Top five Christmas company cars

Five very different cars with festive credentials
Plenty of space for passengers and presents
All achieve less than 120g/km of CO2 emissions

Written by James Taylor Published: 18 December 2012 Updated: 18 December 2012

With the season of goodwill upon us, some company cars are better suited than others to the rigours of the Christmas period.

We’ve picked a combination of cars with plenty of space to carry Christmas shopping, decent range to ferry family members long distances for visits and folding seats to take the Christmas tree away when it’s all over.

Here are our top five company cars to drive home for Christmas.

1. Hyundai i30 Tourer 1.6 CRDi Active (110ps) Blue Drive

Why buy?

No longer a choice only for committed bargain-seekers, Hyundai’s i30 is now a competitive choice in its own right. The Tourer estate version has a huge boot and the best overall load space in its class, making it ideal for ferrying presents and party-goers about. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is available in two power outputs, the lower of which has BIK-friendly sub-120g/km CO2 emissions.

Luggage capacity: 528 litres

Fuel economy: 67mpg

Range: 804 miles

CO2 emissions: 110g/km

BIK band: 16%

Cost per month in company car tax*: £108

2. Skoda Yeti Elegance 1.6 TDI CR (Greenline II) 5dr

Why buy?

Skoda’s small 4×4 has a suitably wintry name and is roomy, comfortable and plenty capable when winter weather turns the roads nasty. Its tough interior will stand up to muddy boots from winter walks, or snowy sledges if we have a white Christmas. Go for the Greenline II version for lower emissions, and the Elegance trim if you want toys like heated leather seats for Christmas.

Luggage capacity: 416 litres

Fuel economy: 61mpg

Range: 793 miles

CO2 emissions: 119g/km

BIK band: 17%

Cost per month in company car tax*: £130

3. Fiat Panda 4×4 TwinAir

Why buy?

The rugged little Panda 4×4 might not be the most refined car on the list, but it has plenty of character. An automotive little donkey, it’s well-equipped to deal with snowy conditions thanks to its stability control system and electronic locking differential. There are two engines available: pick the 1.3-litre diesel if you’re travelling far this Christmas, or the 0.9-litre petrol TwinAir for a cheaper tax band and more driving fun.

Luggage capacity: 260 litres

Fuel economy: 60.1mpg

CO2 emissions: 114g/km

BIK band: 13%

4. Ford B-MAX 1.5 TDCi Zetec

Why buy?

Christmas is a time for family, and you’ll have no problem fitting your nearest and dearest into Ford’s Fiesta-based small people carrier. Sliding doors and no B-pillar mean the B-MAX is the most accessible car in its class. Go for the 1.5 TDCi Zetec to combine 68mpg with a middleweight P11D value, or opt for the 1.6 TDCi in Titanium trim level if you want all the trimmings.

Luggage capacity: 318 litres

Fuel economy: 68mpg

Range: 680 miles

CO2 emissions: 109g/km

BIK band: 15%

Cost per month in company car tax*: £96

5. Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDIe [Start Stop]

Why buy?

It’s a little pricey perhaps, but Audi’s estate version of the A4 is a cosseting and well-appointed place to brave the holiday traffic. The boot’s loading area is large and you can specify optional storage pack straps to help keep Christmas shopping secure, or a wipe-clean loading mat for muddy winter boots. The basic standard trim 2.0-litre TDIe with Start/Stop combines an 18% BIK rating with one of the lower P11D values in the range.

Luggage capacity: 490 litres

Fuel economy: 61mpg

Range: 854 miles

CO2 emissions: 120g/km

BIK band: 18%

Cost per month in company car tax*: £166

*Company car tax is worked out on the 40% pay scale with no optional extras