The Kia e-Niro has been named the What Car? Car of the Year 2019, becoming the first electric car to win the award.
What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said the Kia e-Niro stood out because “it addresses the key issues of cost and range that have traditionally prevented many motorists from taking the plunge into EV ownership”. He added that it was a “spacious and practical family SUV with few compromises”.
Kia UK boss Paul Philpott commented: “This marks an important milestone in the Awards as we approach the tipping point where every motorist will be seriously considering buying an electric car as their next car.”
Last year’s winner, the Volvo XC40, was named Family SUV of the Year for the second year running, while the Skoda Octavia reclaimed the family car award.
There were three new categories this year: plug-in hybrid, sports SUV and pick-up, won by the Volvo XC90 T8, Cupra Ateca and Volkswagen Amarok respectively.
The performance and sports car category was split for 2019. The sports car award went to the Alpine A110 - also an Autocar five-star car – and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was named Performance Car of the Year.
The Reader Award, which is voted for by the public, marks the upcoming car that readers are most looking forward to seeing this year. This accolade was given to the Honda Urban EV, which will be shown at Geneva motor show in March.
Full list of winners
CITY CAR - Kia Picanto
SMALL CAR - Volkswagen Polo
FAMILY CAR - Skoda Octavia
SMALL SUV - Seat Arona
FAMILY SUV - Volvo XC40
LARGE SUV - Peugeot 5008
LUXURY SUV - Audi Q7
SPORTS SUV - Cupra Ateca
MPV - Citroën Berlingo
ESTATE CAR - Skoda Superb Estate
HOT HATCH - Honda Civic Type R
CONVERTIBLE - Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet
COUPÉ - Audi A5 Coupé
SPORTS CAR - Alpine A110
PERFORMANCE CAR - Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
ELECTRIC CAR - Kia e-Niro
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Skoda Octavia 1.5
Ah well you can always trade it in for something reliable:
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/owning-1/2019-01/volkswagen-acknowledges-problem-with-15-tsi-evo-engine/
What, No Jaguar or Land Rover?
Well that must be a first. Not one mention of any vehicle out of the JLR stables !
Land Rover, yes...
The Land Rover Discover HSE Luxury won best large SUV over £60K
Let's face it, peetee,
Let's face it, peetee, WhatCar? is inclreasing becoming a bit of an irrelevance. What was one THE car magazine to read every month has been overshadowed by CARWOW and CARFECTION, which gain many times the hits on YouTube of WhatCar testdrives.Autocar still has something to say, but WhatCar - literally who cares what cars win? Matt of Carwow has the audience now and what HE thinks is far more relevant, and will continue to be as we edge ever closer to the 'Twenties'.