Same here. If I was given the choice out of those, doing 25k miles a year, I'd go for the Skoda. With the Volvo a possible (not driven one of those recently, so don't know how comfortable it'd be on long trips)

EDIT : having said that, the Mazda CX-5, with it's high seating position, could be worth looking at too. You can see over other traffic, making driving a lot less tiring.

The Golf GTD would definitely not be on my personal list though.

Edited by RobJP on 13/01/2017 at 10:15

All nice in their own way but all very different from each other so go test drive them and see what you personally like the most. There's a lot of talk of trouble with Mazda's 2.2 skyactiv diesel but if it's a company motor, under warranty and not your own personal car there's no worry of a big bill landing on your lap. Personally I like the big Skoda but I'm a lazy driver who values comfort over all else.

Thanks, i am test driving and yes will be a 3 year lease so not worried about long term, had a mazda 6 with a 2.2 160hp engine before the monedo and it was great but not sure about the cx-5 - . I am currently heading towards the skoda as like the list of kit and styling.

I'm on my second company V60 (currently a D4 SE manual), which I've had since 2014, and before that a 2011 V60 D3 (with the now superceded 5-cylinder engine). Before that I had a Mondeo IV 2.0 diesel from 2008-2011. :-)

I found the V60 to be a better driver's car than the Mondeo (don't get me wrong, the Mondeo is very good) but the V60 has more comfy and supportive seats, and is quieter and more composed on motorways etc.

Can you choose the model / spec of V60? If you can, I would recommend looking at the 'Business Edition' trim. You get pretty much all the bells and whistles of the SE trim but it's £5,000 cheaper (i.e. saving you £50 per month in BIK tax). The seats, interiors etc are virtually identical, you just don't get satnav.

Also, the D4 Business Edition will cost you no more in tax, but has the much punchier and more powerful twin-turbo engine.

I would consider a couple of plug-in hybrids too - these are STUPIDLY cheap in BIK tax right now - much cheaper than diesels for company car users. I'm looking very seriously at the BMW 225xe active tourer plug-in hybrid, which will save me £1000 per year in tax, and the contract hire costs are lower than the Volvo V60 too.

Thanks, i'm guided by the lease cost rather than anything else, so could happily look at differnt specs depending on the lease - usually end up with the slightly unpopular but better speced cars if that makes sense. One other option that has just come up is the XC60. trying to see what others have good offers at the moment.

Thanks, i'm guided by the lease cost rather than anything else, so could happily look at differnt specs depending on the lease - usually end up with the slightly unpopular but better speced cars if that makes sense. One other option that has just come up is the XC60. trying to see what others have good offers at the moment.

That's wise, sometimes the higher-spec levels have a lower lease cost, although you then pay more in BIK.

My current V60 D4 SE's lease cost is about £360/month without maintenance, on 12K per year, 3+35.

The BMW plug-in hybrid is £285 a month in comparison.

the D4 for me is £382.00 inc maintenance on a 3 + 35 25k mileage

will look at the bmw

Edited by Mike davis on 13/01/2017 at 11:15

Be very careful before you buy an Octavia estate. We have driven 3, 2 were 1.4 TSi's and one was a 150 PS diesel. All suffered from the same problem, road noise was absolutely deafening. I am not on my own noting this, others on here have agreed and its been well documented on the Skoda forum as well.

Tried a 1.4 TSi Skoda Octavia hatch as well and that was fine so can only conclude its an estate thing. But to my eyes the hatch is an fugly car, so much so I could not live with one.

We ordered a Superb 1.4 hatch which looks great and is quiet. No idea if the Superb estate has noise issues but well worth a look if its in budget.

I think as well as tyre brand, the spec of the car itself might affect road noise. MY previous Octavia was an Elegance Mk1, whereas my current one is poverty-spec Ambience and it's dreadfully noisy. Anything over 60 mph is earplug territory. If I'm correct Avant, you have had VRs spec, which may have had more sound insulation. But my experience with this particular model has not been great. The other thing to note is that mine and I believe current VAG floorpans are sensitive to rear suspension set-up and are prone to irregular rear tyre wear which generates a lot of road noise.