LIFESTYLE vehicles are cheaper to repair than ordinary cars, suggesting that the elevated driving position of MPVs and 4x4s serves as a valuable safety feature. VELO believes the higher vantage point in lifestyle vehicles gives drivers a better view of the road ahead, enabling them to take evasive action earlier and thereby reducing collision damage.

Land Rovers and Range Rovers are actually the cheapest vehicles to repair, which VELO attributes to the bolt on, bolt off nature of their panels, and their ability to inflict more damage than they sustain. There is very little difference in repair costs between medium class vehicles and superminis, although luxury, executive and sports cars are more expensive to repair. VELO advises fleets to integrate vehicles' repair costs within their wholelife costs as a basis for company car allocation policies.