Entertaining car below 119g/km?

[T0MMY]

Our company car scheme is changing to leasing or a cash for cars option, but we're restricted to 119g/km CO2 (and up to 10 years old on C4C). What sort of options could I look at for something reasonably entertaining given that limitation? Looks like the 185bhp diesel Focus STs slip under that emissions figure. Other possibility I thought of was a BMW 320d efficient dynamics (normal 320d is above 119). Anything else I could look at? I have another fun car for trackdays but it'd be nice to have something not completely dull for day to day use although it also needs to be quite practical (4 seats and a decent boot).

[ZX10R NIN]

Ford Focus ST-3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa Giulietta Sportiva Nav 175bhp

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The Focus will be the most fun.

[colin79666]

Lexus IS 300h. Not as entertaining as the BMW bit good to look at and still RWD if that's your thing.

[T0MMY]

Just had a thought on the Focus ST idea...central mounted exhaust = no tow bar (I assume). Probably should have mentioned that was a requirement as I need to be able to tow my track car. That's a bit of a pisser as the Focus was my first choice.

[kieranblenk]

How about a BMW 330e or C350e? Only thing I'm not sure on is the towing.

Leon FR TDI is under, as is the Golf GTD.

[Begall]

If you’re looking at something like a 320d - something with relatively high BIK - it seems unlikely that taking a company car instead of the cash is worth it - unless you actually do a lot of miles, have poor credit that stops you taking advantage of good lease deals or you face high insurance costs.

If you don’t hit any of the categories listed above you’d be better off taking cash and something like a Volvo V60 T5 if the lease thread is anything to go by - which definitely will be able to tow.

[Amateurish]

You don't mention budget, so something like the hybrid versions of the Cayenne, Panamera, RRS or X5 might do.

[ZX10R NIN]

Yep the towbar is a no go, but the Alfa is a good second choice, the Lexus F Sport (with the Premium Nav) is another good shout & imo is a better than the 320ed, but if you're doing a lot of motorway miles a diesel is a better bet.

F Sport Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A good fillet to the 320ed is the Infiniti Q50 it's on a par with the 320ed & is a swift & loaded with kit.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you like the Focus you could just go for the bigger Mondeo it's just as sweet a steer but you have more space (for your kit when you're going to the track) & you're only 10bhp down on the Focus.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Also the other one is the 508 in GT form this & the Mondeo share the same drivetrain but the Mondeo is the sweeter steer but this isn't far behind.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[T0MMY]

Thanks for all the replies, some great suggestions in here. Some I didn't realise came into that CO2 bracket (Golf GTD) and some I've never even considered (Q50, 508). Hybrids do seem a likely bet for getting something reasonably powerful in that CO2 band but I'd prefer a PHEV just for the novelty of having some usable electric only range for round town and commuting when I can't be bothered to walk (my driving is generally trips of either < 5miles for personal or >100 miles for business). The top choices from what I've seen are a VW GTE (Golf estate would be ideal but as it doesn't exist then the hatchback or a Passat estate) or a BMW330e. Problem is as I understand it the former aren't open to orders and the latter are discontinued. No problem if I buy one 2nd hand on C4C but an issue if I could lease a new one through work (the options for that have not been finalised yet and may not stretch that far though).

[ZX10R NIN]

If you do a decent amount of motorway miles then something like a GTE is actually no better on fuel than a GTI, I'd go for a diesel hybrid you get the best of all worlds decent economy & go on a run with electric power in town.

508 RXH

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Citroen DS5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes C300h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[T0MMY]

No, I know a PHEV is no good on fuel (unless you only ever do your 18 electric miles a day ). The motivation for any hybrid would just be to get under the CO2 limit while having a fairly nippy and hopefully relatively involving car. Not against a diesel although I'm also not that bothered about the mpg as I actually do relatively little private mileage so most of my fuel is paid for. As long as I pretty much break even with the HMRC reimbursement that's fine which shouldn't be too hard to do with any of the options on this thread (you'd need about 40mpg in a BMW 330e for example). The plug in aspect just appealed slightly for the fact that the private miles I do are generally those very short journeys round town where I could go fully electric, and even then it's more for the novelty than saving money. I did look at the Mercedes hybrids but the reviews seem to suggest they're not the most entertaining to drive, not that any of this type of car is really going to be scintillating though.

Edited by T0MMY on Monday 1st October 22:13

[talksthetorque]

Looks like the v6 tdi A4 Quattro (216ps) squeaks in at 119 co2.
Good motorway cruiser with a bit of poke.
Not ‘fun’ but then neither is a IS300H

[ZX10R NIN]

Exactly all will be okay steers so out of those options I'd take the D hybrid over the P hybrid options just for the extra grunt the diesels have which will also make towing a breeze.

[T0MMY]

Any thoughts on an Alfa Romeo Giulia (180bhp 2.2 diesel)? For no other reason than I like the look of them and by all accounts they handle pretty well.

Got to say by the way, cars have come on a fair bit since I last had to do any research on them...when I heard 119g/km I thought I was going to be looking at the 110bhp eco models but I've been surprised by some of the reasonably powerful diesel options in that band. I'd probably still prefer a petrol just for the refinement but it's no deal breaker. Towing isn't really an issue either as my current track car is only 500kgs and any future ones would certainly be no heavier as that IS a deal breaker!