Plenty of cars offer stratospherically high fuel economy figures but that’ll only get you so far if it’s fitted with a fuel tank from a lawn-mower.
If you want to tick off long journeys without stopping to refuel, or even get through a week’s worth of commuting on one tank, you need a car with some serious range.
We’ve picked our favourite saloons that match a high (claimed) mpg with large capacity tanks – all of these cars reckon on lasting more than 1,000 miles between fill-ups and keep monthly tax bills low*.
Peugeot 508
France is famous for its comfortable, long-distance cruisers, so it’s no surprise to see a Peugeot at the top of this list.
The 508 might not be the go-to company car saloon but it certainly has its merits, namely a comfortable ride and quiet cabin that suits the kind of long journeys its massive range enables.
Both the 1.6-litre auto and 2-litre manual cars offer 72mpg and a 72-litre tank, good for a total of 1,140 miles. It’s up to you whether you’d prefer the cheaper automatic version or the more expensive, but also more powerful, manual.
Either way you’ll be paying £71/£72 a month thanks to low CO2 emissions and P11D values, based on Active level trim. That’s the longest range on our list for the second cheapest monthly BIK tax bill. Impressive stuff.
Vital statistics
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- Long range pick: 1.6 BlueHDi automatic or 2.0 BlueHDi manual (Active trim)
- Range: 1,140 miles (both)
- Economy: 72mpg – 101/102g/km of CO2
- Monthly BIK cost*: £71/£72
For more information see our full Peugeot 508 review
Hyundai i40 Saloon
It may have the shortest range here (a still admirable 1,031 miles) but the Hyundai i40 is also the cheapest by some margin.
Besting the Peugeot by £7 a month in BIK tax, it is some £40 less than the more premium offerings from BMW and Audi.
There are no bargain-basement prejudices here though – the i40 has a smart, modern cockpit and loads of room inside for passengers and luggage. It’s not even the least efficient on our list (that credit goes to the Audi A6) so you won’t get stung for private mileage.
If you’re looking for a dynamic drive though you’re better catered for elsewhere, the BMW 5 Series, for example.
Vital statistics
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- Long range pick: 1.7 CRDi (115bhp) Blue Drive S
- Range: 1,031 miles
- Economy: 67mpg – 110/km of CO2
- Monthly BIK cost*: £65
For more information see our full Hyundai i40 review
BMW 5 Series
The perennially good all-rounder and the only car on this list worthy of a full five-star Parkers rating, the BMW 5 Series has a lot going for it – including a 1,047 mile range.
It’ll cost you though, this is the most expensive car here (although admittedly only £1 more than its Audi A6 rival) but it’s also the only one with standard sat-nav.
It’s also the best behind the wheel, offering rear-wheel drive and a chassis that allows fast cornering without ruining comfort.
You don’t have to compromise on the engine to get a decent range either, the 2-litre diesel is where we’d spend our money whether we wanted the 1,047 miles it promises or not – it’s the most complete option in the range.
Vital statistics
- Parkers rating: 5 stars
- Long range pick: 520d (190bhp) SE automatic
- Range: 1,047 miles
- Economy: 68mpg – 109/km of CO2
- Monthly BIK cost*: £108
For more information see our full BMW 5 Series saloon review
Volvo S60
This Swedish brand’s compact saloon is the joint-oldest car here (along with the BMW 5 Series) but it also boasts the most impressive claimed fuel economy – a bold 74mpg – and the lowest CO2 emissions at 99g/km.
If you’re environmentally minded then it’s an easy choice but it’s also a great long-distance cruiser thanks to a comfort-biased ride and trademark Volvo armchair seats.
It’s also still a bit of a left-field choice so you’ll stand out in the car park, twinning stylish good looks with an elegant and cosseting interior.
A price of £78 puts it in the middle of the cars in this list, so if you want something that looks a bit more expensive than the Peugeot or Hyundai but doesn’t cost as much as the BMW or Audi, this is the car for you.
Vital statistics
- Parkers rating: 3.5 stars
- Long range pick: D2 (120bhp) SE Nav
- Range: 1,090 miles
- Economy: 74mpg – 99/km of CO2
- Monthly BIK cost*: £78
For more information see our full Volvo S60 review
Audi A6 Saloon
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The Audi boasts a meritorious range (1,076 miles) but on paper doesn’t offer the same value or economy as some of the other cars on this list.
With 113g/km of CO2 and 65mpg it’s the least economical here but those are still good figures that should keep your fleet manager happy.
Plus, there’s the standard Audi interior which really is a cut above, and a smooth ride that will help lumpy British motorways feel a bit more like the Autobahn.
The badge holds a lot of value, as does the conservative approach to exterior styling, so this Audi will suit you if you want to look good while flying under the radar.
Vital statistics
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- Long range pick: 2.0 TDI Ultra SE (11/14-)
- Range: 1,076 miles
- Economy:65mpg – 113/km of CO2
- Monthly BIK cost*: £107
For more information see our full Audi A6 review
Need more help? Maybe the below articles can help:
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Top 5 company cars to watch out for in 2016
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Fast hatchbacks for less than £80 per month
*Tax costs are based on a 20 percent tax payer for the 2015/16 tax year