Kia announced on March 10 that its flagship electric vehicle, the EV9, has been named as the 2024 U.K. Car of the Year.
The U.K. Car of the Year is selected each year by a 30-member judging panel of locally based automotive journalists who vote on vehicles launched in the last 12 months. Participating media outlets included Topgear, Car, Autocar, and What Car.
The EV9 was named as the best car in the large crossover category in the first round of the awards. It then went on to beat the best car in each category to be named U.K. Car of the Year in the final judging process.
The winners of the 2024 British Car of the Year Awards are the Hyundai IONIQ 5 in the Family Car category, the Renault Clio in the Compact Car category, the Volvo EX30 in the Compact Crossover category, the Fisker Ocean in the Midsize Crossover category, the BMW i5 in the Executive Car category, and the Honda Civic Type R in the High Performance Car category.
“The EV9 was so appealing and reliable that nearly half of our judges chose it as the 2024 U.K. Car of the Year,” said John Challen, a co-chairman of the U.K. Car of the Year Awards. “Not only does the EV9 address the biggest consumer concerns about EVs with its long range per charge but its spaciousness will also attract premium SUV drivers.”
The U.K. is one of the European markets with a big interest in electric cars and other eco-friendly vehicles, with 36.5 percent of the registered vehicles electrified as of the end of 2023. Kia believes that it is noteworthy that the EV9 has reached the top spot in this market.
The EV9 was also named as the 2024 Women’s World Car of the Year as the best car driven by women around the world. A jury of female automotive journalists from 52 countries judged 63 models this year, evaluating safety, comfort, technology, and value for money. The EV9 was judged to be the best of the best as it recognized as a forward-thinking, versatile electric vehicle with exceptional energy efficiency.
비지니스코리아 비지니스코리아 기자 (pr@businesskorea.co.kr)