CAR managers of the big company car fleets are a hard-headed lot when it comes to recognising reliable value. And one car that encapsulates solid reliability is the VW Golf.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that the Association of Fleet Car Operators has just voted the Golf its best fleet car for an astonishing fourth successive year.

That’s some commendation for the Golf. The awards are voted online by the ACFO membership and reflect true operational experience.

Runner up for the Fleet Car of the Year 2010 was the BMW 3 Series.

BMW also won two further prizes reflecting the car maker’s ability to deliver low carbon costs both for business car drivers in terms of company car tax, and for businesses in terms of low running costs.

The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics was named Green Vehicle of the Year, and the raft of low emission technology which features in the model and across the BMW range – branded EfficientDynamics – won the Best Environmental Initiative Award.

The Mercedes Sprinter won the Best Large Van; the Ford Transit Connect the Best Small Van.

The awards were expanded for the first time this year from three to seven.

ACFO chairman Julie Jenner commented: “The Awards may have been given a new-look in 2010 but they continue to represent the true face of fleet operations. More than 130 nominations were received across the seven categories underlining the breadth of competition there is in today’s fleet market.”

Ms Jenner continued: “Fleet decision-makers are reliant on motor manufacturers to deliver vehicles that are cost effective to operate, safe, reliable and environmentally-friendly and supplier companies to provide a first class service.

“Operating successfully in partnership it means that through the availability of top quality vehicles and first rate suppliers, vehicle downtime can be kept to an absolute minimum and fleet managers can focus on the efficient and effective operation of their vehicles to support their businesses.”

ACFO Fleet Awards 2010

• Fleet Safety Initiative Bosch ESP with load adaption

• Fleet Services Company Marshall Leasing

• Environmental Initiative BMW EfficientDynamics

• Small Van of the Year Ford Transit Connect

• Large Van of the Year Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

• Green Car of the Year BMW 320d EfficientDynamics

• Fleet Car of the Year Volkswagen Golf

Further information

For additional commentary on the ACFO Fleet Awards, read the Editor’s Blog ACFO fleet awards.

But BMW is number one choice for cutting carbon costs