The Kia Soul EV has picked up the prize for ‘Best value electric car’ at the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2021. The Soul EV shone within its class for excelling in all requirements of an electric vehicle, based on the results of a survey by 148,000 UK car owners.
Auto Trader’s New Car Awards is an annual consumer-led vote on the best cars currently for sale in the UK. Winners are decided by the British car-buying public, with owners asked to rate their vehicle based on 16 categories, including stability, reliability, safety and features.
Eligible for the £2,500 government plug-in car grant and capable of 280 miles on a single charge, the Soul EV stood out as a great value representative of EV ownership. Commended for its power, range, durability and ease of driving, the Soul EV combines zero-emission performance with a standout design and a great level of standard equipment – highly sought after characteristics in the EV category.
Erin Baker, Editorial Director of Auto Trader, said: “The Kia Soul EV came top of the class for space that was easy to make use of, and also scored high marks for its power, durability, easy to drive and easy to park. Owners described the Kia Soul EV as, ‘great value for money, roomy, efficient, small on the outside and big on the inside’. Well done, Kia.”
Commenting on the Soul EV’s win, Paul Philpott, President & CEO for Kia UK Limited, remarked: “To see the Soul EV win this award is a truly impressive feat, and one which means a lot to us as a company. Value is important to anyone looking to make the transition to fully electric ownership, and the Soul EV demonstrates that there is no need to sacrifice range, equipment or performance when buying and running an electric vehicle. We are delighted that, via our dealer partners, we're able to exceed expectation with the Soul EV year-on-year.”
The Niro, Sportage and all-new Sorento also impressed, being shortlisted for awards in various other categories. Kia as a brand was also shortlisted for the ‘Car Brand with the best new tech’ award. 2021 is the third consecutive year in which Kia has won an Auto Trader New Car Award.