It isn’t just the film industry which gets swept up in an awards season frenzy each year, some of the finest business cars have been scooping top prizes in early 2014. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Vauxhall Insignia
The Vauxhall Insignia has been awarded SME Company Car of the Year in the 2014 SME Company Car Awards. The awards, chaired by Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, aim to give formal recognition to the efforts of manufacturers in meeting the complex needs of small businesses.
The Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi Design ecoFLEX was singled out due to its strong combination of innovation, style and low emissions. The judges believed that the Insignia represented a real balance between low costs and a genuinely premium feel.
The Insignia won further prizes, achieving first place in the 'Best SME Large Company Car' and 'Best Company Car for Tax' categories in the awards, organised by Business Car Manager.
Other award-winners included:
- Best Company Car to Buy– Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC
- Best Compact Company Car– Renault Captur 1.5 DCi
- Best SME Director’s Car– BMW 520d
- Best SME After Sales Programme– Hyundai
- Best Company Car Programme– BMW
- Best SME Company Car App– Audi mileage tracker
Editor of Business Car Manager, Ralph Morton, said:
The strength and depth of the entries in this year’s SME Company Car Awards reveals just how stiff the competition is to gain a slice of this very important market.
In the end, though, the overall award had to go to the Insignia.
It seems like a car designed specifically for SME buyers with its rock-bottom emissions and low P11D value all wrapped up in a stylish and roomy package that’s actually really good to drive.
Ford Commercial
Ford’s Commercial vehicles had a record-breaking year in 2013. They managed to scoop over 25 awards, including a bumper haul of 13 for the new Ford Transit Custom.
The Transit Custom scooped several ‘van of the year’ awards, including International Van of the Year 2013 and awards from VansA2Z, What Van? and Auto Express.
The Ford Ranger and Ford Fiesta Van managed to scoop awards in 2013 too, with Ford picking up the overall ‘Van Manufacturer of the Year’ honours from Fleet Van and Van Fleet World.
Mark Ovenden, Ford Britain chairman and managing director, said:
Ford customers have the best-looking, most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and fit-for-purpose CV range ever to choose from, and this is reflected in our outstanding awards success.
Hyundai
As we all know, it isn’t just great design and technology that matters to us when buying a vehicle. Hyundai picked up the Business Car Manager award for Best SME Aftersales Programme for its Fleet Aftersales Charter.
The Hyundai programme was praised for helping to meet the needs of small businesses with a dedicated, transparent aftersales service across their dealerships.
Martin Wilson, Fleet Director, Hyundai UK, said:
We are delighted to win this award from Business Car Manager as it recognises our commitment to offering corporate customers, regardless of fleet size, the most complete and value-added service possible. From fixed labour rates, capped MOT tests, discounts on Hyundai Genuine Parts and priority servicing, the Fleet Aftersales Charter is intended to make the cost of owning a Hyundai as affordable and transparent as possible.
You can browse our current business deals to see if you can bag yourself an award-winning vehicle for 2014.