Honda Accord i-CTDi Triumphs In Fleet Awards

The Honda Accord diesel has scored its first award in 2005 - winning the "New diesel Car of the Year" category in the Fleet Excellence Awards, published in this week’s Fleet Week magazine.

The judges said that Honda had come straight into the market with its first in-house developed diesel and risen straight to the best in class. Other diesels are as powerful or as economic, but few have the combination of the two, coupled with petrol-engine levels of refinement.

"Honda’s engineers have designed and built an incredible engine. As you’d expect from something class leading, the 2.2 qualifies for the lowest 15% benefit-in-kind taxation band both this financial year and next - brilliant for a car of this size," says Fleet Week’s editor, Tristan Young.

"We are particularly pleased with this award, because it reflects the views of actual users of the cars, not just the motoring press," says Honda’s new Head of Corporate Sales, Stephen Hollings. "Accolades like this, combined with the diesel’s excellent fuel efficiency, Euro 4 emissions compliance, high resale values, and the new found desirability of the Honda brand are driving our sales to new levels, particularly in the corporate sector: in the first few weeks of the year, the Accord diesel is outselling the petrol model by 50%, and lies second in the fleet four door diesel marketplace," he added.

The Awards were voted for by the 32,000 readers of Fleet Week, Fleet Management and What Van? Fleet magazines who, between them annually, buy or specify many thousands of company cars and vans.

This latest accolade follows on from the Accord i-CTDi’s success in the Auto Express New Car Honours and in the Top Gear Awards last year.