What Car? has named the Kia Sportage the overall winner of its annual Used Car of the Year Awards. The Sportage is currently the UK’s third best-selling new car of 2026, with more than 38,000 registrations recorded this year so far, confirming its continued popularity with UK motorists.
What Car? launched its Used Car of the Year Awards in 2018 and has since helped guide many second-hand car buyers when choosing their next vehicle. With only 12 award categories available, this share of the awards for the Korean brand further demonstrates the customer focussed products offered, both used and new.
Across five generations, 31 years, 34 different specifications and more than half a million lifetime UK sales, the Kia Sportage has become a familiar presence on British roads and a trusted choice for families. Its enduring appeal, practicality and strong sales record have helped it earn recognition as both ‘Used Car of the Year’ and ‘Used Family SUV.’
Although this is the Kia Sportage’s first ‘Used Car of the Year’ title, it has been named What Car?’s ‘Family SUV of the Year’ for four consecutive years, in the publication’s annual Car of the Year Awards.
The nationwide popularity of Sportage is reflected in the used car market, with Autotrader reporting that the Sportage took an average of 19 days to sell in September 2026, making it one of the fastest-selling used cars in the UK[1], as well as one of the fastest-selling new cars as proven by its position in the year-to-date best-sellers list.
Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor of What Car? Said: “We’re delighted to present the Kia Sportage with our overall What Car? Used Car of the Year Award this year. The Sportage has always appealed to us as a smart and desirable family SUV. It’s a terrific all-rounder; it’s good to drive, comfortable to ride in and extremely practical. Inside, there’s a smart and well-equipped interior with masses of room, and a large boot, making it the perfect car for families. Bought used, prices are now temptingly low, too, and its reliability is looking good. In short, no other car on our shortlist this year came close to providing the all-round practicality and exceptional value of a used Sportage.”
The Kia e-Niro also impressed the What Car? judges and was recommended as a budget buy in the ‘Used Electric SUV’ category.