The agreement sees the two firms team up for at least the next three years, marking the return of a partnership between the two companies that began in 2003. 

Forester Life said that the recent introduction of the 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine to the Civic line-up played a key role in its choice, thanks to its combination of 94g/km of CO2 along with 118bhp. 

Euan Allison, group managing director of Forester, said: ‘We have bought Honda Civics in the past and, after trying some other premium brands in the interim, are pleased to welcome Honda back to the Foresters fleet. Honda really seems to have got the Civic diesel package right for the fleet market, responding to the demands we make on a car manufacturer – the need for company tax efficiency, high mpg, low emissions and surprisingly low BiK implications. All of these factors, and the fact that the Civic is British-built, add up to a compelling fleet motoring package that exceeds our requirements.’ 

Gail Chambers, national corporate sales manager for Honda (UK), commented: ‘As a company providing financial services products for some 135 years, Foresters clearly knows what is required to be successful in business. We have worked very closely with them to understand their company car requirements, and the result is this significant fleet order which further underlines the growing reputation of the new Civic as a corporate favourite.’ 

The eco credentials of the Civic 1.6 i-DTEC were further underlined in the recent “MPG Marathon”, organised by Fleet World. Over a 367-mile drive in conditions that many company car drivers face every day, independent testing recorded an excellent overall mpg of 84.87, exceeding its official combined figure by some 8.12%. 

To celebrate the delivery of the first five cars to Foresters, Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) Honda Yuasa Racing driver, Matt Neal, handed over the keys to Foresters staff at Marshall Honda in Narborough, Leicestershire, on 9th January.