WHEN it comes to compact executive saloons, there has been one car at the top of the class and that is the BMW 3 Series. Review after review have ranked this car the best compared with its rivals, the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. But the question is when looking at business car finance should you get a single model for your fleet of cars or do you mix it up with all the three rivals?
That a key question when you choose to finance cars for business use.
When it comes to choosing the manufacturer and model of the cars for your business, you have a variety of engines to choose from for each of the trio. We will cover the most important three to give you an idea what sort of options you have when choosing the right model.
You have the cheapest, entry level engine that may be a great choice as you are spending the least amount of money when initially purchasing the cars. The greenest model may be initially more expensive, but in the long run with have low running costs, ensuring you save money on your monthly budgets. Finally, you have the most expensive, the most powerful and the fastest editions for each car.
BMW choices of power and economy
The BMW 3 Series’s entry level car is the 318i SE model. This model has a three-cylinder turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, paired with a manual gearbox. It produces 136 bhp, giving it a top speed of 130 mph and an acceleration time of 8.9 seconds. With regards to fuel efficiency, it has a combined fuel economy of 52.3 mpg, which is excellent for an entry level vehicle to have low running costs to begin with.
The greenest 3 Series model is the 330e SE model. It is a four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid engine mated with an automatic gearbox, delivering 252 bhp. With fuel efficiency and running costs likely being the priority with this model, you will be happen to know that it has a combined fuel economy of 148/7 mpg meaning the costs for this car will be incredibly low. It also has top speed of 140 mph, making it faster than the entry model and has a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds, ensuring it is quicker too.
The fastest model for the 3 Series is the 335d xDrive M Sport. This one has a six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine matched with an automatic gearbox, delivering 313 bhp. It has an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph, so if the limiter was removed, this model could go even faster. It sprints from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, making it incredibly quick for an executive saloon.
A4 petrol, diesel and Quattro
The Audi A4 has a similar number of engine variations on offer for you to choose from. The cheapest of these is the 1.4T FSI SE model. It has a four-cylinder, turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine paired with a manual gearbox, developing 150 bhp. This gives it a top speed of 130 mph and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds. It has a combined fuel economy of 53.3 mpg making it slightly more efficient than the entry level 3 Series.
The greenest A4 is the 2.0 TDI Ultra SE model. This model has a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine producing 150 bhp. Fuel efficiency is the priority and this model has a combined fuel economy of 74.3 mpg, so it is far lower than the 3 Series’s greenest model but then that is a petrol electric hybrid and the Audi’s is a diesel engine. It also has a top speed of 130 mph and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds, making it slower than the 3 Series as well.
The fastest A4 model is the S4 Quattro model. This model comes with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. It produces 354 bhp, an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph and sprints from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. This model is quicker than the fastest 3 Series model. Like the fastest 3 Series, if the limiter on the top speed was removed, this A4 model would go much faster at the top end.
C-Class: from hybrid to 510bhp V8
With the third in the trio, the C-Class’s cheapest model is the C200 SE model. This model has a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine. It produces 184 bhp, a top speed of 147 mph, which is higher than the other two, and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds, which is quicker than the other two. With regards to fuel efficiency, this entry level model has a combined fuel economy of 53.3 mpg, which is similar to its rivals.
The greenest C-Class is the C350e and it has a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine producing 275 bhp. With this model being a hybrid you would expect it to have low running costs and great fuel efficiency. You would be correct and it has a combined fuel economy of 134.5 mpg, ensuring you pay as little as possible when running it. It also has a limited top speed of 155 mph and races from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds.
The fastest C-Class is the C63 S. It has a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine mated with an automatic gearbox. It produces 510 bhp. This makes it the most powerful car out of the three rivals. It has a limited top speed of 155 mph, but like its rivals, it would likely be much higher if not limited. It is the quickest model, sprinting from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds and it has a combined fuel economy of 34.5 mpg, so you are paying a price for the speed.
Inside the BMW
The interior is where the BMW 3 Series may let you down compared with its rivals. It is all well-built and put together with high quality materials and plastics, so you are getting what you pay for. But it doesn’t have the most exciting design, but the dashboard is angled towards you, making it all easier to operate. It does have the best infotainment system thanks to BMW’s iDrive system that consists of both a touchscreen and a control knob allowing you to use it easily while on the move.
Passenger space in the 3 Series is excellent with plenty of legroom and headroom in the front and the back. You can easily fit four adults easily without it being a squeeze. The same cannot be said for if you add a fifth adult, which you may be required to do if you are travelling as a team. In the boot, you get a capacity of 480 litres with the rear seats up, making it a very practical car.
Mercedes C-Class interior
Unlike the BMW, the Mercedes C-Class has an inspiring interior design. This model takes cues from its bigger sibling the S-Class in luxury style. The dashboard is uncluttered, well-laid out with signature circular air vents and a floating display screen. Everything is well put together and it is a great combination of top quality plastics and materials.
The Mercedes’ passenger space is good with plenty of space in the front for both the driver and passenger. The driver has a fully adjustable seat and steering wheel so they can get the perfect driving positions. The headroom and legroom in the rear is decent and you can easily fit four adults into the C-Class with ease. The boot capacity is identical to the BMW and the A4 with 480-litres available.
Minimalist A4 cabin
The best interior is the minimalist design offered in the Audi A4. It is all well-put together with plenty of spongy plastics, excellent materials and cool metal trims with a seven-inch infotainment screen in the middle of the dash. There is also an option for a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit screen as a replacement for the standard analogue dials behind the steering wheel.
Like its rivals, this car is great at having plenty of space for four tall adults. Each passenger will have ample amounts of headroom and legroom, allowing them to sit comfortably on short journeys and longer cruises. Like the other two in the trio, the A4 has a 480-litre boot capacity.
All three of these cars have great potential for your businesses. You can choose just one of these cars to get singularly or an entire fleet of them or you could easily get a great mixture of these cars.
Visit Hippo Motor Finance and they can get you a great car finance agreement for business in the UK.
