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Posted January 19th, 2024
Kia UK has won four awards at the 2024 What Car? Car of the Year awards, including major category wins for the Kia Sportage and Kia EV6.
For the second consecutive year, the Kia Sportage was awarded the ‘Best Family SUV’ award. The judges rated it ahead of all other rivals in one of the most popular and hotly contested classes in the UK.
The judging panel, made up of the magazine’s team of expert road testers, commented: “The Kia Sportage has a more comfortable ride than key rivals, yet it inspires confidence on winding roads, thanks to strong grip and accurate steering. You also get a smart-looking and user-friendly interior that offers a properly elevated driving position. And no matter where in the car you're sitting, there's plenty of head and leg room, and the Sportage feels pleasingly airy.”
The fifth-generation Kia Sportage was introduced early in 2022, and won What Car?’s ‘Best Family SUV’ award in 2023. Last year it was the UK’s fourth best-selling car overall, with 36,135 units finding homes with UK buyers. Offering a wide range of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, the Sportage is priced from £29,375 on-the-road.
Two years on from winning What Car?’s overall ‘Car of the Year’ award, the Kia EV6 is still seen by many as setting the standard for EVs in its class. The car has won the 2024 ‘Best Family Electric SUV’ award, ahead of several newcomers in an increasingly competitive segment.
The judges commented: “Two years after it was named What Car? Car of the Year, the Kia EV6 continues to blend a great battery range, fast charging, a fine ride and handling balance and generous equipment levels for a competitive price better than any rival. Plus, despite its sleek looks, it's a practical choice, offering loads of space in both the front and the rear, and a good-sized boot.”
The EV6 is priced from £45,275 on-the-road, and offers a driving range of up to 328 miles according to the WLTP ‘combined’ test cycle*. Drivers can choose between rear- or all-wheel drive models, as well as a high-performance EV6 GT model, which can accelerate from 0-to-62mph in just 3.5 seconds. The EV6 is a high performer in the UK’s growing EV sector, with more than 6,000 units sold in the UK in 2023.
The all-new Kia EV9, on-sale in the UK since early January 2024, was also awarded the ‘Best Electric 7-Seater’ prize. A sub-category of the ‘Best 7-Seater’ award, the EV9 was praised by the judges for its capabilities and value compared to rivals: “Most seven-seat electric SUVs are either ludicrously expensive or not as practical as you might expect, but the Kia EV9 is different, offering comfortable seating for seven adults in a package that – while far from cheap – is well priced next to rivals. And with a generous official range, the EV9 can tackle long trips without you having to worry about where the next charge is coming from.”
The EV9 is now available to order in the UK, priced from £64,995 on-the-road and offering a comprehensive range of equipment, a bold and modern design, and the latest EV technology offered by Kia. The rear-wheel drive EV9 ‘Air’ is capable of travelling up to 349 miles on a single charge* (WLTP ‘combined’ cycle), while all-wheel drive ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models can travel up to 313 miles on a single charge. Its 800-volt charging capability means the EV9 can harness high DC power to recharge its battery from 10 to 80 per cent in only 24 minutes.
Kia’s fourth trophy is the ‘Tow Car Award’, normally reserved for an individual vehicle, but this year recognising Kia’s wide range of towing-capable cars.
The judges commented: “What Car? and the experts at The Camping and Caravanning Club team up every year to find the best tow cars. However, instead of singling out an individual model, this year the judges felt that Kia as a brand was most deserving of the award for the way it consistently builds brilliant tow cars, whether you want a diesel, a hybrid or even a fully electric car.”
Several of Kia’s cars offer a high towing capacity, including the popular Sportage, Sorento, EV6, and – now – the EV9, the latter offering a braked towing capacity of up to 2,500kg in all-wheel drive, dual-motor format.
Paul Philpott, President & CEO, Kia UK, commented: “What Car? is one of the most trusted and reliable names for UK motorists, and recognition in the annual ‘Car of the Year’ awards is a powerful endorsement. We are therefore immensely proud to see three of our cars recognised as best-in-class in 2024, and our wider model line-up for their towing capabilities. The Sportage in particular continues to be a top performer for families everywhere, while the award-winning EV6 and EV9 represent the benchmark in their respective segments as more buyers go electric for the first time.”
Each year, the What Car? Car of the Year Awards names the best new cars across several vehicle categories. To be eligible for the awards, a car must have been tested back-to-back with its rivals, on UK roads and at a dedicated test facility, by What Car?’s team of road testers.
