Peugeot 508

The 508 costs a bit more than rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. In fact, it’s more comparable to the swanky Volkswagen Passat on price.

Resale values are good, though, and fuel economy figures from the range of efficient turbocharged engines are right up there with the best-in-class. For example, the cleanest version returns an official fuel economy figure of up to 63mpg. That means CO2 emissions will also be impressively low, and that’s especially good news for company car drivers with which cars like this prove popular, because it because it helps minimise tax bills.

Talking of tax, company car users may be attracted to the new plug-in hybrid, known as Hybrid 225. It offers potential fuel economy of between 166 and 235mpg, and CO2 figures of between 31 and 40g/km. But the high purchase price could outweigh any potential tax benefit, so crunch your numbers carefully.

The insurance ratings of 508s also look rather high when compared with competitors, so make sure you check your premiums before you buy, but the costs for servicing and maintenance look to be competitive.