Kia EV9 Selected as '2024 UK Car of the Year'

Kia EV9 (Provided by Kia)

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In the fiercely competitive eco-friendly car market in the UK, Kia's EV9 has been named Car of the Year.

On the 10th, Kia announced that the EV9 was finally selected as the '2024 UK Car of the Year' on the 8th (local time).

The UK Car of the Year is selected annually through evaluation and voting by a panel of 30 judges, mainly journalists from automotive magazines active in the UK such as 'Top Gear,' 'Car,' 'Autocar,' 'What Car?,' and 'Auto Trader,' focusing on vehicles released within the past 12 months.

The EV9 was chosen as the best large crossover in the first round of judging. It then surpassed other category winners including ▲Hyundai Ioniq 5 (family car category) ▲Renault Clio (small car category) ▲Volvo EX30 (small crossover) ▲Fisker Ocean (mid-size crossover category) ▲BMW i5 (executive car category) ▲Honda Civic Type R (high-performance car category) to be named the final Car of the Year.

Since its launch in January this year, it has achieved success in the UK, where competition in the electric vehicle market is intense. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), eco-friendly vehicles based on electrification account for 36.5% of registered cars in the UK as of the end of last year.

John Callan, co-chair of the UK Car of the Year Awards, said, "Almost half of the judges chose the EV9 as the 2024 UK Car of the Year, reflecting its appeal and reliability. The EV9 not only reduces consumers' biggest concern about electric vehicles with its long single-charge driving range but also offers excellent space utilization, which can attract premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) drivers."

Paul Barker, editor of Carwow, evaluated, "The EV9 is an excellent competitor in every aspect including design, interior, performance, and practicality, making it the best choice for those looking for an electric vehicle."

Meanwhile, the EV9 was also selected as the '2024 Women's World Car of the Year,' beating 63 competing models. The Women's World Car of the Year is chosen by a panel of female automotive journalists from 52 countries who evaluate safety, convenience, technology, and cost-effectiveness.

The EV9 received praise from the judges as ▲a future-oriented multipurpose electric vehicle with outstanding energy efficiency ▲a large SUV offering excellent aerodynamics, advanced technology, a family-friendly interior, and a familiar driving experience.

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