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Best company cars under ?30,000

Under £30,000Currently reading

It’s no secret that plenty of cars are going up in price, but while the choice may be a little bit slimmer than it used to, you still don’t need to search too far to find some great company cars on a smaller budget. In fact, we’ve made the hunt even easier by rounding up the best company cars for under £30,000.

Every car on this list has been thoroughly tested by our experts, and they offer attractive benefit-in-kind[1] rates as well as low running costs[2].

The best company cars for under £30,000

Read on to find our favourite company cars that you can buy for under £30,000, listed in reverse order. 

8. Honda Jazz

If you like the idea of zero-emission urban motoring but with the reassurance of a petrol engine for longer journeys, the Honda Jazz[3]’s e:HEV hybrid[4] powertrain could be the ideal solution. The 1.5-litre engine only fires up when you need lots of power or when the EV battery pack is low on charge, so it essentially acts as an electric car[5] when moving around at lower speeds — such as in traffic. This translates to some potentially huge savings at the pump; when we pitted the Jazz in a twin test against the Toyota Yaris Cross[6], we achieved an average of 58.5mpg. 

On the outside, Honda has played it rather safe with the Jazz’s styling, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be the talk of the office. On the upside, though, the rather boxy styling provides plenty of room inside, making the Jazz one of the most practical superminis[7] on the market. Combine this space with Honda[8]’s ‘Magic Seats’ and you’ll be able to carry a surprisingly large amount of cargo, should you wish to. 

7. Toyota Yaris

Much like the Jazz mentioned above, the Toyota Yaris[9] is another hybrid-powered supermini that’s highly efficient and should prove easy to live with, only this time it’s also a bit more stylish to look at. While the design may be a bit more adventurous, functionality was still very much at the top of Toyota[10]’s list of priorities as the Yaris has a claimed fuel economy figure of over 68mpg, and there’s plenty of standard equipment to boot.

Having fun isn’t entirely out of the question, though, as the Yaris is pretty enjoyable to drive in most scenarios. We found its steering felt direct, and the compact size made it easy to manoeuvre and park. The sole 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain is only available with a CVT automatic gearbox[11], and this means that the engine can get rather loud under hard acceleration. Apart from this, everything else stays rather relaxed.

6. Renault Zoe

Fully-electric cars offer some of the biggest savings when it comes to running costs, taxes and maintenance. There’s also the added benefit of avoiding emissions-based charges, such as the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)[12]. The Renault Zoe[13] is one of the cheapest electric cars on sale[14], and although it is also now one of the oldest EVs on the current market, a series of updates over the years have helped to keep it in the running against an increasing number of younger rivals.

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The latest version of the Zoe can cover up to 239 miles on the WLTP[15] combined cycle, thanks to its relatively large 52kWh battery pack. There’s a reasonable amount of shove from a standstill, too, thanks to its single electric motor producing 134bhp and 245Nm of torque[16]. The Zoe isn’t massively quick, though, and during testing it struggled up steep hills and felt strained at higher speeds. Where this car thrives is in the city streets, as its small stature makes it a doddle to drive. 

5. MINI Electric

The word ‘icon’ is thrown around quite a lot, but the original Mini is one car that is undoubtedly worthy of this accolade. Today, the MINI Electric[17] carries over many of its lovable ancestor’s charms, only with plenty of additional mod cons such as a more practical size, plenty of up-to-date technology and, of course, a zero-emission powertrain.

With up to 143 miles of range on the WLTP combined cycle, the MINI Electric[18] is better suited to zipping around on smaller journeys rather than being an all-out mile-muncher, but it’ll certainly put a smile on your face as it’s very entertaining to drive. The MINI[19] is also very well put together and the materials feel rather upmarket for its class.

4. Dacia Jogger Hybrid

If you need an efficient commuter car for weekdays and a practical family MPV[20] for weekends, few cars are as versatile as our 2023 Family Car of the Year[21]. The Dacia Jogger[22] might not be the sleekest model on the road, but it is by far one of the most practical, especially for less than £20,000.

Dacia claims that the Jogger’s Renault[23]-sourced hybrid powertrain will operate in fully-electric mode for up to 80 per cent of the time while driving around town at speeds of up to 43mph. This means that your running costs and emissions will be kept under control, along with your benefit-in-kind tax rate. We did find the petrol engine to be a bit noisier than we’d like during testing, and the brake feel is a bit inconsistent, but the Jogger is still reasonably comfortable to drive and we were able to achieve over 50mpg with ease. 

3. Fiat 500

The latest Fiat 500[24] is every bit as charming as its ancestors, but with plenty of modern necessities added in. Aside from the slighter larger size and more modern styling, the biggest modernisation of the 500 is its all-electric powertrain. There’s the choice of a 24kWh or 42kWh battery, although we recommend the larger unit if you have a daily commute as this has a claimed range of up to 199 miles.

The baby Fiat[25] is pleasant to look at and it’s also amusing to drive. While the Abarth 500e[26] is better-suited to outright performance[27] enthusiasts, the regular 500’s electric motor produces up to 116bhp — depending on your chosen spec — along with 220Nm of instant torque, so it’s more than capable of keeping up with the traffic. Its short wheelbase means the 500 is nimble, too, and the level of refinement is highly impressive for a city car[28].

2. BYD Dolphin

The thought of owning a car made by an unknown brand can be a bit unnerving, but BYD[29] is arguably the biggest brand that you haven’t heard of. Although it is a newcomer to the UK’s streets, BYD is actually one of the world’s largest producers of EVs, so it knows a thing or two about building electric cars.

The Dolphin[30] is the second — and cheapest — BYD to go on sale in the UK, and the level of value on offer should be enough to whip up some panic amongst the establishment. Even the base model offers up to 211 miles of range, the level of build quality is excellent and the technology feels up to speed with pricier rivals. We do wish that it was a bit more fun behind the wheel, though.

1. MG4

The MG4[31] isn’t only our Affordable Electric Car of the Year[32], it’s also our favourite company car for under £30,000. Very few EVs currently come close to MG’s family hatchback[33] when it comes to pure value for money: all variants boast well over 200 miles of battery range on the WLTP combined cycle, there’s enough space for a family of five, and it’s even quite engaging to drive. 

When we put the MG4 up against the Volkswagen ID.3 in a twin test[34], we found that the MG4 virtually matches its pricer rival when it comes to technology, mechanicals and even some design elements. One of the only noticeable differences was the lower-quality fit and finish, but it’s important to remember that the MG’s price is much lower than the VW’s. If you are searching for a family[35]-friendly company car, the MG4 doesn’t just have enough room, but its five-star Euro NCAP[36] safety rating should provide plenty of reassurance, too. There’s even a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty included as standard.

Best company cars for under £30,000

  1. MG4[37]
  2. BYD Dolphin[38]
  3. Fiat 500[39]
  4. Dacia Jogger[40] Hybrid
  5. MINI Electric[41]
  6. Renault Zoe[42]
  7. Toyota Yaris[43]
  8. Honda Jazz[44]
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Shane is responsible for looking after the day-to-day running of the Auto Express website and social media channels. Prior to joining Auto Express in 2021, he worked as a radio producer and presenter for outlets such as the BBC.

References

  1. ^ benefit-in-kind (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  2. ^ low running costs (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  3. ^ Honda Jazz (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  4. ^ hybrid (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  5. ^ electric car (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  6. ^ Jazz in a twin test against the Toyota Yaris Cross (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  7. ^ superminis (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  8. ^ Honda (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  9. ^ Toyota Yaris (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  10. ^ Toyota (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  11. ^ CVT automatic gearbox (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  12. ^ London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  13. ^ Renault Zoe (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  14. ^ cheapest electric cars on sale (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  15. ^ WLTP (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  16. ^ torque (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  17. ^ MINI Electric (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  18. ^ MINI Electric (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  19. ^ MINI (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  20. ^ MPV (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  21. ^ Family Car of the Year (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  22. ^ Dacia Jogger (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  23. ^ Renault (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  24. ^ Fiat 500 (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  25. ^ Fiat (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  26. ^ Abarth 500e (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  27. ^ performance (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  28. ^ city car (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  29. ^ BYD (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  30. ^ Dolphin (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  31. ^ MG4 (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  32. ^ Affordable Electric Car of the Year (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  33. ^ hatchback (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  34. ^ MG4 up against the Volkswagen ID.3 in a twin test (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  35. ^ family (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  36. ^ Euro NCAP (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  37. ^ MG4 (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  38. ^ BYD Dolphin (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  39. ^ Fiat 500 (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  40. ^ Dacia Jogger (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  41. ^ MINI Electric (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  42. ^ Renault Zoe (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  43. ^ Toyota Yaris (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
  44. ^ Honda Jazz (www.autoexpress.co.uk)

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