Hippo Leasing’s top 25 cars of 2018

Date Posted 22nd January 2019
Read Time 24 min read

2018 is well behind us, and now that 2019 is in full swing, it seems the perfect time to look back at all the cars that hit the market in 2018 and list our 25 favourite new cars that are available to lease here at Hippo Leasing.

Because there are so many car launches each year, and 2018 was no different, we thought it most fair to break the 25 vehicles into five categories: luxury cars; SUVs; family cars; eco-friendly cars; and performance cars.

So without further ado, browse 25 newest-launched cars that you should lease this year:

Luxury Cars

 

Aston Martin DB11 Volante

 

The new Aston Martin DB11 Volante is beautiful beyond the telling of it. Volante may just mean ‘drop top’ to the uninitiated but in the hands of Aston Martin, the DB11 Volante becomes more than the sum of its parts: elegant, cultured and seamlessly brilliant.

The bare stats suggest that the V8 engine produces 503 bhp, and will go from a standing start to 62 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds. It uses a rear, mid-mounted eight-speed automatic gearbox and huge brakes to get it from its top speed of 187 mph back to its beguiling and understated but stunningly beautiful static state. Look a bit deeper than the impressive stats and you will see a cabin replete with fine leather, stitching and quilting, light ash veneer trim inlay and blue haze carpet with touchpad controls blending with satin silver controls. The Aston Martin DB11 Volante is a truly exceptional car and Hippo Leasing can source you a suitable lease deal to go with it.

 

Audi A6

 

The great thing about the new Audi A6 is that it gets to benefit from many of the advances present in the remade A8 but at a much more accessible price which translates into fantastic lease deals and value when you consider all that the new 2018 Audi A6 offers. This is the eighth generation of the A6 and Audi continue to put the A6 saloon front and centre and it’s a great benchmark for the company filling the gap between the smaller A4 and the cavernous A8. The launch engines are a 2.0 litre, four-cylinder producing 210bhp and a twin turbo 3.0-litre cylinder producing a hefty 283bhp that will do the 0-62 mph test in 5.7 seconds being limited to a maximum of 155 mph on the top end.

We expect Audi to release new engines into the new Audi A6’s impressive frame during 2019 and Hippo Leasing will have all of these available as soon as they are released.

 

BMW 3-Series

 

Announced in 2018 and available from March 2019 means we’re stretching this one, but it’s such a big launch, we thought we’d give everyone as much notice as we expect this iconic BMW range to fly out of dealership lots. The seventh generation BMW 3 Series has been gracing UK roads for 43 years now and given what BMW has delivered in the latest package, the legend will continue to thrive.

Let’s focus first on the 320d Sport Auto which is likely to sell the most units. Powered by a TwinPower Turbo 4 cylinder diesel engine allowing 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds and producing 190hp the new BMW 3 series will delight company car buyers by producing only 112g of CO2 emissions…now that is a match made in heaven. This eight-speed auto rear-wheel-drive saloon poster child will hit the sweet spot in 2019 just as every new 3 Series generation does. There are actually three trim levels at launch, the SE, the Sport and the M Sport with the entry-level SE still getting 17” light alloy wheels, ambient lighting, parking assistant with rearview camera, folding mirrors and a 8.8” central instrument display.

Look out for the M340i due out in June 2019 and also a new hybrid 330e with an advertised electric-only range of 30-miles coming out in the same month.

 

Volvo XC40

 

The Volvo XC40 represents a key departure for Swedish luxury car-maker Volvo as it’s their first compact SUV, qualifying it for consideration on two of our lists, but the stylish design and plush interior make us see it as the luxury vehicle it is over an SUV.

The XC40 looks the part and it’s got loads of gravitas to go with excellent engineering and a luxurious cabin. We like its rugged looks and while nearly new and used examples are fairly rare we have all the versions available in new lease deals at Hippo Leasing and during 2019 we will see some demo models and nearly new XC40’s being released into the market and Hippo is

perfectly placed to supply you with the solid and reassuring Volvo XC40.

 

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

 

A fresh update to the well-known Mercedes-Benz C Class represents a very welcome all round improvement to what is the standard for compact luxury saloon cars. While the new C Class does not look massively different on the outside, it’s the fact that so many components have been harvested from the top of the range S Class which makes this iteration of Mercedes-Benz’s executive range of cars so up to date and compelling.

There are so many extras and options available on the new C Class that you are better off speaking with one of our friendly and knowledgeable account managers but whichever new C Class you go for will be loaded with the latest standard tech.

There is a huge range of engines and Mercedes have made sure that the new C Class is very customisable from bumpers through to a massive array of alloys and tech that is simply mind-boggling like satnav linked cruise control and a hybrid system that allows the likes of the C350e to get up to 134 mpg and expel emissions as low as 48g/km.

SUVs

 

BMW X7

 

The eagerly anticipated BMW X7 is due for release in April 2019 and what a beast it is. The first thing that grabs you is the huge radiator grille which is designed to make a statement and make the Big Audis and Range Rovers sit up and take notice that there is a new, huge SUV in town. There are three, six-cylinder engines to power the massive X7 and it’s just as well they are powerful as it’s a fair amount of weight to shift but any of the two diesel engines, or the single petrol engine, are up to the task with the M50d in possession of 400bhp and an impressive 0-62 mph time of 5.4 seconds.

As you would expect, the new BMW X7 overflows with the latest safety and driver convenience kit while passengers will thrill in its understated but opulent interior. Hippo will be first in line to get access to the best lease deals on the new BMW X7 so be sure to contact us on or around the release date.

 

Jaguar F-Pace

 

The Jaguar F Pace was roundly applauded at launch and rightly so as it looks aggressive and sporty but also delivers on the practicality front where it’s also available as a 2×2 or in a 4×4 guise when the car cleverly switches from 2×2 to all-wheel drive when conditions merit, increasing safety – but not at the cost of fuel efficiency.

The range in engines (and performance) is quite mind-blowing from a relatively frugal 2.0-litre diesel producing just over 160bph to a bonkers 5.0-litre petrol supercharged V8 that will do 0-62 mph in about 4.3 seconds! The F Pace has room to burn on the inside and it has earned loads of plaudits for its calm, centred and cavernous interior.

 

VW Touareg

 

The old Touareg was a fantastic beast that earned a good reputation, but the new Volkswagen Touareg is possibly the finest vehicle to roll off the Wolfsburg production line. This car is a premium, large SUV that has all the presence of its German rivals but now has the tech to leap forward in the Tech race that continues to enrich the life of premium car drivers.

The entry-level SEL trim has all the normal features you would expect like Bluetooth, 19” alloys, lane assist, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, climate control and leather everywhere but now has a huge 15” cockpit screen with gesture and voice control and a WiFi hotspot that allows up to 8 devices to connect. The launch engine is a 3.0-litre diesel that is capable of getting from 0-62 in 6.1 seconds thanks to its eight-speed automatic gearbox and liberal use of aluminium within the car’s frame and panels to lighten the large SUV.

 

Jeep Wrangler

 

When you have a shape as iconic as the Jeep Wrangler, the last thing you do is stray away from the familiar outline that has tamed many an out-of-the-way landscape in a Jeep that has adventure and off-road credibility seared into its rugged skin. With a new, easy to engage automatic roof (a huge improvement on the old one) and an updated interior with seven-inch infotainment system and rugged and solid buttons and trim the new Jeep Wrangler looks good on the inside as well.

For those into off-roading, the new Jeep Wrangler has taken it up a step complimenting its small turning circle with (up to) 32” wheels, an improved and stronger axle and safety features like Parksense, front and rear park assist and blind spot monitoring available on higher spec models. We love a vehicle that advertises the fact that you can hose out the interior – reminds you of what Land Rovers used to be – an all-action vehicle with practicality guaranteed. There are three trims in the form of the Sahara, the Overland and the Rubicon so give one of your friendly Hippo account managers a call to discuss the best Wrangler lease deal for you.

 

Honda CR-V

 

The new Honda CR-V just works. It’s one of the best choices for families that want the reliability that Honda has always delivered with the practical all-around calm delivery we have all come to expect from this ever popular crossover, SUV, hatchback combination that is the default for many buyers from Osaka to Oklahoma to Oxford. This means that a lot of people were excited by its recent remake and justifiably so as the new Honda CR-V is larger on the inside, has updated infotainment and new engines designed to deliver reasonable power and frugality. The CRV is a good choice and we have excellent deals to go with it.

Family-Friendly Cars

Volkswagen T-Roc

The Volkswagen T-Roc made a huge splash at the start of 2018. If you are in the market for a compact SUV that looks cute but also delivers when it comes to extras and practicality then the T-Roc was the one to beat in 2018. Its main rival is the Audi Q2 and it’s difficult to split them as both are sturdy, compact SUV’s that stand out from the crowd and have an array of engines which range from fuel-sipping 1.0-litre turbo’ed up dazzlers through to more meaty diesel engines that deliver on performance as well as bold looks. The T-Roc has already become a favourite with both customers and Hippo staff and we have excellent new lease deals plus some nearly new lease deals starting to come through.

Nissan Juke

The new Nissan Juke was upgraded in 2018 and it’s a compact SUV that continues to be very popular, in fact, the 1-millionth Nissan Juke was produced at the Sunderland plant in 2018. Why does it sell so many? Quirky but interesting looks, we would suggest a look that grows on you over time, great prices, value and resale values which translates into good lease deals, a reasonable amount of on-board tech without going overboard and solid fuel economy.

The 2018 edition has some bold interior colour combinations which suit the compact Nissan Juke down to a tee. There are four trim versions, the entry-level Visia, the Acenta, the Bose Personal Edition and the Tekna with even the entry-level Visia having 16” alloys and air conditioning while the top of the range Tekna is full of kit such as Bose Sound System, around view monitoring, heated leather seats and safety features such as lane assist, blind spot warning and moving object detection. The new Nissan Juke is available from Hippo and please don’t forget that we have loads of nearly new and used Jukes with incredible lease deals attached so call your friendly Hippo account manager today.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Another exciting launch during 2018 was for the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The A-Class is a great way to get into the Mercedes stable and we have many customers who return time and again to the re-assuring, polished and all-round solid Mercedes A-Class which is even better following the revamp.

On the outside, there are not a lot of changes, though the slimmer headlights seem to make the new A-Class look more up to date. It’s on the inside that you will see the major improvements where higher specs get the new twin 10-inch screens that are truly a leap forward creating an entertainment and information solution that is without doubt class leading. It’s got a 5-star safety rating and launched with three engines and more are on the way in 2019. The new A-Class is going to be a huge success in 2019 and Hippo Leasing has all versions available for lease.

Peugeot Fastback 508

The new Peugeot Fastback 508 looks the business, drives like it and is right up there with the luxury coupe influenced family cars it seeks to displace, specifically the Volkswagen Passat, the Ford Mondeo and the Mercedes C Class Saloon which the Peugeot 508 has firmly in its sights. In terms of design, Peugeot has clearly started with a clean page and its designers have risen to the occasion with a sleek, sculpted and bold shape that holds the eye.

There are five engines: two petrol and three diesel and Peugeot does a good job of mixing their availability through the range of five trims: Active; Allure; First Edition; GT and GT Line. All come with eight-speed automatic gearbox apart from the 1.5-litre Blue Hdi diesel which uses a 6-speed manual. The new Peugeot 508 Sportback is excellent to drive, refined, smooth and responsive and Hippo can get you into the 508 in no time, simply call one of our friendly account managers and we’ll have it delivered to your door.

Ford Focus

In total, the Ford Focus was bought by nearly 96,000 customers in 2018 which is over 30,000 more units than its nearest rival, the Volkswagen Golf. When you have the best selling car in the UK, it must be tempting to just leave things as they are but this is not the way Ford have approached the evolution of the Ford Focus.

The new Ford Focus looks to go a step further with Ford Co-Pilot360 and a whole raft of driver assist tech including Adaptive Cruise Control, Stop and Go, Lane Centering and Active Park Assist 2. The Co-Pilot360 is cutting edge tech and the car basically scans your surroundings to help take evasive control to prevent accidents. The last Ford Focus had good connectivity but the new Ford Focus takes it to another level with an optional FordPass Connect modem, live traffic and the ability to create a wifi hotspot in your car – impressive stuff!

The layout and cabin are solid and there is a whole host of engine choice centred on the 1 litre and 1.5 litre EcoBoost 3 cylinder petrol engines plus Fords new eight-speed automatic transmission which together gives you enhanced power and efficiency. The smart money is on the new Ford Focus – it’s going to blow all away in its class in 2019 and you can get one from Hippo Leasing today.

Performance Cars

 

Renault Megane RS

 

It’s all about performance with the new and much anticipated Renault Megane RS. With 280 bhp on tap translating into a 0-62 mph time of 5.8 seconds and a max speed of 158 mph, the new Megane RS is ready to deliver.

The Megane RS also looks good and it looks fast with extended wings, curvy bumpers and a wide diffuser at the rear plus a rather natty central exhaust pipe and side extractor vents. Choose from 18-inch Estoril or 19-inch Interlagos wheels with the former coming in the RS 280 trim and the latter in the RS Trophy trim. The Trophy trim also has leather rather than fabric upholstery and has Sport monitor which allows the driver to monitor their performance in real time or use their Smartphone to record the action (mostly for the track we would say) and dissect it later. Volcanic Orange or Sirius Yellow are the colours to go for say the purists but whatever colour you pick the new Megane RS is a real head turner that’s super fun to drive and we have great lease deals available on the new hot hatch.

 

BMW M5

 

Let’s start off with a car that always seeks to redefine its class, the BMW M5 and a few numbers designed to make you sit up and take notice of the new M5. The new M5 is a whole second quicker than its predecessor at 3.4 seconds for 0-60 mph with the 4.4-litre, twin turbo V8 delivering up to 600ps of unadulterated power. The new M5’s party trick is the availability of all-wheel drive when required so power is pushed to the front wheels if it’s getting a bit twitchy our back but the M5 also allows you to keep it in rear wheel drive only if you catch my drift! One whole second faster on a car that was already fast. The M5 achieves this thanks to its German engineers increasing the fuel injection pressure by over 70 per cent and adopting a new eight-speed steptronic auto gearbox to produce these eye-watering numbers.

So The M5 is great to drive and the ride is good with excellent handling and agility and the cabins are top class as you would expect with everything that pushes and pulls draped in understated elegance. The BMW M5 retails around £90k so it’s just as well that Hippo Leasing has great lease deals which put the new M5 within reach for those that value power, sophistication and class.

 

Audi RS4 Avant

 

What makes the Audi RS4 Avant so appealing? Is it the beautiful symmetry of an estate car that doesn’t look like an estate car and definitely does not drive like one? Perhaps it’s all the standard features including: LED lights all around; Quattro all-wheel drive; Nappa leather seats with contrast honeycomb stitching; 19” alloy wheels; and an Audi Communications package that you could launch a satellite with? Is it the 2.9-litre V6 engine that is frankly awe-inspiring with 444 brake horsepower, torque production that is out of this world and produces a rumble of power that could turn almost anyone into a dictator. Could it be the RS4’s speed, or just the knowledge that this is a car that can go from 0-62 in a blistering 4.1 seconds?

Some think it’s the Audi RS4’s refined cabins that come as standard for the German brand or the safety features aplenty. The answer: It’s all of these things and more. It’s the knowledge that you can take the family on a Sunday jaunt with the engine purring along nicely or that you can get behind the wheel (at a track obviously) and blow all and sundry away. A practical and safe family car that treads quietly but carries a big stick. The new RS4 Avant starts at over £60k but fortunately, Hippo Leasing’s lease deals make it much more affordable to get behind the wheel of the powerhouse car.

 

Seat Leon Cupra

 

First up, the Seat Leon Cupra R and the obvious question, ‘why should I get one over the standard Leon Cupra?’ Well, if you are lucky enough to be able to get one of these rare cars, then you will appreciate the added extras like Keyless entry and go, wireless phone charger, heated front seats and headlight washers, tiredness recognition, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, upgraded sat nav and a BeatsAudio sound system.

The R version also pushes out 10 more bhp which takes the Leon Cupra R to 310 bhp and from 0-62 mph in 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The thing about the new Seat Leon Cupra R is that the engineers have put a lot of effort into making that extra power transfer to the road with more precision using modified steering and massive Brembo brakes and handling is noticeably better meaning that this Cupra R can be pushed harder and faster.

The truth is that the Leon Cupra R is oversubscribed however Hippo Leasing has a long association with fast hatches and if we can’t secure the new Leon Cupra R we have dozens of other hot hatches like the Honda Civic Type R or the Renault Megane RS to fall back on.

 

Hyundai i30 N

 

The new Hyundai i30 N is Hyundai’s very successful attempt to show that it too can create a hot hatch to be admired in terms of looks and performance. The powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with N moniker delivers 275PS and has a 0-62 mph time of just 6.1 seconds.

The i30 N also boasts a long list of extras like a shift timing indicator, electronically controlled suspension, launch control, five drive modes, special sports seats (which are marvellous) an eight-inch touchscreen with sat nav,  19-inch alloys and an active variable exhaust system plus electronic slip differential.

With all of these extras, you can see that Hyundai is serious about producing a competitive hot hatch and when you throw in their five-year or 100k mile warranty, the Hyundai i30 N starts to make a lot of sense in that it gives you a lot of ammunition to use on your partner to get a sporty hot hatch on your driveway.

Eco-Friendly Cars

Audi e-tron

The first ever all-electric Audi has been a long time coming but the Audi e-tron was worth the wait! Powered by two electric motors that between them produce up to 300kW or 408PS of power that is linked to all-wheel drive and with a range of up to 248 miles is a game changer for the famous four circle brand, even more so when you consider that the most powerful re-charging stations can re-power the e-tron to 80 per cent capacity within 30 minutes which is a real bonus when going on a family holiday.

Audi also took the opportunity to include a whole set of new and advanced features with the launch of the e-tron including ‘pre sense 360’ which constantly monitors your driving surroundings to protect you and your passengers. Features like rear cross-traffic assist, crossing assist and turn assist all work together to give you peace of mind when at the wheel supported by adaptive cruise control. Efficiency assist also monitors the route ahead to create better use of power. You can even have virtual wing mirrors which use cameras instead of old school wing mirrors to view what is behind you which is a real step into the 21st century. As you would expect with an Audi, the cabin of the e-tron is first class and has everything you need in a luxury car.

Jaguar I-Pace

The Jaguar I Pace is an all-electric SUV and is the latest move from British luxury brand Jaguar in the race to win both the SUV and electric mantle that is so coveted by motor manufacturers. The new I Pace has impressive numbers and is powered by two electric motors, one for each axle, producing 394 bhp and over 500lb ft of torque. The claimed 298-mile range is impressive and 4.5-seconds for 0-62 mph even more so proving that the I Pace is a seriously quick option.

The all important 80 per cent re-charging time takes as quick as 45 mins but you will need a fast charger to do this. The I Pace also looks good inside and out with real road presence plus a huge boot and room to burn in the plush cabin.

Nissan Leaf

The new Nissan Leaf has a hard act to follow when you consider that the old Nissan Leaf was central – some would say pivotal – to the initial increased take-up of electric vehicles.

The new Nissan Leaf does, however, manage this feat as it now has a much longer range, its more spacious inside and it’s better to drive. Its range is now up to 168 miles of combined driving – according to the manufacturer and with 150PS power output it’s not slow off the mark either, aided by its automatic gearbox. Charging from 20 per cent to 80 per cent takes approximately 60 minutes with the fastest chargers according to Nissan. The new version is sleeker where it’s now all about aerodynamic efficiency with even the wing mirrors redesigned to slice through the air and get you further on a charge. There are three trims, the Acenta, the N-Connecta and the Tekna and all have impressive kit with even the Acenta having lane departure warning, emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, a seven-inch touchscreen, rear view camera, iOS and Android connectivity and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Tekna boasts seven Bose speakers, full LED headlights and a fair bit of leather. The new Nissan Leaf does not disappoint so call your friendly Hippo account manager for a great lease quote.

 

BMW i3

 

2018 saw BMW give its baby electric car, the i3, a refresh. There wasn’t much lacking in the old i3 but BMW successfully improved on an already great car, making it more futuristic looking and adding a few more creases plus a new roofline strip and some new bumpers. The German carmaker also added the new and sportier BMW i3s which adds dynamic traction control and another 14bhp on top of the already solid 170hp that the standard car has and has a 0-62 mph time of 6.9 seconds versus the 7.2 seconds in the standard car.

The i3s is very fast off the line and driving around town will never feel the same again. Like all electric cars, driving range is a by-product of battery size, energy regeneration technology and efficiency (such as energy recovered from the braking system) and most importantly how you drive. Official range is 160 miles for both the standard i3 and the i3s. The i3s benefits from a sports suspension (which is 10mm lower),Sport driving mode, tighter steering and large 20-inch wheels. Hippo is geared up for the coming electrical revolution in cars in that we stock a huge variety of electric vehicles and we have a fantastic deal on either the BMW i3 or i3s.

 

Toyota Auris

 

The new Toyota Auris is a significant step up from the previous model. In the first place, it actually looks interesting and the new design is appealing to most with a brand new roofline and some interesting ceases and lines. Most people buy a Toyota for the reliability and their wallet-saving properties and the Auris is no different with fuel consumption of up to 68.8 mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 94g/km.

With high-quality touchscreens on the inside and Toyota’s safety sense, infotainment and safety are also front-of-mind so the new Auris is bang up to date and Hippo Leasing all new versions available for lease today.

No matter what car you are looking to lease this year, Hippo Leasing is able to offer you attractive new car lease deals. Call 01254 956 666 or email info@hippoleasing.co.uk to discuss your contract hire requirements.


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