Kia has collected several awards in this year’s EcoCar Electrified Top 50 awards, run by Diesel & EcoCar magazine. The Niro family and EV9 both thoroughly impressed judges, while Kia earned significant recognition as a brand overall.
Further to the success of the Niro and EV9, the Kia Sportage and EV6 were also placed in the EcoCar Top 50, with all Kia models named sitting within the top 22. The EV9 placed 22nd, EV6 was 13th, Sportage at 10th, and the Niro family made the podium as the third placed model overall.
Awards judges praised Kia as a brand highly as the ‘EcoCar Most Influential Electric Car Maker’ for 2024, recognising Kia’s commitment to offering a wide range of EVs suitable for a broad range of customers.
Commenting on Kia’s win, Ian Robertson, Editor of Diesel&EcoCar magazine, said: “While other car makers may offer a larger number of different electric vehicles, Kia can lay claim to offering a diverse range of electric vehicles across a wide variety of different market segments. Employing high-capacity electric motors, efficient electric motors, and well-proven, reliable software systems, the Soul, Niro, EV3, EV6, and EV9 all offer something different to each other. And while many car manufacturers have focused on the high end of the market, Kia has offered a compelling range of affordable and attainable electric vehicles, and that’s just one of the reasons why we have voted them the most influential EV car maker of the year 2024.”
The Kia Niro is no stranger to success in the EcoCar Electrified Top 50 awards, last year winning an unprecedented four categories, including the award for ‘Electrified Car of the Year 2023’. This year it has been named ‘EcoCar Best Hybrid Medium SUV’ and ‘EcoCar Best Plug-in Hybrid Medium SUV’. The Niro remains one of the very few models offered in the UK as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric vehicle, granting customers maximum choice and flexibility, with a powertrain to suit different buyer preferences.
Robertson commented on the Niro’s double award-win: “Last year’s winner still makes the podium, partly thanks to its triple-threat offering – you can get the Niro as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric car, just pick the propulsion that best suits your lifestyle and budget. It’s a great car in all three guises, with the PHEV serving up a 40-mile range before the dignified petrol engine chimes in, while the EV can cover 285 miles and gets from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds. We love its modern interior, with twin 10.25-inch screens, and long list of standard kit, even on the entry level versions. The winning package is underpinned by a roomy cabin and capacious boot and that brilliant seven-year warranty package.”
Kia’s latest, and largest, EV to join the brand’s multi-award-winning line-up is the EV9. The six- or seven-seater SUV offers an epic real-world range and cavernous interior space thanks to its generous proportions and intelligent packaging. The EV9 fended off all rivals to be named ‘EcoCar Best Electric Seven-Seat SUV’ in this year’s awards.
Commenting on the EV9, Robertson commented: “The idea of a Kia family SUV costing more than £65k might have been far-fetched even a few years ago, but the EV9 is a wholly convincing flagship pure electric model for the brand. With contemporary looks that put many of the traditional players firmly in the shade, it’s a fully electric six- or seven-seat SUV with few direct rivals. A 100kWh battery pack gives a range of up to 349 miles and 800-volt charging means a 10 to 80% top-up can take an impressive 24 minutes. The entry-level Air trim may only get 201bhp, but it’s huge on personality, while dual-motor versions boast 378bhp. Watch out for the upcoming new GT that’s set to get tongues wagging.”
The EcoCar Electrified Top 50 awards compiles a list of the top 50 new electric cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on sale today. Now in its third year, Kia has now found great success at the awards in every single year it has taken place.