Best company cars £40,000 to £50,000
These are the best company cars for a budget of £40,000 to £50,000
If you’re fortunate enough to have between £40,000 and £50,000 to invest in your next company car, you’ll have plenty of upmarket options to choose from. As ever, electric cars offer the biggest Benefit-in-Kind tax savings, but plug-in hybrids aren’t too far behind if you prefer liquid fuel.
Either way, you’ll find the perfect option here as our experts have rounded up the very best company cars for £40,000 to £50,000.
| Model | Price from | Fuel type | BiK band |
| Mercedes CLA | £39,200 | Electric | 4% |
| Skoda Enyaq | £39,500 | Electric | 4% |
| Tesla Model Y | £42,000 | Electric | 4% |
| Ford Explorer | £32,700 | Electric | 4% |
| Smart #5 | £39,800 | Electric | 4% |
Read on to find the best company cars for a budget ranging from £40,000 to £50,000, or click the links above to jump to a specific model..
Mercedes CLA
- Price from: £39,200
- Fuel Type: electric
- CO2/BiK band: 0g/km/4%
The key figure with the latest Mercedes-Benz CLA is 483 - that’s the maximum number of miles Mercedes claims from the electric variant, and it puts this sub-Mercedes C-Class model among the highest-range electric cars on the market. While the CLA’s not as compact as previous generations (it’s now more than 4.7m long), Merc has found space to install an 85kWh battery, while the CLA’s incredibly slippery aerodynamics and efficient drivetrain do the rest.
Of course, you probably won’t get that far on real roads, but being able to count on say, 350-400 miles of real-world range is as much as most combustion models get. But being an EV, the CLA’s vastly cheaper to run as a company car than any petrol, diesel or hybrid. Other CLA strong points are class-leading refinement and a high-tech cabin, both Mercedes staples, though you’ll have to be a fan of touchscreens, as that’s more or less all you have to interact with.
“In our conversations with the CLA’s chief engineers it was clear that their central ambition in creating the car was to eke out as much range as possible. On that metric, the CLA is a huge success.” - Jordan Katsianis, news editor
See our latest Mercedes CLA deals
Skoda Enyaq
- Price from: £39,500
- Fuel Type: electric
- CO2/BiK band: 0g/km/4%
Like the Mercedes CLA above the Enyaq narrowly starts in the sub-£40k range but that puts most of the range right in budget here, and the Enyaq’s comfort and refinement certainly mark it out as a car above its starting price; since the late 90s Skoda has punched above its weight for quality and value but in this latest electric era you’d have even less clue this used to be a budget brand.
Low noise, a pliant ride, a spacious cabin and a high level of standard equipment are all Enyaq hallmarks; as is typical for the brand, it hits all the family-car notes perfectly. It doesn’t really matter so much that it’s pretty nondescript to drive as it’s so easy to live with, and not short on performance either way (you’re looking at 8 seconds or less for the 0-62mph time). ‘85’ models promise up to 359 miles of range, though if there’s a demerit, it’s that real-world efficiency is only average.
“The very comfortable, spacious and practical all-electric family SUV offers even more standard equipment and much sleeker looks, while the impressive on-board technology and excellent safety features add to a convincing all-round package.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter
See our latest Skoda Enyaq deals
Tesla Model Y
- Price from: £42,000
- Fuel Type: electric
- CO2/BiK band: 0g/km/4%
The latest Tesla Model Y turns even more heads thanks to it looking more futuristic than before, and it boasts some truly class-leading efficiency, space and technology to boot. There’s more good news, too, as the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model falls within our budget here, so you’ll have 387 WLTP combined miles at your disposal.
The bigger long-range battery is inevitably heavier, but this particular Model Y still manages a borderline ridiculous 0-60mph sprint of just 5.4 seconds. This Tesla’s regenerative braking system is also one of the smoothest that our road testers have used to date, so you can safely come to a stop in a delightful calm fashion.
“Tesla has gradually enhanced the ride comfort of the Model Y as the years have passed. While it’s still on the firm side of the class, there’s more sophistication to the way it deals with bumps than before.” - Alex Ingram, contributor
Ford Explorer
- Price from: £32,700
- Fuel Type: electric
- CO2/BiK band: 0g/km/4%
The Ford Explorer’s yet another car that starts under £40k at its base level, but for the spec you’ll want, strays above this mark; Premium models with the Extended Range battery stray close to £50,000. It’s a lot for a Ford, but is offset somewhat by the expectedly low BIK rates and by the Explorer’s running costs in general - 374 miles of range from rear-drive Extended Range versions and decent real-world efficiency too. Not something the old Explorer 4x4s of the 90s were known for…
Underneath the Explorer is similar to the Ford Capri, and in turn to most of Volkswagen’s current EV range, but the Explorer’s chunky styling is more aesthetically pleasing than most of its counterparts. It results in useful interior space too; the boot’s not class-leading but passenger space, and cabin quality, are both impressive. To drive the Explorer is brisk and while it’s not likely to be counted among Ford’s best-ever handlers, it’s more enjoyable than its VW cousins.
“We'd choose the Explorer over its VW cousins because Ford has tuned the chassis to make it more fun to drive and given it a better interior.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor
See our latest Ford Explorer deals
Smart #5
- Price from: £39,800
- Fuel Type: electric
- CO2/BiK band: 0g/km/4%
The latest iteration of the Smart brand, which has moved from city cars to crossovers, has taken some time to find its feet, but the #5 is the company’s most competitive model yet. Most people will be drawn to its styling, with a boxier shape that seems to be in vogue right now yet also pays dividends for interior space - no concerns here about rear headroom or legroom.
The shape also allows for decent battery sizes, so top models get 100kWh and up to 366 miles of range. Not class leading as such (and real-world efficiency in our hands has been only middling) but the Pro+ model that achieves the 366-mile figure also comes with a heat pump, so that’s the one we’d choose. All #5s are quick (0-62mph in seven seconds at the very slowest) but this is very much a ‘ride over handling’ kind of car.
“In the busy compact electric SUV class, the Smart #5 stands out thanks to its premium finish, spacious cabin, strong equipment list and refined drive.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
