Will your company give you a wider choice, providing that the monthly lease cost is the same as the cars you've named?

As a Volvo owner, I'm biased, but in my opinion Volvos have the best seats and most adjustable / personalisable driving positions of any car in their price bracket. Could you get your firm to look at a V40, as this is a 1-series / Golf / A3 class car?

There's nothing worse than a poverty model German car - I think they all include remote central locking these days, but would be worth checking whether or not they did! Annoying that for the same lease cost you could get something so much better if they let you.

Do you own the Focus outright, or is it still on some kind of credit agreement? If the Focus is costing you nothing other than fuel and maintenance, I'd suggest saying to the company "Thanks but no thanks" at the moment. When the time comes to replace the Focus, they may have a better selection of company car options.

Any company car incurrs a benefit in kind tax liability which often isn't much lower than you'd pay buying a 3-4 year old car on finance. There's no point paying this cost for a car you don't really want.

If you do have to go with any of them, I'd suggest the Mini, as at least it has five doors!

I'd agree with Skodalan if you got an allowance or higher salary in lieu of a car - but if it's a company car or nothing I'd take the car, as the extra tax on a small car like these won't be prohibitive.

If it were me it would be between the Mini and the Golf. There should be enough Mini and VW dealers in the London area for you to get a test drive at least with the specified engine, if not the bodystyle. If you value the space in your Focus, the Golf will be a better bet than the Mini, but if not, the Mini dlesel has a 2.0-litre engine which should be fine on the long trips. My wife is on her sixth Mini and wouldn't be if she didn't find them comfortable: we'rein out late 60s and she has an arthritic knee. The Chilli pack has most of the extras you would want.