BMW 520d SE

Watch out for a super–advanced new 5 Series next year, complete with an eight (yes, eight) speed automatic gearbox that will be the first auto to come with stop/start technology.

If your company car is due for replacement sooner than that, the current car still makes a mighty fine choice. If you fancy a larger–engined Five, you might be better off with an XF. But I still have to look twice whenever I see the 520d’s vital statistics: remember, this is a big car with a 2–litre diesel engine, yet it still zips from 0–62 mph in 8.3 secs, handles as a BMW should and sips fuel like a BMW should, too – the claimed average is 55.4 mpg, with a taxfriendly 136 g/km of CO2.