Content area

Full Text

 
Headnote

Mercedes hangs on to the best luxury category with the S350 CDI, but the Chevrolet Volt, with its range-extender petrol-electric drivetrain, surely points to the future of motoring, while Toyota races away in the coupé category with its much-praised GT86. CHAS HALLETT, editor-in-chief of What Car?, reports

BEST LUXURY SALOON Mercedes S350 CDI Bluetec

If you've ever been lucky enough to be picked up from a fancy hotel or an airport in a Mercedes S-Class you'll know why it's the number one choice of CEOs, self-made businessmen and even central African dictators. This side of a RollsRoyce, it's the best car to be chauffeured in and it's a lot more discreet than a Roller too.

Even more salient is that while the S-Class is still the plushest large saloon to be ferried around in - and one of the best to drive - it will be replaced within a year. So, with the axe hanging over its head you should be able to negotiate some tidy discounts. If you do, the best bet is still the 350 CDI, a sixcylinder diesel. In truth, it's quite adequate even for a car this size and if you do go further up the range (a VI 2 petrol is available), the running costs and tax implications get correspondingly ridiculous.

List price £60,610

Target price £53,145

Cost per mile 123p

Typical contract hire per month £912

CO2 164 g/km

Tax liability 26%

Average mpg 45.6

0-60 mph 7.1 seconds

Top speed 155 mph

BEST SALOON BMW 320ED

The new 3 Series has been out for only a few months but it's already starting to hog the outer lane of the motorway. With good reason too, as this is a brilliant product and a real return to form for BMW. This is the one to buy if the company's paying. ED stands for Efficient Dynamics, which is BMW terminology for a model that has been optimised to achieve maximum economy, thus minimising CO, emissions.

It's unlike many other cars in that you don't suffer inferior economy by specifying an automatic gearbox and what you lose on the rest of the experience is almost negligible. This is a car that you'll enjoy driving, travelling in and owning as much as...

Show less