Kia UK has continued 2022 in record-breaking fashion, winning an unprecedented five awards at the News UK Motor Awards 2022. Among the award wins were the all-new Sportage and Niro, which both collected two awards respectively.
The all-new Niro was named News UK’s ‘Small Crossover/SUV of the Year’ and was also named The Sun’s ‘Car of the Year’. The all-new Sportage was named ‘Best Family Car’, demonstrating its credentials as a practical, well designed, and multi-purpose car. It also won the ‘Readers’ Choice’ award, voted for by readers of The Sun, The Sunday Times, and Driving.co.uk.
The fifth trophy was for Kia overall, with the brand picking up the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award.
The News UK Motor Awards are curated by motoring journalists and editors from across News UK’s portfolio of media titles: The Sun, The Sunday Times, Driving.co.uk, and Times Luxx magazine.
Rob Gill, Motors Editor, The Sun, commented on the all-new Niro: “Let’s be clear. Winning The Sun’s Car of the Year is serious business. It has to be exceptional. It has to be the car that really does everything for everybody. We thought the old Niro was good but this new one is next level. Swanky Merc-like interior, tech-rich, luxurious, comfy, big drink holders, buttons to warm and soothe your back, hugely satisfying. But you are not being punished for it by paying a premium price.”
Gill continued: “Niro punches way ahead of the rest and for that reason it is the perfect choice as The Sun’s 2022 Car of the Year, as well as our Small SUV/Crossover of the Year.”
The second-generation Niro family was launched in summer 2022, and is available with a variety of electrified powertrains, as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or 285-mile fully electric variant, offering plenty of choice for those making the switch to electrified motoring.
Gill commended the Sportage on its multiple awards wins, saying: “Kia has thought of everything and everyone. Further proof that Kia is absolutely killing it right now is that Sportage, the heartland do-it-all SUV, was crowned Family Car of the Year, as well as being voted for by you as Readers’ Car of the Year”
Paul Philpott, President and CEO at Kia UK Limited, commented: “To be named Manufacturer of the Year alone would have been an achievement in which we could all take great pride, but to make history as the first manufacturer to win five accolades at these prestigious awards is an incredible honour. The all-new Sportage and Niro have proven themselves hugely popular among UK buyers since their respective launches earlier this year and are both among the top 10 best-sellers in the UK so far this year. Award wins like this further cement their positions as front-runners in the market.”
Combined, the all-new Sportage and all-new Niro dominate the popular C-SUV segment in the UK. The all-new Sportage and Niro families have both sold well over 20,000 units each this year so far.