THE new Peugeot 208 supermini has won the ‘Most Cost-Efficient Car for an SME to Buy’ category in the Business Car Manager SME Company Car of the Year Awards 2012, run in association with MAGMA Automotive Services.

The independent panel of judges were looking for cars to meet the new 95g/km and under 100% first year writing down allowance tax break that comes into force from April 2013, as well as finding a car that would be economical to run.

And in the Peugeot 208 1.4 e-HDi Access+ 70 EGC Stop and Start 5dr, they found the car they were looking for.

“You can’t argue with the numbers when it comes to Peugeot’s 208. If cost-effectiveness rules, so does 208. It’s best-of-bunch on economy, emissions and whole-life costs,” said the awards judges.

Among the key attributes of Peugeot 208 ownership is the clever and compelling  ‘Just Add Fuel’ programme. Backed up by a 3-year/60,000 miles warranty, our winner costs from just £361 in company car tax per year and under £200 a month on a contract hire business car lease.

It’s a three-year, warranty, servicing, road tax and insurance inclusive package that means a regular monthly payment is held for three years, so business budgeting is very easy.

But it’s not just the economical diesel engine of our winner that makes the whole Peugeot 208 range such a cost-effective company car for SMEs, there’s the new three-cylinder petrol engines with CO₂ emissions from 99g/km

Smaller on the outside, bigger on the inside, there really are no compromises. Add in the touch-screen controls and an environment of comfort and modernity, and you can see why

“Low CO₂ emissions, low fuel consumption and low whole life costs make this a compelling proposition,” summed up our judges.

You can read more about the winners in our special SME Company Car of the Year Awards section.

Peugeot 208 1.4 e-HDi Access+ 70 EGC Stop and Start 5dr: key company car information