With the new Astra in showrooms now, Vauxhall is highlighting the savings to be made by business customers, thanks to its compliance with the Real Driving Emissions Step 2 (RDE2) standards. As the only RDE2-compliant mainstream production car, the new diesel-powered Vauxhall Astra offers cost savings because business customers avoid the 4 per cent surcharge on benefit in kind (BiK) rates. Businesses also benefit from class 1A National Insurance contribution savings and cheaper first-year vehicle excise duty (VED) than non-compliant diesels.

Vauxhall says that with the Astra, fleet customers can save over £1,000 in BiK savings when compared to close rivals. The BiK contribution for the Astra 1.5 Turbo D Sri Nav comes to a total of £3,244, while the Ford Focus 1.5 EcoBlue ST-Line Nav sets drivers back by £3,758. The Seat Leon 1.6 TDI SE Dynamic and Renault Megane 1.5 Blue dCi GT Line sit at £3,790 and £3,982, respectively.

The Skoda Octavia 1.6TDi SE L pushes through the £4k mark at £4,076, while the Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI Match Edition hits £4,258. As a result, Vauxhall says, fleet drivers that opt for the Astra are able to save £1,014, compared with the most expensive close competitor.

In addition to these savings, business owners also stand to benefit from class 1A National Insurance savings. With the Astra, business owners contribute only £2,239 in National Insurance. In contrast, the Ford Focus sets employers back by £2,593, the Seat Leon by £2,615, Renault Megane by £2,747 and Škoda Octavia by £2,812. With the Volkswagen Golf, employers pay £2,938 – £699 higher than the Astra.