Forty-six per cent of drivers said they preferred affordable brands, while only 28 per cent preferred luxury marques.

The survey also found that the majority of UK company car drivers are satisfied with their vehicles.

Over 60 per cent of the 500 drivers surveyed said they were happy with their current vehicle, with only 10 per cent complaining about limited choice. Just 7 per cent said they would prefer to receive a car allowance. Nearly half of respondents valued reliability as the most important factor - 48 per cent claimed it was more important than any other aspect of their car. Performance was ranked the second most important priorities.

Only 12 per cent highlighted brand image as a desirable asset, with just 18 per cent admitting to feelings of “badge snobbery”. Martin Burke, head of Škoda business sales, said: “This research shows that most company car drivers do not necessarily associate premium brands with vehicle desirability. “What really matters to business car users is a combination of reliability and practicality – no surprise given that most drivers surveyed use their vehicles as a business tool and depend on it for income.”