Being offered a company car can be a great perk, but it’s not for everyone and it can sometimes make more sense to take the monthly cash sum instead.
Many people choose to use this cash to pay for a new car, either with a lease deal or monthly finance repayments. You get the freedom to pick which car you want instead of the restrictions in place – like CO2 output, number of seats or fuel type – on a company car scheme.
Plus, picking an engine that will please your fleet manager often means compromising on power, but that’s not a problem if you take the cash.
To help you find your next new car, here are our highest-rated seven-seaters along with the engine and trim we’d pick.
Ford S-Max
Combining sporty looks and handling with seven-seat practicality, the S-Max offers a stylish alternative to the established boxy people carriers.
Thanks to a new Easy Entry system it’s no task to get into the third row. One touch folds and slides the middle row seats so you can get into the back. It’s not huge back there, a penalty of the exterior styling, but big enough.
All of the diesel engines are 2 litres in size but there’s a choice of different power outputs. We think the middle powered 148bhp model is more than adequate while retaining some of the economy characteristics of the lower powered unit.
Titanium trim costs £1,650 more than the base Zetec but you get sat-nav, different 17-inch alloys, cruise control with intelligent speed limiter, automatic headlights and wipers and LED daytime running lamps.
Vital statistics
Star rating: 4.5
Engine and trim: 2.0 TDCi Titanium 5d
Price: £27,695
Power: 148bhp
Economy: 56 mpg
CO2 emissions: 129g/km
Kit highlights: Sat-nav, voice control system, cruise control with traffic sign recognition.
For our full Ford S-Max review click here
Volvo XC90
Safe, comfortable and well equipped, there’s an awful lot to like about the Volvo XC90. We’ve picked out R Design spec as it comes with sportier seats, larger wheels and driver display screen, and a host of visual upgrades inside and out.
There’s sumptuous luxury throughout the cabin and it’s one of the best in our list here when it comes to interior roominess.
There are three engines to choose from and they all come with an eight speed automatic gearbox as standard. We think the solitary D5 diesel does the best job of powering the XC90’s bulk without drinking fuel. It has 222bhp and 470Nm of torque which allows brisk progress too.
Vital statistics
Star rating: 4.5
Engine and trim: 2.0 D5 R Design AWD 5d Geartronic
Price: £49,285
Power: 222bhp
Economy: 48 mpg
CO2 emissions: 152g/km
Kit highlights: LED headlights, powered tailgate, sat-nav, live traffic information.
For our full Volvo XC90 review click here
Peugeot 5008
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The big Peugeot offers a good drive in a compact package without compromising on pragmatism. It may be the smallest on our list but it punches above its weight in terms of value for money and practicality.
You get three individual seats in the second row for added flexibility, plus actual legroom in the back thanks to a proper footwell. However, due to the car’s smaller size the rear row is really for teenagers only.
The top 2-litre diesel offers 150bhp in manual form and 163bhp in automatic. The latter doesn’t offer a huge amount more speed so you’re better off in the manual.
Splash out on an Allure trim and you get climate control, sat nav, cruise control, parking sensors, reversing camera and head up display.
Vital statistics
Star rating: 4.5
Engine and trim: 2.0 BlueHDi Allure 5d
Price: £26,095
Power: 150bhp
Economy: 67 mpg, 110g/km CO2
Kit highlights: Sat nav, reversing camera, head up display.
For our full Peugeot 5008 review click here.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Until the fully-fledged Discovery comes along in 2016, the smaller Discovery Sport is your best option if you want a seven-seat Land Rover.
That’s no hardship though as it’s a very capable vehicle both on the road and off, plus it offers a bit more subtlety than the glamorous XC90.
We like the 2.2-litre diesel engine which is also used in the Range Rover Evoque, paired with the nine-speed automatic gearbox as it offers smooth and linear power.
HSE spec bags you some nice upgrades including an eleven-speaker stereo, full leather seats, panoramic sunroof, and a reversing camera.
Vital statistics
Star rating: 4.5
Engine and trim: 2.2 SD4 HSE 5d Auto
Price: £39,400
Power: 187bhp
Economy: 44 mpg
CO2 emissions: 166g/km
Kit highlights: Panoramic sunroof, voice control sat nat, heated and cooled front seats.
For our full Land Rover Discovery Sport review click here
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