There have been calls to make eye testing compulsory for drivers after research showed that around four million motorists in Britain fail to meet the minimum eyesight requirement. The current prerequisite is that a new motorist should be able to read a number plate from 65 feet away, but due to deteriorating eyesight because of factors such as aging and fatigue, many drivers fall below this standard while holding a valid licence in later years.

Since there’s an aging driving population in Britain, the government is considering reviewing the eyesight tests, which have been described by Dr. Mark Young of Brunel University as ‘not fit for purpose’. Dr. Young recently completed the UK’s most comprehensive study of vision and driving, recommending that the test should also examine a driver’s field of view to check if they can react to events happening around them. He also maintains that no provisional licence should be handed out to new drivers until a comprehensive eye test is completed.

It may not be the first thing to come to people’s minds when they’re looking to buy new cars on finance, but in the interests of safety for both themselves and others on the roads, it’s well worth having an eye test every few years.

Something that’ll be catching the public’s eye in the near future is yet another new BMW, this time a sporty SUV called the X4. Designed to rival the likes of the Range Rover Evoque in the car finance market, the X4 will be based on the current X3 platform and will feature  styling to the X6. The sporty SUV market is warming up, with both Audi and Porsche also planning rivals for the Evoque in the near feature. There’ll be plenty of choice for sporty SUV cars on finance coming our way, but BMW will be keen to get a large slice of the action when the X4 hits the showrooms in 2014.

When it comes to power, BMW always comes up with the goods. The X4 will come packing the same punch as the current X3 range, using the same great line up of petrol and diesel engines. It’ll also have the same six speed manual or eight speed auto gearboxes, making it a pretty attractive BMW finance option.

Meanwhile, Ford has released the first pictures of its forthcoming B-Max ahead of its launch at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The B-Max is an MPV based on the popular Fiesta, and will offer an interesting alternative to those interested in small, cheap but spacious cars on finance. It’ll feature some clever ideas, including sliding rear doors that’ll give a vast 1.5 metre access, so will be ideal for parents with car seats with young children.

There’ll also be flat-folding seats, a cabin packed with the latest technology and a range of cutting-edge engines such as the Ecoboost lump, which will help to make the B-Max another star in Ford’s impressive line-up of family motors available on attractive car finance deals.

It’s often difficult for a company to shake off an image problem. Once one of your products acquires an unfavourable reputation, it can spread like wildfire and affect sales – no matter how good that product actually is. Volvo suffered such a problem during the 1980s, when its large estates became the symbol of dullness.  They were large and safe family cars, but had little in the way of styling finesse and didn’t exactly offer much excitement or desirability when placed next to a similarly priced rival.

Thankfully, Volvo saw the error of its ways and now offers a range of cars with cool, understated lines that hold onto the company’s safe and practical core values. Nowadays, a Volvo V60 leasing deal actually offers you a little bit of variety that you don’t often get elsewhere. Audis and BMWs are so common on our roads that they’ve lost some of their exclusivity, something which a Volvo V60 lease deal – whatever you may have thought five or ten years ago – can actually offer you quite a bit of.

But how does the V60 stack up against its consistently classy rivals? On the outside, it has an air of understatement with crisp detailing that’s not in your face. It’s a similar story inside, with Swedish functionality and design evident throughout the cabin. Indeed, the car’s interiors have the air of another Swedish retailing giant, though Volvo V60 contract hire package customers will be happy to know they’ve been assembled by professionals so should more than stand the test of time! The plastics are nice to the touch and the seats are very supportive – again good news for Volvo V60 leasing arrangement drivers who need to do the occasional long journey in comfort.

Standard equipment is very generous when compared to similarly priced rivals from Germany. This includes an almost endless list of safety features – if you’re looking for a large, practical family car and safety is a top priority, then a Volvo V60 lease deal will be for you. There’s plenty of space inside for adults, with good leg room and head room in the front and rear. The 430 litre boot isn’t as large as you may expect, but it’s very well designed with a large flat load-bay, while the rear seats can be folded several different ways.

On the road, the V60 is surprisingly agile on corners. The driving position is spot on and all the instruments are easy to read, making a Volvo V60 contract hire arrangement a perfect addition to businesses in need of long distance cruising. From a power perspective, the 2.0 D3 diesel is popular and offers plenty of mid-range grunt. There are also 1.6 and 2.4 diesel options, all of which offer good economy and emission figures. Petrol ranges from a 148bhp 1.6 to a barnstorming 3.0 with 300bhp on tap.

So, if you’re looking for a classy, safe, reliable and practical estate that can cover long distances in comfort, check out our Volvo leasing deals today.

Ford has seemingly proven the old adage ‘it’s not the size that counts, but how you use it’ with the imminent launch of its new 1.0-litre ‘EcoBoost’ version of the Focus family hatchback.

The petrol engine, which has three cylinders and delivers 123bhp, reportedly uses a combination of direct fuel injection and a turbocharger to offer heightened performance – allowing it to compete with larger, 1.6-litre units and even provide greater fuel economy.

Ford of Britain’s managing director, Mark Ovenden, has delivered a glowing report of the engine’s capabilities: “This highly efficient, technically advanced powertrain is not only great fun to drive, but it delivers fuel economy improvements and ultra-low CO2 emissions which lead to real world cost savings for our customers.”

This news will undoubtedly be welcomed by drivers looking for green cars on finance, who can expect to see the new Focus rolling out from next month, with prices starting at a respectable £16,245.

The innovative EcoBoost technology will also be available as part of Ford car finance deals later this year, with the release of new C-Max and Grand C-Max models.

Whilst Ford has proven one familiar saying with its compact technology, another has recently been debunked by a comprehensive study by car park firm NCP – the myth that men are better at parking than women.

In fact, it seems the reverse is true (no pun intended) as covert surveillance of car parks across Britain has revealed that – although women take longer to park than men – they are also more accurate at placing their cars in the centre of bays. And, whilst men were shown to be more confident when parking, women were reportedly better at spotting empty spaces.

Overall, women achieved a total score of 13.4 out of 20, compared to 12.3 points achieved by men, once all factors were taken into account.

In other news, drivers (both male and female) may want to consider taking a closer look at Kia cars on finance, as the manufacturer was recently presented with the What Car? Ultra Low Carbon Award for its environmentally-friendly range of cars.

Kia’s Rio gained particular praise, thanks to its industry-leading low carbon emissions of just 85g/km – making it the cleanest non-electric car in the world. Accepting the award, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, Paul Philpott, said that the company was delighted to have been recognised for its efforts in building “exciting, attractive, high-quality cars” that deliver “real benefits to customers in the form of cleaner technologies that don’t carry a price premium.”

With car finance deals on the Kia Rio starting at just £135 per month, Kia motors certainly represent an affordable option for fans of green motoring.

Shop around for cars on finance online to find the best deal for your budget – by comparing prices on car finance plans you could make significant savings, and have your new car delivered direct to your door.

The VW Passat has been with us for many years under a variety of styles and guises, offering classy German motoring without the expense of its national rivals such as Audi and BMW. Recently, it received another styling upgrade to make it more appealing to new VW finance customers, as well as the returning faithful. But are the new styling cues evident throughout the whole car, or are they  there to cover up the wrinkles?

Firstly, the new looks have really sharpened up the styling. It has become more angular and has a squat, aggressive stance. It’s now safe to say that with a VW Passat leasing arrangement, you’ll be getting your hands on a very handsome saloon or estate car. New lights and chrome detailing add to the classy charms of the Passat, and would present a great public image for companies keen on securing VW Passat contract hire agreements.

A sense of the new continues inside. There are plenty of re-designed interior details, particularly around the dashboard and centre console area. Plastics and materials used throughout the cabin are typically VW; with a high standard of construction and pleasant to the touch. You always get the sense with VW that their cars will stand the test of time, and a VW Passat lease package is sure to serve its driver for a long time.

When it comes to practical concerns, the Passat is also very capable. Rear legroom is in plentiful supply, as is headroom. The driving position is comfortable and adjustable, and there’s plenty of space in the boot of the saloon to look after most demands. If you have a team of travelling sales reps on your books and they need to lug around bulky samples, then you’ll be delighted to know that a VW Passat contract hire deal can also get you a practical estate. With a 523 litre boot when the seats are in place, and a massive 1,700 litres with the seats folded down, the estate should handle most loads.

On the road, the VW Passat won’t win any sporty accolades, but it does feel sure-footed and safe when cornering. In fact, a VW Passat leasing package will get you one very safe car overall, with an array of airbags and plenty of driver aids to keep you on the road. Class-leading soundproofing and a great ride also make a long journey in a Passat as relaxing as possible.

Standard equipment is generous throughout the range, with even base S models getting goodies like air conditioning and central locking, as well as a leather multi-functioning steering wheel and iPod connectivity. SE and TSi specification bring extra toys to the party, offering good value overall.

Performance is another strong point for the Passat, with the 1.4 turbo petrol being an economical and spirited performer. The 1.8 and particularly the 2.0 turbo petrol engines are very smooth. However, it’s the diesels that steal the show, with ‘Bluemotion’ technology ensuring that all diesel options average over 60mpg and emit less than 139g/km CO2.

So, if you’re interested in a beautifully made, cheap to run, classy and handsome family saloon or estate, a VW Passat leasing deal is well worth a second look.

BMW has been working hard for many years to create one of the most desirable brands on our roads, with ‘the ultimate driving machine’ claims backed up by a range of cars that have rarely been a let-down. To stay ahead of the game, the Bavarian brand has bombarded us with diverse models in recent years, as well as keeping up its backbone ranges such as the 3 Series and 5 Series.

The 3 Series is BMW’s biggest seller and has recently been updated, much to the delight of legions of BMW fans looking ahead to their next BMW finance deal. BMW hasn’t left it there, either, with 2012 bringing a whole host of new and updated models.

First to receive the once over is the flagship 7 Series, the BMW luxury cruiser and Mercedes S Class rival. If you’re interested in cars on finance that are brimming with technology and opulence, then the 7 Series is definitely worth a second look. The new 2012 model is due to be officially launched at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show in March and will feature subtle styling tweaks, a new automatic gearbox with eight speeds and a revised instrument design.

Also getting the mid-life makeover is the curious X6, the BMW SUV Coupé crossover that somewhat resembles an X5 hatchback. It seems a strange mix for a car of its size, but if you want a sporty SUV then a BMW X6 leasing package might just be for you. As with the 7 Series, the X6 gets restrained styling changes, along with two new interior upholstery colour options.

BMW’s designers and engineers must have been very busy recently, as there’s even more coming to a showroom near you very soon. The X6 launch has been timed to coincide with the début of the BMW M diesel range. Petrol heads will know that M stands for ‘Motorsport’ and has been BMW’s famous performance car division since the late 1970s. A move into diesel engines is significant, as diesel drive has traditionally been the poor relation to petrol power in performance cars. This development now means that you can get cars on finance that are both quick and frugal.

The new diesel unit is due to make its début in the X5, X6 and 5 Series, labelled the X5 M50d, X6 M50d and M550d respectively. For a direct comparison to a petrol equivalent, it’s worth placing the 5 Series M550d alongside its petrol-powered 5 Series brother – the M5. The M550d produces 376bhp, which is 176bhp less than the M5, but BMW say that the M550d will accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, just three-tenths of a second slower than its petrol cousin.

A major benefit of the diesel M550d over the M5 is the much lower fuel consumption, boasting 44.8mpg combined cycle, compared to 28.5mpg for the M5. The 550d will be cheaper to tax too, with 165g/km CO2 compared to 232g/km CO2 for the M5.

It’ll be interesting to see if diesel can overtake petrol in the affections of customers looking for performance cars on finance in the future. What’s even more interesting is what juicy prospect BMW might come up with next to entice us into our next car finance deal.

Have you ever fancied driving something a bit more glamorous than the normal humdrum saloon? Maybe you’d like to try out something a bit more upmarket, with a hint of exclusivity and desirability? Well, you might think that the dream of getting your hands on a premium motor is just that little bit too much out of reach due to budget restrictions – however, you might be wrong. Car finance options exist to make those dreams a possibility, and are well worth considering before you give up completely.

Leasing a car can be a very effective method of car finance. It’s been in use in the business world for many years now – although it’s often called contract hire when it comes to commercial use. Basically, contract hire packages are a great way for a business to provide company cars for its employees. As they’re leased, they don’t go on the balance sheets, don’t depreciate and lose the company money, and offer the business all sorts of tax incentives.

When it comes to non-commercial use, the arrangement is called car leasing. Car leasing has become one of the most popular forms of car finance in the UK in recent years, and works in a similar fashion to hiring a car on holiday. You lease the car, use it for an agreed period of time then, when the time is up, you hand back the keys. A monthly fee is paid for the car by the customer, typically over a three or four year period. After that, you give it back to the car leasing company and drive off in the latest model.

While some people would worry about not owning the car themselves, it’s worth remembering that not owning the vehicle has its own advantages. Firstly, it makes cars that are traditionally more expensive a lot more affordable. Car leasing makes this possible because the leasing company calculates how much a car will lose in value over the time you use it, and then setting your monthly fee to cover this number. Since posh motors like Audis and BMWs lose less money than most average cars, the monthly repayments are lower if you choose to lease them.

Some people may also argue that a second-hand car would be a better choice if you need to update your car and want to save some money. While a second-hand set of wheels might be cheaper to buy than a new car, it probably won’t have comforts such as a warranty, which will look after anything that goes wrong with a new car. An older motor will most likely cost more to tax and, being older, will need more maintenance and replacing of worn-out parts.

Car leasing and contract hire, on the other hand, will give you cheap motoring bills with all the advantages a new car has to offer. On top of that, a new car is less likely to let you down, will be bang up to date with the latest gizmos and gadgets, and will cost less to run. They’re both car finance options well worth thinking about.

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that the only option for a luxury SUV was the hugely popular Range Rover. However, over the last decade nearly all premium car makers have hopped onto the bandwagon to offer alternatives to the classy British off-roader.

One company keen to get a slice of the action has been Volkswagen, who introduced its monstrous Touareg in 2002. VW knew its model would be expensive and that it would be up against more prestigious brand names, so went about designing a car that needed to feel like a high-quality product. As a result, if you plump for a VW Touareg lease deal, you’ll immediately notice the first-class feel throughout the car.

On the outside, it’s fair to say that the Touareg doesn’t have the prettiest of designs. That said, when compared to the Porsche Cayenne – which looks a bit like a hippo yawning – it’s a supermodel. And if you’re prone to a bit of showing off and don’t mind people knowing how expensive your car is, well then a VW Touareg leasing arrangement might just be for you. From the outside it’s enormous, coming with plenty of flashy details like a large chrome grill and massive alloy wheels – even on the entry level models.

Inside, there’s more evidence of the first-rate nature of the Touareg. There’s no seven seat option in the big VW, as it positions itself as luxury transport rather than a large family bus. The dash and interior fittings have a lovely, high-quality feel and the whole interior feels like it’ll withstand some long distances and heavy loads; great news for VW Touareg contract hire package customers.

Drivers are treated to a commanding view of the road and a split rear tailgate which makes for easy rear loading. The boot is a useful 500 litres when the rear seats are in place and an even better 1,525 litres when the seats are folded flat, again good news for VW Touareg contract hire deal customers who need their fleet cars to carry bulky loads from time to time. Standard equipment consists of air-conditioning, trip computer and ESP. There are also various trim levels that provide all the toys you could imagine, but do add to the overall cost of the car.

Large SUVs are not always known for their fine handling but, if this is a requirement, then a VW leasing arrangement might be the answer. While it’s better looking than the Porsche Cayenne, it uses a lot of similar technology to its rival underneath to give it a great ride and sharp cornering abilities for a car of its size.

There are also plenty of engine options for the Touareg, with the diesels unsurprisingly the most popular. They range from the 2.5 litre to the very good 3.0, and then onto the outrageous 5.0 litre V10. There’s a 3.6 V6 petrol unit too, but the 3.0 diesel would be most popular amongst VW Touareg leasing customers as it retains 49% of its value over three years – impressive for a car of this nature.

Overall, a VW Touareg is a quality luxury SUV that has plenty of appeal on a lease deal with its luxury feel and strong residuals offering superb repayment terms.

Popular car brand Mini is launching two limited-edition models in March. Both new models will have plenty of extra kit and are sure to be big hits with Mini car finance customers. It looks like Mini is keen to cash in on their British heritage, with the two models called the Bayswater and Baker Street.

The Bayswater will come in a choice of three colours, depending on the model variant. ‘Kite Blue’ metallic is standard across the range, with ‘Midnight Black’ metallic and ‘Eclipse Grey’ metallic available on Cooper S and Cooper SD engine variants. There’s extra sporty trim on the inside and outside of the new model, with snazzy alloy wheels and added equipment unique to this line. This extra equipment is likely to make the Bayswater a tempting package for people looking at Minis on car finance deals, ensuring they get plenty of bang for their buck.

Over on Baker Street the tune is pretty much the same. There are new funky colours as well as extra styling details. It also comes with the ‘Pepper Pack’, which gives you air conditioning, Bluetooth, on-board computer, leather steering wheel, front fog lamps and other neat features. A large amount of luxuries will be good news for people looking for fully-loaded cars on finance.

Both the Mini One D and Cooper D engine options emit less then 99g/km CO2, meaning you don’t pay road tax or the London congestion charge. So, if you’re looking at cars on finance that are cheap to run, both engine options would be perfect with either the Bayswater or Baker Street packs.

With such large savings to be made with environmentally friendly cars, new car finance customers should keep an eye on big car shows – such as the one in Geneva in March – to see what’s coming soon in the motoring world. Mitsubishi, for example, is planning to reveal a new concept at Geneva to preview its next generation of cars. There’ll be styling ideas as well as clever green technology on show, with rumours persisting that the star of the show will be a plug-in electric SUV that’ll form the basis of the next Outlander.

Meanwhile, Korean car maker Kia continues to make great strides in the UK market, with car finance customers taking advantage of improved quality, attractive design and a market leading seven-year-warranty. This warranty shows what strong faith Kia puts in the quality of its cars as well as the integrity of its customers.

Keen to capitalise on its recent success, Kia is now looking to bring a uniform brand to its showrooms in the UK, launching the Red Cube showroom design at Northwich in Cheshire. The Red Cube is the international standard of showrooms for Kia, and another six are planned over the next 12 months at locations across the UK. The idea behind the design is to show a complete visual representation of Kia’s brand, and will make a welcome sight to anyone interested in Kia on finance.

Insurance is an essential and unavoidable cost when it comes to motoring. In a perfect world there would be no need to consider it as part of the budget for your next car finance deal, but many of us are glad it’s there when things go wrong.

Insurance companies always call for honesty when it comes to filling in their forms. Unfortunately, it looks like some firms have fallen on their own swords this week as the Financial Services Authority (FSA) issued large fines to Direct Line and Churchill after it emerged they had tampered with customer complaint files.

The two companies were fined £2.17 million after the FSA found that more than half of 50 cases submitted to them for inspection had been doctored, including forged staff signatures on seven documents. Details of the doctoring emerged after both providers were requested to submit the paperwork in 2009 as the FSA looked to improve the handling of complaints.

Both companies will now have to up their game if they’re to regain customer confidence after these revelations, and ultimately the taxpayer will have to foot the bill as both Churchill and Direct Line are part of the Royal Bank of Scotland; a state-owned body.

Thankfully, there’s better news elsewhere in the British motoring industry this week, as Jaguar took the wraps off its latest XF diesel, moving the popular executive saloon closer to those seeking Jaguar finance deals. The new diesel brings the starting price of the XF below £30,000, and its impressive figures are sure to make it a popular car finance deal option. It uses the same 2.2 diesel that’s found in the current XF diesel, though serves up 161bhp instead of the 187bhp of its older stable-mate.

While the new XF might be down on power compared to its more expensive sister, it’s still a good option for those looking for affordable luxury cars on finance. It returns 52.3mpg on a combined cycle and chucks out just 149g/km CO2, which will help keep your bank manager happy and stop the tax man from raiding your pockets. If the new diesel Jag sounds like the perfect match for you, it’s available on car finance deals now.

While the Jag is an inexpensive option for a large executive saloon, there are other cars out there that will go the extra mile for the environment. The darling of the hybrids, the Toyota Prius, is one such eco warrior. It has just received a freshening up for 2012, and is sure to be an attractive choice on car finance deals with its 70.6mpg figure and tiny CO2 figure.

The performance stats for the new Prius remain the same as the outgoing model, but it now features restyled exterior touches, extra toys to play with inside and tweaked suspension designed to get rid of the hard ride and improve driver comfort. If you fancy looking at green cars on finance deals and like the sound of the new Prius, you’ll have to wait until March before it takes to the road in the UK.

It can be difficult to keep up to speed with the Mercedes range these days. The prestigious German marque has gone from producing a simple range of cars consisting of small, medium and large luxury saloons (with the odd sporty number thrown into the mix) to offering a huge range of models to draw in new buyers.

One of Mercedes’ main strategies has been to produce cheaper cars to attract younger customers and build long-term brand loyalty. One such car was the C-Class Coupe; a three door hatchback designed to take on the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. The C-Class Coupe remained in the shadow of its rivals, however, and – in an effort to make its mark in the market – Mercedes gave the C-Class a makeover and rebranded it the ‘CLC’.

Although the CLC is visually similar to its predecessor, if you plump for a Mercedes leasing deal you’ll be getting a vastly improved car. The exterior styling is sharper, more aggressive and prettier – it’s a design that oozes class, something that business customers looking at Mercedes CLC contract hire deals are sure to appreciate.

Another criticism levelled at the old C-Class Coupe was its lack of sporty road holding for something that was labelled a ‘coupe’. Thankfully, the feedback was taken on board, and the CLC was revamped with a whole new suspension setup, making it a completely different, more assured animal on the corners.

There are plenty of power options available for those looking at Mercedes CLC leasing plans, with a good range of fuel-efficient diesels that are perfectly suited to eating up those motorway miles. There are also four petrol engines to choose from, including a supercharged 2.0 litre unit which is eager and offers 36.2 mpg – not bad for a petrol car of this nature. The range also includes 2.5 and 3.5 V6s, offering range-topping performance -albeit at a range-topping price!

Inside the car, there’s plenty to smile about. With acres of room in the back for adults, a reasonably large boot, supportive seats and an excellent driving position, a Mercedes CLC lease deal (or Mercedes CLC contract hire package for business customers) will get you a practical car that’s ideal for covering large distances, although some drivers do complain that rear visibility is somewhat restricted. The dashboard is also ergonomically sound and attractive, if a little dated in appearance.

Climate control, multi-control steering wheel and parking sensors are available as standard on all models, but you can spec your Mercedes CLC leasing plan with a host of luxurious – and expensive – extras. These include Bluetooth, iPod connectivity, a Europe-wide DVD satnav system and an integrated infotainment system  - all of which makes the CLC a fantastic luxury all-rounder.