The Kia Niro is no stranger to success in the EcoCar Electrified Top 50 awards, last year winning an unprecedented four categories, including the award for ‘Electrified Car of the Year 2023’. This year it has been named ‘EcoCar Best Hybrid Medium SUV’ and ‘EcoCar Best Plug-in Hybrid Medium SUV’. The Niro remains one of the very few models offered in the UK as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric vehicle, granting customers maximum choice and flexibility, with a powertrain to suit different buyer preferences.
Robertson commented on the Niro’s double award-win: “Last year’s winner still makes the podium, partly thanks to its triple-threat offering – you can get the Niro as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric car, just pick the propulsion that best suits your lifestyle and budget. It’s a great car in all three guises, with the PHEV serving up a 40-mile range before the dignified petrol engine chimes in, while the EV can cover 285 miles and gets from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds. We love its modern interior, with twin 10.25-inch screens, and long list of standard kit, even on the entry level versions. The winning package is underpinned by a roomy cabin and capacious boot and that brilliant seven-year warranty package.”
Kia’s latest, and largest, EV to join the brand’s multi-award-winning line-up is the EV9. The six- or seven-seater SUV offers an epic real-world range and cavernous interior space thanks to its generous proportions and intelligent packaging. The EV9 fended off all rivals to be named ‘EcoCar Best Electric Seven-Seat SUV’ in this year’s awards.
Commenting on the EV9, Robertson commented: “The idea of a Kia family SUV costing more than £65k might have been far-fetched even a few years ago, but the EV9 is a wholly convincing flagship pure electric model for the brand. With contemporary looks that put many of the traditional players firmly in the shade, it’s a fully electric six- or seven-seat SUV with few direct rivals. A 100kWh battery pack gives a range of up to 349 miles and 800-volt charging means a 10 to 80% top-up can take an impressive 24 minutes. The entry-level Air trim may only get 201bhp, but it’s huge on personality, while dual-motor versions boast 378bhp. Watch out for the upcoming new GT that’s set to get tongues wagging.”
The EcoCar Electrified Top 50 awards compiles a list of the top 50 new electric cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on sale today. Now in its third year, Kia has now found great success at the awards in every single year it has taken place.