For the first time the Fleet Car Award goes to a 100% electric car
Renault Mégane E-Tech .0 130 Hp was the major winner at the 19th edition of the Fleet Car.
LeasePlan presented yesterday, the winners of the 19th Edition of the Fleet Car of the Year that, and for the first time since its creation, distinguished a 100% electric car, the Renault Megane E-Tech .0 130 Cv, a 100% electric car, as Fleet Car of the Year. This award reinforces the importance that electric cars have been gaining in the automotive market in Portugal, with more and more customers recognizing added value in sustainable mobility solutions.
The initiative was attended by representatives of LeasePlan Portugal, representatives of the competing brands and a panel of judges. The Fleet Car aims to distinguish the most outstanding fleet cars in 2023. As in the previous year, four engines were tested: PHEV, Gasoline, Diesel and Electric, in a panel of four categories: "Small Family", "Mid-size Family", "SUV Utility", and "Mid-size SUV".
In the Small Family Category, the winner was the Renault Megane E-Tech .0 130 Hp which competed with the BMW 116 d Line Luxury 116 Hp and the MERCEDES CLASS A 250 and 1.3 218 Hp. Exterior design, driver visibility (exterior), and suspension comfort were the factors behind winning first in the category.
In the Mid-size Family category, the BMW I4 eDrive40 .0 340 Hp won over the MERCEDES CLASS C STATION 200 d 2.0 163 Hp and the VOLVO V60 2.0 T6 AWD TE Essential 2.0 350 Hp. Driver (exterior) visibility, intuitive infotainment and connectivity, and the accessibility of the seats and trunk were the aspects that stood out the most for the victory of this model in its category.
The SEAT ARONA 1.0 TSI 110 Hp won in the SUV category, standing out in the factors driver visibility (exterior), ease and position of driving and steering. Also competing were the OPEL MOKKA-e Edition 136 Hp and the PEUGEOT 2008 1.5 BlueHDi 130 Hp.
Lastly, the winner of the Mid-size SUV category was the VW ID.4 Pro Performance .0 204 HP, which beat off competition from the Cupra FORMENTOR 2.0 TDI 150 HP and the Volvo XC40 1.5 T4 PHEV Essential 211 HP. The distinction was awarded after the model excelled in the factor’s gearbox, suspension/road tread comfort and steering.
It is with enthusiasm that we assisted to the election of the first 100% electric fleet car in the history of the Fleet Car Awards, a distinction that LeasePlan has been awarding for 20 years based on criteria of maximum independence and rigor. It is a evident evidence that customers recognize the added value of electric vehicles and that there are already models capable of corresponding to their daily needs. I believe this is another important step we are taking towards LeasePlan Fleet's zero emissions, and I hope this is the first of many Fleet Car awards to be given to an electric vehicle.
The selection of the models for the Fleet Car evaluation, composed of 12 finalists, was made considering LeasePlan sales, car market sales (ACAP) and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), considering that LeasePlan manages over 10,000 clients and has 114,000 vehicles under management of which 60,000 are in renting owned by LeasePlan.
The winners in each category were determined through a qualitative and quantitative analysis, with both components having equal weight in the final score.
The qualitative component was analyzed by a jury composed of 15 fleet customers, national and multinational companies, which analyzed a series of criteria such as the passenger compartment, comfort and aesthetics, engine, and dynamics. The quantitative evaluation includes the analysis of the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) components.
