The business contract hire broker reveals that in 2006, diesel vehicles accounted for 78% of its customer fleet, which rose to 90% for 2014. For the 2015 year-to-date period, diesel’s share has reduced slightly to 85% but still remains the most popular fuel across the board.

However, take-up of electric and hybrid models increased by threefold in 2014 compared to the preceding year, before again more than doubling in the 2015 YTD.

In terms of model types, crossovers accounted for 20% of personal and business customer purchases in 2015, compared to 14% in 2013 and 15% in 2014. For 2015, Mercedes’ GLA has notched up the highest crossover leases with 31%, Land Rover’s Evoque in second place with 15%.

When it comes to brands, the top three spots back in 2006 comprised BMW with 14.89%, Audi with 14.36% and Volkswagen with 10.64%. Four years later in 2014, Audi, Mercedes and Nissan took the podium positions, and for the 2015 YTD at Contracthireacar.com, Mercedes takes gold with 19% of the firm’s leasing contracts, BMW silver with 12% and Audi and Ford are neck and neck on bronze with 11% each.

Craig Davy, Contracthireacar.com’s business manager, said: “With cars like SsangYong’s Tivoli, Hyundai’s new Tucson and Kia’s latest generation Sportage entering the already plentiful crossover segment, we expect its share of the car leasing market to continue growing. The emissions scandal may eventually result in a slight defection to electric and hybrid cars, but for now, we predict diesel to remain dominant, especially in the corporate contract hire market.”