Kia Motors (UK) Limited has triumphed at the UK Car of the Year Awards 2020, locking out almost all other competition in the ‘Crossover of the Year’ category. The e-Niro was crowned overall winner, the Kia XCeed followed closely behind in second while the All-New Soul EV landed joint fourth place. In addition, the e-Niro will go on in the fight for top spot as overall ‘UK Car of the Year 2020’, which will be revealed 28 February.
Now in its seventh year, the UK Car of the Year Awards are designed specifically for the UK car-buying public to highlight and advise on the best new cars on the market. The judging panel is formed of some of the most respected names in motoring journalism.
In a fiercely competitive crossover category, the e-Niro earned top place and was labelled a “genuine game-changer” and “one of the most convincing EVs out there.” Since its launch, the e-Niro has been exceptionally well received within the motoring industry, earning titles such as What Car? ‘Car of the Year 2019’ and Auto Express ‘Affordable Electric Car of the Year 2019’.
Alex Grant, UK Car of the Year Judge, commented: “The e-Niro combines one of the market's best electric drivetrains with the impressive space-efficiency of Kia's compact crossover. It offers a long range and impressive efficiency without adapting driving style, with spirited performance and fast charging making it easy to go electric.”
Coming in close second, the Kia XCeed fills a unique spot in the C-segment, combining compact SUV practicality with the sporty packaging and engaging handling of a hatchback. As one of the newest additions to the Ceed family, the Kia XCeed is now available as a low-emissions Plug-In Hybrid variant alongside the Ceed Sportswagon, giving customers an alternative eco option.
Commenting on the win, Paul Philpott, President and CEO for Kia Motors (UK) Ltd, said: “The crossover market has become increasingly competitive as customer demand has surged, making it all the more impressive that Kia has three different models placing within this category. It’s fantastic to see that the e-Niro is still raking in prestigious awards and I look forward to seeing how it fares in the battle for the overall title of UK Car of the Year.”
Finally, the Soul EV placed joint fourth in this year’s awards. Arriving in March, the Soul EV uses the same batteries and powertrain fitted to the e-Niro and has a driving range of 280 miles, adding another staple all-electric model to the Kia eco line-up.