Kia has picked up two category wins at the annual What Car? Electric Car Awards, with an award each for the Kia EV6 and the e-Niro.
The EV6 has won the ‘Readers’ choice’ award, a category in which the EV6 was voted the most exciting and highly anticipated upcoming EV by readers of What Car? magazine. The e-Niro earned the title of ‘Best electric small SUV’ for the second year running.
The What Car? Electric Car Awards were launched in 2020 to celebrate fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids capable of at least 20 miles of zero-emissions motoring between charges. The awards demonstrate the changing landscape of the UK car market and recognise the best EVs on sale today.
The Kia EV6 was unveiled in March this year, boasting a range of up to 528 kilometres (WLTP combined; around 328 miles). It is also the first car to exhibit Kia’s new design philosophy, ‘Opposites United’. The upcoming EV6 has been designed with driver and passenger comfort and convenience at its core, with innovative ‘relaxation’ seats and the ability to recharge its batteries from 10-to-80 per cent in just 18 minutes. An exhilarating ‘GT’ model is also due to be added to the line-up in 2022, capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 260 km/h.
The EV6 caught the eye of the public, with the What Car? judges saying: “This strikingly styled new model has captured the imagination of What Car? readers. It beat seven other contenders to win our online poll looking for the upcoming electric car that people are most excited about.” The judges also praised the flagship EV for its abundance of standard equipment, incredible charging capability, and customisable, personal interior.
Kia’s established front-running EV, the e-Niro, has been no stranger to award wins since its launch in 2016. As well as picking up the same award for the second year running, the e-Niro remains the only fully electric car to ever win the coveted What Car? Car of the Year award in 2019.
The e-Niro is currently available in selected markets, with the EV6 coming to the MEA region in Q3 2022.