- Kia EV3 wins ‘Best Small Electric SUV’
- Kia Sportage wins ‘Best Family SUV’ for third year in a row
- Hotly anticipated Kia EV4 wins ‘Readers’ Choice’ award
2025 marks yet another year of widespread success for Kia at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards. The brand has collected multiple trophies across its entire model range within the last five years, with EV3, EV4, EV6, EV9, Sportage, Sorento and Picanto each collecting at least one What Car? award.
Kia EV3: ‘Best Small Electric SUV’
The Kia EV3 is the brand’s latest electric vehicle to hit the roads in the UK, with first customer deliveries commencing in Q4 last year. Kia’s most affordable EV to date, the model offers class-leading space and seating for five and a range of up to 375 miles on a single charge1. Its innovative driving technologies, including its new regenerative braking system and active air flap technology, also serve to maximise efficiency in all conditions.
The judging panel, made up of the magazine’s team of expert road testers, commented: “The EV3 is one of the most practical cars in its class, offering enough passenger and boot space to embarrass some models from the class above. What's more, it has an excellent driving position that puts you well above the road – just as an SUV should. All of this is combined with soft suspension that's great at soaking up bumps and potholes.”
This award represents the latest in a steady stream of accolades for the EV3 from a number of UK publications, continuing the model’s momentum as it commences its first full year of sales.
Kia Sportage: ‘Best Family SUV’
For the third consecutive year, the Kia Sportage has been named ‘Best Family SUV’, with several factors including value-for-money and practicality making it the publication’s choice for hassle-free family motoring.
The What Car? judging panel remarked on the Sportage’s award win, saying: “The fact that this is the third year in a row that the Sportage has won this award shows what a brilliant all-rounder it is. For starters, it's great to drive, because it strikes a fantastic balance between comfort and control. The interior is as smart as it is practical, too. And yet the Sportage is very temptingly priced – particularly in mild-hybrid petrol form.”
The fifth-generation Kia Sportage was introduced in early 2022, winning What Car?’s ‘Best Family SUV’ award in 2023, 2024 and now 2025; an evident continuation of the family-friendly characteristics which made the model’s predecessors such a hit. In 2024, the Sportage exceeded expectations once again, recording an all-time best sales year with 47,163 units finding homes in the UK, while the model maintained its place as Kia’s UK, European and Global best-seller.
The Sportage also became the UK’s second most popular car in 2024 and took the crown of best-selling SUV for the year overall, thanks in no small part to its enduring appeal and range of efficient and electrified powertrains.
Kia EV4: ‘Readers’ Choice’
Following in the footsteps of Kia’s flagship EV, the EV9, the Kia EV4 has been named winner of the ‘Readers’ Choice’ Award. This trophy is voted for by What Car? readers, who chose the upcoming EV4 as their most highly anticipated new car of 2025, the vehicle’s first ever award from any publication, worldwide.
“Before every What Car? Awards, we ask our readers to name the upcoming model that they're most excited about. And this year more than 40% of respondents picked the EV4, meaning it attracted around twice as many votes as the next most popular model," commented What Car?’s panel of judges.
Kia revealed the Concept EV4 at its inaugural ‘Kia EV Day’ in October 2023. Revealed alongside the EV5 and Concept EV3, the EV4 represented a redefinition of the electric saloon under the Kia design philosophy, boasting an aggressive facial impression and a wide, imposing stance.
The production Kia EV4 will be formally unveiled in the coming months and will continue the momentum established by its sibling models: the EV3, EV6 and EV9.
Paul Philpott, President & CEO, Kia UK, commented: “What Car? is one of the most trusted and dependable publications for UK motorists, and recognition in their annual Car of the Year Awards is one of the most celebrated accomplishments any brand or vehicle can achieve. To receive three awards again this year is an great endorsement for the depth and strength of our line-up.
“Three years on from the launch of the fifth generation Sportage, this is now the third year in a row the Sportage has been named What Car?’s ‘Best Family SUV’, a testament to just how impressive the model is. It’s a consistently high performer for families everywhere, and this result follows a record year of sales success, with the Sportage the best-selling SUV in the UK in 2024 – and second best-selling car overall.
“I am particularly proud to see the EV3 and upcoming EV4 recognised for their talents. The EV3 is our bold new entrant into the electric compact SUV market, and the latest fully electric model to join our growing family, already proving very popular with customers. The EV4 is next on the way, adding greater variety to Kia’s line-up. Two awards for two of our EVs is tangible recognition that we continue to operate at the top of our game in bringing exciting and desirable EVs to our UK customers.”
The What Car? Car of the Year Awards
Each year, the What Car? Car of the Year Awards names the best new cars across several vehicle categories. To be eligible for the awards, a car must have been tested back-to-back with its rivals, on UK roads and at a dedicated test facility, by What Car?’s team of road testers.
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