Kia EV9 named 2024 UK Car of the Year

The Kia EV9 has been named ‘UK Car of the Year 2024’. The Awards celebrate the best new vehicles available to UK customers today across eight categories.

The UK Car of the Year jury comprises 30 journalists working across the UK on automotive, business and tech publications. Eligible cars for the awards must have been launched within the past 12 months.

In addition to winning the overall award, the EV9 secured victory in the hard-fought ‘Large Crossover’ category. Judges praised the EV9 for several factors, particularly its innate practicality, modern design, and long electric driving range.

“The uber-practical Kia EV9 could be the vehicle that gets more drivers out of their petrol or diesel car than any other model. Seven seats, loaded with technology, premium quality and enough miles from the battery to cure almost every case of range anxiety – plus it’s fantastic to drive, too,” said John Challen, co-chairman of UK Car of the Year Awards. “The fact that nearly half of our judging panel chose the Kia as the UK Car of the Year 2024 is a massive vote of confidence in an imposing and hugely appealing car.”

“It looks great, has a lovely interior, is practical, and the first car to combine the ability to carry seven people with a genuine, usable range,” Judge Paul Barker, Managing Editor of Carwow, added.

“The EV9 shows Kia’s seemingly limitless ambition knows no bounds. A great option for large families, featuring six or seven seats and plenty of flexibility to adapt to load-carrying requirements. But, also luxurious enough to lure drivers out of premium-brand SUVs,” said fleet-focussed journalist Alex Grant.

“The EV9 makes total sense for anyone with people to move, and it drives better than you’d expect, with a topping of great tech for good measure,” said Tech journalist Rob Clymo.

“It is a massive honour for Kia UK to be awarded a category win and the overall ‘Car of the Year’ accolade in this year’s UK Car of the Year Awards. We’re delighted that the judges agree just how impressive the EV9 is. The recognition is made even more significant, having been judged by some of the UK’s most influential and respected journalists from across automotive, business and technology industries. We thank the judges for their work appraising this year’s contenders,” said Kia UK president and chief executive Paul Philpott.

“This well-respected award also boosts our 190-strong UK dealer network, which continues to support customers on their electrification journey and deliver them the UK’s best car.”

Recognition in the 2024 UK Car of the Year Awards is the latest in a string of early successes for the EV9. The car went on sale in the UK in January 2024 and was already named a finalist for the 2024 European Car of the Year Awards and a top-three finalist for the 2024 World Car Awards, to be announced at the New York International Auto Show on 27 March 2024.