Kia EV9 crowned ‘UK Car of the Year 2024’

Gareth Herincx

1 hour ago
Auto News

Kia EV9 review

Kia’s flagship EV9 SUV has triumphed at the UK Car of the Year Awards, winning the overall title and the ‘Large Crossover’ category.

Celebrating the best new vehicles available to UK customers today across eight categories, the UK Car of the Year jury is made up of 30 journalists working across the UK on automotive, business and tech publications. Eligible cars for the awards must have been launched within the past 12 months.

Judges praised the EV9 for several factors, including its innate practicality, modern design, and long electric driving range.

“The uberpractical Kia EV9 could be the vehicle that gets more drivers out of their petrol or diesel car than any other model,” said John Challen, co-chairman of the UK Car of the Year Awards.

“Seven seats, loaded with technology, premium quality and enough miles from the battery to cure almost every case of range anxiety – plus it’s fantastic to drive, too.

“The fact that nearly half of our judging panel chose the Kia as the UK Car of the Year 2024 is a massive vote of confidence in what is a seriously impressive and hugely appealing car.”

The streamlined Hyundai Ioniq 6 took the runner-up spot, while the final podium place went to Volvo’s EX30.

Check Also


Lotus Emeya

Lotus Emeya completes intensive test programme

The all-new Lotus Emeya has completed an extensive three-year test and development programme across 15 …

Lexus LBX crowned ‘Car of the Year’

Home / Auto News / Lexus LBX crowned ‘Car of the Year’

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Lexus LBX

The all-new Lexus LBX has been named What Car? Car of the Year for 2024. The stylish hybrid crossover also took home the Best Small SUV category award.

What Car? editor Steve Huntingford, said: “The title of What Car? Car of the Year is reserved for the model that has moved things on the farthest in the past 12 months, and this year, that’s the Lexus LBX.

“Despite competing in the hugely competitive small SUV market, it’s a better all-rounder than every rival, not least because it’s the first car in the class to combine hybrid efficiency with big-car luxury.”

What Car? Car of the Year Winners 2024

  • Car of the Year: Lexus LBX
  • Small Car, sponsored by MotorEasy: Renault Clio 1.0 TCe 90 Techno
  • Family Car: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Icon
  • Hot Hatch: Mercedes-AMG A45 S Plus
  • Small SUV, sponsored by Solera Cap HPI: Lexus LBX 1.5 Premium Plus
  • Family SUV, sponsored by Quotezone: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 3
  • Plug-in Hybrid: Mazda MX-30 R-EV Prime-Line
  • Small Electric Car, sponsored by Myenergi: MG4 EV SE
  • Executive Car: Tesla Model 3 RWD
  • Estate Car: Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 1.8 Hybrid Icon
  • Seven-seater: Land Rover Defender 110 D300 X-Dynamic S
  • Luxury Car: BMW X7 40d M Sport (Ultimate Pack)
  • Small Electric SUV, sponsored by Blackhorse Finance: Smart #1 Premium
  • Family Electric SUV, sponsored by Blackhorse Finance: Kia EV6
  • Reliability Award, in association with MotorEasy: Lexus
  • Safety Award, sponsored by Thatcham Research: Volkswagen ID 7
  • Technology Award, sponsored by Goodwood: Tesla Superchargers V4
  • Tow Car Award, in association with The Camping and Caravanning Club: Kia
  • Readers’ Choice Award: Renault 5

Tags

Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

Check Also


Motorway traffic

The life-saving New Year’s resolution every driver should make

January is the perfect time to make safety your number one priority on road journeys, …

Toyota Prius crowned Japan Car of the Year

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

Toyota Prius chief engineer Satoki Oya holds the Japan Car of the Year trophy

The all-new Toyota Prius has convincingly won the prestigious Japan Car of the Year trophy in Tokyo.

Entering the awards ceremony as the favourite to win, the sleekly-styled Prius polled a massive 360 votes. The BMW X1 finished in second place with 150 votes to take the Import Car of the Year trophy, with the Honda ZR-V crossover came in third with 100 votes.

In the first round of voting in early November, jurors selected the “10 Best” cars for 2023 which included the Toyota Prius, Toyota Alphard, Nissan Serena, Honda ZR-V, Subaru Crosstrek, Mitsubishi Delica Mini, Abarth 500e, BMW X1, Maserati Grecale and Volkswagen ID.4.

According to Prius chief engineer Satoki Oya, the car’s reinvention was a case of extremes when former CEO Akio Toyoda recommended that the Prius, a game-changing petrol-hybrid first introduced in 1997, had run its course and should be retired and relegated to taxi status.

But product planners and engineers, believing the Prius’s fate could be turned around, totally redesigned the exterior and rethought the powertrain, making the hybrid pioneer the most stylish it’s ever been with significantly increased performance and better fuel economy.

In the special awards categories, the 660cc Mitsubishi Delica Mini kei-car won the Design Car of the Year trophy, while the Nissan Serena took home the Technology Car of the Year award for its new e-Power system employing a 3-cylinder 1.4-litre hybrid and Pro-Pilot 2.0 driver assist system which allows hands-off driving on highways.

Check Also


The Pope and Vatican's Volkswagen EVs

Volkswagen to electrify the Pope’s vehicle fleet

The Vatican has teamed up with Volkswagen to replace the city state’s entire car fleet …

Kia EV6 crowned Car of the Year

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Kia EV6 - Car of the Year

The game-changing Kia EV6 has been named Europe’s top car at a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland.

Already widely acclaimed, the electric vehicle beat seven other cars that had made it to the final round of the contest.

The 61-member jury, made up of automotive journalists from 23 countries, voted as follows:

  1. Kia EV6 – 279 points
  2. Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric – 265 points
  3. Hyundai Ioniq 5 – 261 points
  4. Peugeot 308 – 191 points
  5. Skoda Enyaq iV – 185 points
  6. Ford Mustang Mach-E – 150 points
  7. Cupra Born – 144 points

“It’s a nice surprise to see the Kia EV6 receive this award,” said the President of the jury, Frank Janssen.

“It was about time that the brand and the group were rewarded, as they have worked so hard on this car. Kia’s pace of progress is really impressive.”

Kia EV6 review

Offering up to 328 miles of range, super-fast charging capability, space, refinement and a class-leading warranty, the boldy styled EV6’s other awards include the What Car? Car of the Year 2022 trophy in January.

A delighted Jason Jeong, President at Kia Europe, added: “The EV6 is truly a landmark development that’s been designed from the outset to make electric mobility fun, convenient and accessible by combining a highly impressive real-world driving range, ultra-fast charging capabilities, a spacious high-tech interior and a truly rewarding driving experience.

“The EV6 is an exciting sign of what’s still to come in our evolving electrified line-up.”

The prestigious Car of the Year award was established in 1964, when the Rover 2000 took top honours. The Toyota Yaris claimed the top prize last year, while the 2019 winner was the pure electric Jaguar I-Pace.

Check Also


New Highway Code 2022

Understanding the Highway Code rule changes

At the end of January the Highway Code hit the headlines after a major update …

Hyundai Tucson crowned ‘Car of the Year’

Gareth Herincx

1 day ago
Auto News

Hyundai Tucson Hybrid review

Hyundai’s impressive new Tucson SUV has been named best car in Britain by leading motoring title, Carbuyer.

Thes judges were bowled over by the Tucson’s eye-catching styling, smart interior, clever technology and nimble yet comfortable driving experience.

As well as being named Carbuyer Car of the Year 2022, the mid-size SUV also scooped the coveted Best Family Car and Best Hybrid Car awards.

Hyundai enjoyed success elsewhere, too, with its innovative Ioniq 5 taking Best Family Electric Car and Best Company Car trophies, while the swift i20 N was named Best Hot Hatchback.

“To win six awards including overall Car of the Year for our best-selling Tucson is another outstanding result for Hyundai and is testament to the design, quality, capability and value offered by our current model line-up,” said Ashley Andrew, Managing Director at Hyundai Motor UK.

Carbuyer Car of the Year 2022 winners

New cars
Carbuyer Car of the Year – Hyundai Tucson
Best Small Car – Renault Clio
Best Small Family Car – Renault Captur
Best Family Car – Hyundai Tucson
Best Large Family Car – Kia Sorento
Best Estate Car Skoda – Octavia Estate
Best Small Company Car – Volkswagen ID.3
Best Company Car – Hyundai IONIQ 5
Best Large Company Car – Porsche Taycan
Best Sports Car – BMW 4 Series
Best Convertible – MINI Convertible
Best Hot Hatchback – Hyundai i20 N
Best Hot SUV – Cupra Formentor
Best Pickup – Ford Ranger
Best Small Electric Car – Renault ZOE
Best Family Electric Car – Hyundai IONIQ 5
Best Large Electric Car – Jaguar I-Pace
Best Hybrid – Hyundai Tucson
Best Plug-in Hybrid – Mercedes-Benz A 250 e
Best Large Plug-in Hybrid – BMW X5

Used cars
Carbuyer Used Car of the Year – Ford Fiesta
Best Used Small Car – Ford Fiesta
Best Used Small Family Car – Kia Ceed
Best Used Family Car – Vauxhall Insignia
Best Used Large Family Car – Skoda Kodiaq
Best Used Estate Car – Skoda Octavia Estate
Best Used Sports Car – Mazda MX-5
Best Used Convertible – MINI Convertible
Best Used Hot Hatchback – Volkswagen Golf GTI
Best Used Hot SUV – Porsche Macan
Best Used Pickup – Toyota Hilux
Best Used Small Electric Car – BMW i3
Best Used Family Electric Car – Nissan Leaf
Best Used Large Electric Car – Tesla Model S
Best Used Hybrid – Toyota Prius
Best Used Plug-in Hybrid – Kia Niro PHEV

Check Also


20 years of MINI production at Swindon and Oxford

MINI celebrates major milestone

The one millionth MINI has been delivered in the UK, just over 20 years since …