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By Moses Akaigwe
The Kia EV9 has been named as a Top Three in the World finalist in two categories for the upcoming 2024 World Car Awards. The selection places the all-electric EV9 as a contender in the final round of judging for the World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle titles.
In a related development, Kia Sportage has been named ‘Family Car of the Year’ at the 2024 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards.
Both honours are cheery news for the teeming Kia lovers in Nigeria where the brand’s vehicles are assembled by the local representative, Kia Motors Nigeria Ltd, at a plant in Isolo, Lagos.
Inaugurated in 2003, the World Car Awards are renowned globally as a benchmark for excellence, celebrating outstanding achievements in the automotive industry. Recognition for the Kia EV9 in this year’s competition comes from a jury of more than 100 accomplished global automotive journalists.
The EV9 is Kia’s first dedicated three-row all-electric SUV. Embodying bold and modern design, the flagship SUV offers the latest in EV technology as well as exceptional versatility and generous space for all occupants. With an 5-star Euro NCAP rating, the EV9 won a 2023 ‘Good Design Award’ in the transportation category, with its ‘Ki’ entertainment system scoring a second ‘Good Design Award’ in the interactive media category.
It has also been named to Popular Science’s “2023 Best of What’s New” awards, with the editorial team recognising Kia’s flagship for its inventive use of interior materials that ticked all of the boxes on the publication’s ‘10 Must-have Items’ list. These awards spearhead a dizzying array of additional accolades for the EV9:
● Winner of the ‘Luxury’ category in the 2024 German Car of the Year Awards;
Winner of a prestigious Golden Steering Wheel Award in the ‘Family Cars’ category;
• Finalist in the 2024 European Car of the Year Awards;
● Family Car of the Year at the 2023 TopGear.com Awards;
● Included in Car and Driver’s “10 Best Trucks and SUV” for 2024;
● “Best 3-row Electric Vehicle” in the 2024 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards;
● “Best Family Car to Buy 2024” and overall “Best Car to Buy 2024” by The Car Connection and Green Car Reports;
● 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year;
● “Top Rated Electric SUV” and overall “Best of the Best” awards in the Edmunds Top Rated Awards;
● Finalist in PARENTS Best Family Cars Awards 2024;
● “Best Electric 7-Seater” in the 2024 What Car? Awards;
● “Best EV” Award in the 2024 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Awards; and
● SUV winner in the 2024 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year Awards (and a finalist for the overall Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year award, which will be announced on March 8, 2024).
A potential double victory for the EV9 this year would mark yet another significant milestone for Kia, following wins at the World Car Awards with the Kia Telluride in 2020 and the Kia EV6 GT in 2023. The final winners will be announced live at the World Car Awards ceremony during the 2024 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on 27 March 2024.
Meanwhile, the Kia Sportage has continued its awards streak in South Africa this week by coming out on top in the ‘Family Car’ category of the 2024 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, simultaneously becoming the first Korean product to ever win an award in the competition.
One of 39 finalists overall, and the only diesel-powered finalist in its category, Sportage not only triumphed over the Chery Tiggo8 Pro Max 2.0TGDi 390
Executive and the Haval H6 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury in what is arguably one of the most hotly contested categories, but also received the highest individual score (81.9%) among all of this year’s finalists.
“This latest award win proves that Sportage is not only the ultimate urban SUV,
but that its unbeatable value proposition in a highly competitive segment is
relevant to consumers today,” comments Gary Scott, CEO of Kia South Africa.
“Sportage truly is the best family car on the market today.”
The latest, fifth-generation Kia Sportage was introduced to the South African market in September 2022. Offering a feature-rich package and punchy performance courtesy of Kia’s acclaimed 1.6-litre turbocharged GDI engine, the range was instantly well-received by fans and critics alike, scoring a nomination in, and indeed a category win, in the mid-size SUV category of the South African Car of the Year competition.
The Sportage range was bolstered in May 2023 with the addition of an equally punchy yet superbly frugal 1.6-litre turbodiesel powerplant. The addition of a diesel powertrain further cemented Sportage’s unique positioning in its segment: in a market that has traditionally favoured diesel engines in SUVs, the availability of such engines have become the exception to the rule.
Celebrating the nameplate’s 30-year anniversary in 2023 – and aligned with Kia’s approach of continuously optimising its product ranges to meet customer needs and changing market trends –Sportage was further refined in November 2023, most notably through the addition of further Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). All models in the Sportage range now feature Lane Follow Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, immediately making the Sportage proposition even more compelling. Subsequently, it also scooped up Car Magazine’s prestigious “2024 Best Buy Award” in the Midsize SUV category and closed off the year with TopGear South Africa’s inaugural Family SUV of the Year Award in December 2023
