it’s easy to see why.
It’s the newest car here, so as you would expect it boasts the lowest CO2 emissions, while the smallest P11D means it’s our cheapest car overall.
You don’t have to put up with a bargain basement spec though – Tech Line has been specifically designed for business users so you get sat-nav on an eight-inch screen, plus a leather steering wheel and front armrest.
The 110hp engine in this car is the well-regarded “Whisper Diesel” which lives up to its name thanks to low noise levels and high levels of refinement.
For our full Vauxhall Astra review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- P11D price: £18,290
- MPG (official combined): 85mpg
- Power: 110hp
- CO2 emissions: 88g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £55
Hyundai i30 Hatchback 1.6 CRDi Blue Drive SE
The Korean manufacturer has always offered outstanding value for money but a recent drive to improve the quality of its cars means you now get a considerably sharper exterior and a stylish cabin too.
It’s a bit more expensive and less efficient that the Astra above but still doesn’t break the bank at £56 a month in BIK charges.
For this you get SE spec which comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control with speed limiter, driver’s electric lumbar support, rear parking sensors, a leather steering wheel and gearknob.
There’s no sat-nav, so if you regularly use one you can either hook up a smartphone or upgrade to SE Nav grade and pay £59 a month.
It’s similar to the Astra in the engine department, with a 110hp, 1.6-litre diesel which provides punchy mid-range torque and decent levels of refinement.
For our full Hyundai i30 review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- P11D price: £18,540
- MPG (official combined): 78mpg
- Power: 110hp
- CO2 emissions: 94g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £56
SEAT Leon 1.6 TDI Ecomotive SE
This car represents a bit of a price jump to £59 a month but we think it’s worth it thanks to its razor-sharp lines and engaging drive.
For this budget you’ll get an SE which comes with 16-inch alloys, cruise control, leather steering wheel and gearknob, and a front armrest.
There is also the SEAT XDS system which can reduce slip at the front wheels when you are cornering quickly, like a limited-slip differential.
It’s powered by the VW group’s staple 1.6-litre diesel engine, producing 110hp and low emissions of 94g/km.
For our full SEAT Leon review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4.5 stars
- P11D price: £19,595
- MPG (official combined): 78mpg
- Power: 110hp
- CO2 emissions: 94g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £59
Skoda Octavia Estate 1.6 TDI CR GreenLine III
The big Czech estate is an extremely popular company car thanks to its balance of performance, practicality and value for money.
We think £65 a month is a small price to pay when you consider the 610-litre boot, which can be boosted to 1,740 litres by folding the rear seats down.
You also get a lot of kit, with sat-nav, cruise control, DAB radio and rear parking sensors ticking all the big company car boxes.
This being an efficiency-spec Greenline car means that although it also comes with a VW group 1.6-litre diesel engine, it offers lower CO2 and higher fuel efficiency than others on this list.
For our full Skoda Octavia estate review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4.5 stars
- P11D price: £21,665
- MPG (official combined): 80mpg
- Power: 110hp
- CO2 emissions: 90g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £65
Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDi ISG 3
Similar to the i30 (Kia is a subsidiary of Hyundai) but slanted slightly more towards fashion than functionality, the Ceed still offers high levels of value and good build quality.
The interior is a bit more style-focused than the i30’s but feels equally well put-together and ergonomically well laid-out.
Pick Kia’s 3 specification and you get plenty of kit, including a sat-nav system on a seven-inch touchscreen, plus dual-zone air conditioning, reversing camera, and auto lights and wipers.
You get a 1.6-litre diesel engine but this time it produces 136hp which is enough for a sub-10-second 0-60mph time.
Despite this your monthly bills will be a remarkably low £65 a month, making the Ceed a strong all-round performer.
For our full review of the Kia Ceed click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- P11D price: £20,640
- MPG (official combined): 74mpg
- Power: 134bhp
- CO2 emissions: 99g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £65
VW Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion
So good it’s the default answer to many “which car should I buy” conundrums, you won’t be surprised to see a VW Golf included on our list.
The Bluemotion badge used to mean a lack of kit in order to save weight but you get plenty in the most fuel-efficient Golf now, including a 5.8-inch infotainment system with DAB radio, Bluetooth smartphone connection, air-con, aerodynamic bodywork, 15-inch alloys wheels and lowered suspension.
It’s powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine which means low emissions of 89g/km and small monthly bills of £67.
Best of all you get subtle styling and a solid, well-built interior which feels like the product of years of honing.
For our full review of the VW Golf click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 5 stars
- P11D price: £22,305
- MPG (official combined): 83mpg
- Power: 110hp
- CO2 emissions: 89g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £67
Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI Ultra SE Technik
If you want premium styling (and the badge to go with it) without breaking the bank, the Audi A3 is a great way to do it.
SE Technik trim was created with company car drivers in mind so you get the full ship’s complement of 16-inch alloys, air-conditioning, Bluetooth interface, sat-nav, rear parking sensors and cruise control.
It’s often seen as a more expensive version of the VW Golf but actually this A3 only costs £67 a month, so you don’t have to hunt for coppers behind the sofa to pay for it.
This is largely thanks to the 89g/km of CO2 produced by the 1.6-litre diesel engine powering this popular hatchback.
For our full Audi A3 Sportback review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4.5 stars
- P11D price: £22,430
- MPG (official combined): 83mpg
- Power: 110hp
- CO2 emissions: 89g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £67
BMW 1 Series 116d EfficientDynamics Plus
You can tell from the name that this 1 Series is trying really hard to prove it’s a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly version.
What speaks for itself, however, are the economy figures, 89g/km of CO2 and 83mpg, giving you a monthly tax bill of just £68.
All BMWs now come with sat-nav and the 1 Series adds to this with a DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, 16-inch alloys, rear parking sensors and automatic lights and wipers.
Power comes from a 1.5-litre diesel engine with 116hp, putting it above some of the VW group products on this list in the power stakes.
For our full BMW-1 Series review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4.5 stars
- P11D price: £22,655
- MPG (official combined): 83mpg
- Power: 116hp
- CO2 emissions: 89g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £68
Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi Titanium Navigation
Standing out on the list thanks to its great drive, the Ford Focus is also good value for money with this top-spec Titanium Navigation model coming in at £70 a month.
As you’d expect it’s well-equipped with sat-nav but you also get cruise control, engine start button, auto headlights and windscreen wipers and rear armrest with storage.
Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre diesel engine with 120hp so you get plenty of power to make the most of the balanced handling.
Best of all though is the way the Focus drives, which will see you hunting out the good back roads on your route home.
For our full Ford Focus review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- P11D price: £22,040
- MPG (official combined): 74mpg
- Power: 120hp
- CO2 emissions: 98g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £70
Peugeot 308 2.0 BlueHDi GT Line
It might be the most expensive here but if you want a sporty-looking yet good-value hatchback it’s one of the best choices.
Powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine, the Peugeot’s 150hp makes it the most powerful here and eye-catching GT Line trim means you’ll look the part too.
As well as a racy bodykit you get 18-inch alloys and half-Alcantara sports seats, meaning this car is almost indistinguishable from the hot 308 GT car from the outside.
That powerful engine actually produces less carbon dioxide than Peugeot’s smaller 1.6-litre diesel so expect comparatively low tax bills for the amount of car you get – this will cost £81 a month.
For our full Peugeot 308 review click here
Figures at a glance
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- P11D price: £24,375
- MPG (official combined): 70mpg
- Power: 150hp
- CO2 emissions: 97g/km
- Monthly BIK tax costs*
- 2016/17 tax year: £81
*Company car tax is calculated for a 20 percent tax payer assuming no optional extras
Need more help? Maybe the below articles can help
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Prices for Alfa Romeo Giulia announced
Is diesel still the best option for company car drivers?
New Renault Megane to offer best-in-class running costs
