Lease car of the year: Volkswagen Passat

Posted on 11-05-2015 at 11:06 am by Wouter – 60 Comments”

I, the undersigned, if the jury in the figure as deskundoloog and in advance, I had two clear favorites: the Jaguar XE and Volvo XC90. Unfortunately, if those two don’t win. If you want to know why and how this election is structured, please read on.

On the first eliminator, I don’t have a lot of words to dirty. Part of the election is that it is driven in all of the nominees, but Volvo Sweden could/ wanted to not have a car here for bets. Exit Volvo XC90 so, extra shame because the big Swede to be among the favorites during the public voting belonged.

Before I continue everything away, first attention for the rest of nominees per category

Economy
Skoda Fabia, Mazda 2 and Opel Corsa

Business
BMW 2 series Active Tourer, Citroën C4 Cactus, and Fiat 500X

Business+
Volkswagen Passat (variant), Jaguar XE and Ford Mondeo

Executive
Volvo XC90, Renault Espace and Land Rover Discovery Sport

Of course, there are large differences between the categories (and also within), the intention is that the jury is all true to his money assess. So you can of a rich-equipped and quite expensive 2-series Nordic Walking Active Tourer expect more than a C4 Cactus which is less than half the cost.

The entire election consists of three parts. The public has an important voice, but there is also research done and the jury driven with each candidate.

The public favorites
Mazda 2
BMW 2-series Active Tourer
Jaguar XE
Volvo XC90

All cool smoelende cars and the BMW. That says something about how strong the brand BMW (yet), and perhaps also how superficial the audience votes. No doubt not coincidentally, these were also my favorites (except the BMW) before I went away.

What struck me most during the drive
The list of nominees reads not as the bucketlist for any petrolhead, but still it is very interesting to have such a large list of cars on a one-day drive. I do a few of my personal “notes” in order to illustrate the situation. Biggest letdown of the day proved to be of French origin. The seats of the C4 Cactus gave both me and my co-driver acute back pain. I may like to exaggerate, but in this case, 5 minutes on a seat of the Cactus enough to get a irritated back to cause. So about half of the jury confirmed this, while the other half of the chairs, well found. If you are in the market for a C4 Cactus, then a test drive is essential. Of me got the C4 Cactus a big fat one for comfort.

Also notable was that the Mazda 2 there stunning looks, both inside and outside, but that the atmospheric Japanese engine, however, are completely outclassed by the turbo-engines of the Fabia and the Corsa (delicious three-cylinder, for that matter). To on this subject: the 1.6 diesel from the Passat felt much more toxic than the 1.6 out of the Mondeo, while on paper they matched seem. As it turns out once again that the old-fashioned test drive his value is still not lost, although some dealers it is difficult to precisely the desired type of driving.

Research
Here is the election more “scientific”, because a leasing company such as Alphabet has many figures available about how brands, models, importers, and dealers do it. Also for the non-(lease car drivers), this data is worth its weight in gold, figures such as reliability, discounts and maintenance costs could also join the roads during the decision for a certain car. Especially with a fleet such as that of the Alphabet with 80,000 cars, the figures have any significance be given. Unfortunately I may not the back of my tongue, but it was striking, for example, that the strandingspercentage of BMW and Volvo are significantly lower than the other brands.

Other factors that play a part in the research are the leveringsprogamma (fuels, extra value, you name it), fuel economy/ environmental friendliness, and the quality of the importer and dealers. Parts supply is for a leasing company also of vital importance, because the costs for a replacement vehicle if a door handle is not available, walk hard.

Finalists
Add up the scores of research, the public voting and the judgment of the jury, and there are winners per category:

Opel Corsa
BMW 2-series Active Tourer
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Volkswagen Passat

There is a overall winner, if the jury, under the enjoyment of a snack and a drink with each other in discussion. The Corsa was the first to fall, especially as Opel in this class is not very often chosen by leaserijdend the Netherlands. The BMW 2-series Active Tourer was killed quickly at the price level, for the 218d with some goodies ask BMW thick 47 mille. Land Rover is also (still) not a typical leasemerk, exit Discovery Sport.

The Volkswagen Passat with the overall victory at the get go, it is boring. I know. On the other hand, it is a very good car with a whole battery of modern and economical engines. The infotainment systems are top notch, the comfort and the space for sure. A deserved winner, but deep in my heart, I wanted that the Jaguar XE went on to win. That is a car where the blood faster flow, that is also where Jaguar is aiming at. However, some of those choices (rear-wheel drive, larger engines, sleek styling) and ensure that it is a less good all-rounder. The Passat does everything well and nothing poorly, and thus the rightful Alphabet Lease car of the year 2015.

Gallery: Rules of the jaar2015

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Overview winners in the past
2014 – Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2013 – Volvo V40
2012 – Range Rover Evoque
2011 – BMW 5-series
2010 – Ford Fiesta
2008 – Ford Mondeo
2006 – Ford S-Max
2005 – Peugeot 407
2004 – Toyota Avensis
2001 – Alfa 147
2000 – Mitsubishi Spacewagon
1999 – BMW 3-series
1998 – Toyota Avensis
1997 – Volkswagen Passat
1996 – Peugeot 406
1995 – Opel Omega
1994 Citroen Xantia
1993 – Renault Safrane
1992 Audi 80