ON THE ROAD- SIX MANUFACTURERS HONOURED AT FLEET CAR AWARDS 2018

Models from Honda, Opel, Skoda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen were among the winners of the Fleet Car Awards 2018, announced at Citywest Hotel in Dublin last week. The prestigious annual awards honour the best cars for the corporate and fleet markets currently on sale in Ireland.

Announced prior to the Fleet Transport Awards and Gala Dinner event – Ireland’s largest transport related gathering with more than one thousand guests in attendance, the Fleet Car Awards, which were supported by main sponsor Health & Safety Authority as well as Elves and AIB Finance & Leasing, highlighted six cars as deserving of top honours across the vehicle segments most relevant to fleet buyers.

Voted on by a judging panel comprising experienced motoring journalists, road safety experts and fleet buyers, over 150 cars were originally assessed before being whittled down to a shortlist of 35. From there further testing and analysis was conducted before the final votes were cast.

Fleet Car Awards 2018 – the winners!

Fleet Car of the Year 2018 – C-Segment: Winner – Honda Civic

With employee safety an increasing concern for fleet managers, a raft of safety features that are fitted as standard on all models was one of the reasons why the all-new Honda Civic was selected as best car in the C-Segment for 2018. Ride dynamics and strong petrol engines were others, though the imminent arrival of a diesel version will broaden fleet appeal even further.

Fleet Car of the Year 2018 – D-Segment: Winner – Opel Insignia

The Insignia has long been one of Ireland’s best selling company cars, and the latest generation model launched earlier this year looks set to continue that tradition. Cabin quality and a leap in refinement were highlighted as reasons for choosing the Insignia, while it is also significantly more spacious than before.

Fleet Car of the Year 2018 – Crossover: Winner – Skoda Kodiaq

A host of new models launched in the Crossover segment in the past year made this the most competitive of categories. Taking the honours was Skoda’s all-new Kodiaq. It found favour with the judges for its competitive pricing, practical and spacious cabin, and quality and layout of its cockpit.

Fleet Car of the Year 2018 – Premium: Winner – Mercedes-Benz C-Class

In a year when newly launched models have dominated the winners list, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class – a previous winner of this award, proved that it still has what it takes in a very competitive segment. The C-Class was lauded by judges for its high quality cabin, appearance, and strong residuals.

Fleet Car of the Year 2018 – Executive: Winner – BMW 5-Series

A new 5-Series arrived in 2017. The outgoing model was highly regarded as a complete all-rounder, with judges noting that the new car builds on that, delivering class-leading refinement and comfort while remaining great to drive.

Irish Green Fleet Car 2018: Winner – Volkswagen e-Golf

A facelifted Golf went on sale earlier this year, and with it came an updated version of its all-electric e-Golf. Now capable of offering a range of up to 300km compared to the previous 200km, it’s also more powerful and boasts all the renowned comforts and refinements of the regular Golf.