COMPANY car drivers have another online tool to help them work out their business motoring costs. Audi’s online fuel cost calculator allows business motorists to compare different models in the Audi range on the basis of purchase price, fuel economy and estimated fuel costs.

Audi customers can tweak the fuel cost calculations by inputting their own annual mileage, period of ownership (between one year and seven years) and so on. Fuel price data from the AA Fuel Price Report, which is based on national averages, are automatically incorporated into the calculations.

Alternatively anyone using the tool can enter the price being charged at their local filling station. Different models can be compared side by side, with results expressed terms of monthly or annual costs.

Take the new Audi A3 hatchback as an example. The fuel cost calculator shows that the 1.4 TFSI 122PS SE petrol model is £950 cheaper as an outright purchase than the 1.6 TDI  105PS SE diesel. But a business car driver covering 10,000 miles a year could save this much at the pumps over three years by choosing the 1.6 TDI. For drivers with higher business mileage, the pay-off comes earlier.