Unveiling Kia's Quadruple Win at the 2024 What Car? Awards
Unveiling Kia's Quadruple Win at the 2024 What Car? Awards
In the ever-changing realm of automotive excellence, the What Car - Car of the Year Awards 2024 have once again established the platform for celebrating innovation, performance, and practicality across various categories. Among the standout winners, the Kia Sportage, EV6, and EV9 have emerged as trailblazers, securing top honours in their respective segments. Let's delve into the factors contributing to their triumphs and what elevates these vehicles to the pinnacle of automotive excellence.
Kia Sportage: Best Family SUV 2024
The Kia Sportage, consistently favoured among families, has secured the title of Best Family SUV. Its winning combination of spacious interiors, advanced safety features, a smooth ride, and value for money makes it the go-to choice for those seeking a reliable and family-friendly vehicle. The Sportage's sleek design, coupled with cutting-edge technology, ensures a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience for both driver and passengers.
“Regardless of which trim you opt for, you’ll find plenty of features inside, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. Wherever you’re seated, the Sportage feels spacious and provides ample head and legroom, even accommodating three adults in the rear with enough shoulder room for comfort.”
What Car says
Kia EV6: Best Family Electric SUV 2024
Kia continues to make waves in the electric vehicle (EV) market with the EV6, which triumphed as the Best Family Electric SUV. In this category, the cars must meet specific requirements to win this award: a usable driving range, fast charging tech, practicality, and loaded with great tech. The Kia EV6 has excelled in all of the above categories.
“The EV6 currently offers the best combination of a great battery range, fast charging, a fine ride/handling balance, and generous equipment levels for a competitive price.”
What Car says
The EV6's impressive eco-friendly electric powertrain makes it a standout choice for families looking to embrace sustainable driving without compromising on practicality. With a spacious interior, futuristic design, and state-of-the-art tech features, the EV6 is truly redefining what it means to be a family electric SUV.
Kia EV9: Best Family Electric 7 Seater 2024
The recently launched Kia EV9, available in the UK since January 2024, has secured the 'Best Electric 7-Seater' award. A sub-category of the 'Best 7-Seater' accolade, the EV9 stood out for its capabilities and value in comparison to rivals. Judges praised the EV9 for providing comfortable seating for seven adults at a reasonable price, distinguishing it from other expensive or less practical options in the electric SUV market. With a generous official range, the EV9 is well-equipped for long trips, eliminating concerns about the next charging station.
“You could argue that the Kia EV9 is in a class of one because it's unrivalled when it comes to practicality at this price in the electric SUV class. You see, if you want to go fully electric and need to carry around seven people in comfort, your options are decidedly limited. Sure, other cars have as many seats as the EV9, but adults really won’t fancy a trip in the third row.”
What Car says
Boasting a comprehensive range of features, a bold modern design, and the latest EV technology from Kia, the EV9 offers versatility and style. The rear-wheel-drive EV9 'Air' achieves an impressive 349 miles on a single charge* (WLTP 'combined' cycle), while all-wheel-drive 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' models cover up to 313 miles on a single charge. Thanks to its 800-volt charging capability, the EV9 can recharge its battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 24 minutes using high DC power.
‘Tow Car Award’ for Kia's wide choice of towing-capable cars
Kia has clinched its fourth trophy, securing the prestigious 'Tow Car Award.' Traditionally reserved for an individual vehicle, this year's recognition extends to Kia's diverse range of towing-capable cars. The judging panel, a collaboration between What Car? and experts from The Camping and Caravanning Club, typically singles out the best tow cars annually.
However, this year, the judges took a different approach. Instead of highlighting a specific model, they acknowledged Kia as a brand deserving of the award for consistently producing outstanding tow cars. This recognition spans various fuel options, including diesel, hybrid, and fully electric cars. Kia's lineup boasts several cars with impressive towing capacities, such as the well-loved Sportage, Sorento, EV6, and the newly introduced EV9. The latter, available in an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor configuration, stands out with a braked towing capacity of up to 2,500kg.
The What Car - Car of the Year Awards 2024 have highlighted the outstanding achievements of Kia. These vehicles have not only met but exceeded expectations in their respective categories, setting new benchmarks for excellence in the automotive industry. As we celebrate these deserving winners, it's clear that innovation, sustainability, and performance are the driving forces behind the future of automotive design.
Congratulations to Kia for leading the way in creating vehicles that captivate the hearts of drivers and critics alike.