Volkswagen Passat scoops double fleet award

The Volkswagen Passat was awarded the Best Upper-Medium Car honour before going on to scoop the overall Company Car of the Year trophy at the prestigious Fleet News awards, held in London recently. It’s the second year in a row the Passat has won the overall award which was voted for by readers of Fleet News.

Placed in a category that’s always hotly contested, the Passat was commended by the judges as it scored an emphatic win over the second placed vehicle, the BMW 3-Series. Fleet News said: ‘The Passat has now settled into its role as a pillar of the fleet industry: stylish, reliable, well-priced and with sector-leading residual values. The diesel engines are refined and economical, while the petrol versions offer something for everybody.’

The trophy for Company Car of the Year was presented to Volkswagen’s Head of Fleet Services, Vincent Kinner at the ceremony in London. Kinner said: ‘It’s a tremendous achievement for the Passat to defend its title with such an emphatic win and one we’re particularly proud of given that it’s voted for by the readers of Fleet News.’

Last year marked record fleet sales for Volkswagen, putting it on course to achieve a 10% share of the market within the next few years. In 2006 Volkswagen sold in excess of 106,000 vehicles to the fleet market – an all time record. With the upcoming launches of the new Golf Estate and Tiguan models these figures look set to rise.

Fleet News commented: ‘The wide, clearly structured range means that a fleet manager can offer the Passat at many different levels and Volkswagen’s rational approach gives leasing companies confidence in it, ensuring more and more company car drivers are getting behind the wheel of a Passat.’