Kia unveils Niro EV electric car FREE for motoring tips every driver needs to know SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor motoring tips every driver needs to know When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The Kia e-Niro saw off petrol and diesel rivals to capture the top prize at a ceremony in London - thanks in large part to its driving range. This was assessed by What Car? magazine to be 253 miles. Its success suggests electric cars are beginning to move from niche purchases to the mainstream, following years of consumer concerns over short distances per charge and high prices. Car Of The Year, the Kia e-Niro electric vehicle The e-Niro's win is also the first time for South Korean manufacturer Kia. Another electric car, the Honda Urban EV, won the magazine buyers' guide's Reader Award. The Government has announced plans to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2040 and many manufacturers are pledging to go all-electric much earlier. Audi, Honda and Mercedes-Benz all plan to launch new electric models in 2019. It is part of a growing initiative to tackle the emissions that cause climate change and dangerous pollution. What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: "The demand for electric cars has grown exponentially in recent years and 2019 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet. "Most of the leading manufacturers have plans for new 'EVs' and the fact that the Kia e-Niro was able to beat all its petrol and diesel rivals shows how far this technology has developed. "The 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. The e-Niro's win is also the first time for South Korean manufacturer Kia Everyone at Kia is honoured and delighted that the e-Niro is the first Korean car to win the award Paul Philpott, chief of Kia Motors UK "Here is a spacious and practical family sports-utility vehicle that demands very few compromises." As well as taking home the main accolade the Kia was named Electric Car Of The Year. Paul Philpott, chief of Kia Motors UK, said: "Everyone at Kia is honoured and delighted that the e-Niro is the first Korean car to win the award. 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. "The market for all kinds of electrified cars is growing dramatically and What Car? recognising the e-Niro shows that the pure EV is now entering the mainstream. The future is definitely electric and with this decision What Car? is pushing even harder on an opening door." Last year's overall winner, the Volvo XC40, was named Family SUV Of The Year for the second year running. The Skoda Octavia won in the Family Car category and the Peugeot 5008 was the best Large SUV. ROAD TEST BY NAT BARNES HERE'S an electric car that offers a substantially longer range than almost all the others, without costing substantially more. On paper, the Kia e-Niro makes electric motoring a more realistic proposition for many. It is one of few fully electric cars that can achieve a real-world range that breaks 250 miles on a single charge. Compared with most similarly priced electric cars, the e-Niro is really quite nippy. In fact, when pulling away, you have to be a bit delicate with your right foot to avoid spinning the wheels even when the road is dry. The e-Niro builds speed almost as rapidly as a Ford Fiesta ST. There's no waiting for the revs to rise, simply tread on the accelerator and the car immediately surges. In government tests, the e-Niro went for 282 miles between charges. Independent tests showed 253 miles. Kia's success suggests electric cars are beginning to move from niche purchases to the mainstream Niro: Kia introduce their new ‘star’ car<doc-sep>The folks at the Hyundai are having a very good morning after taking two victories in the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards. The Genesis G70 is the 2019 North American Car of the year. The sedan that mixes sport and luxury beat the Honda Insight and combined Volvo V60 and S60 to win this year's award. Beating out two much more expensive challengers the Hyundai Kona, including its EV version, wins North American Utility of the Year. It beat the Acura RDX and Jaguar I-Pace. Finally, the Truck of the Year honor goes to the Ram 1500. It beat a pair of new trucks from General Motors – the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. Due to a tie, there were 14 semifinalists for the awards this year, rather than the usual 12. Under the jury's rules, when two vehicles receive the same number of votes, both models make it onto the list. Last year, the Honda Accord took the Car of the Year Award to beat the Kia Stinger and Toyota Camry. The Lincoln Navigator won the truck class to best the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. The Volvo XC60 took victory in the utility gallery to put the Honda Odyssey and Alfa Romeo Stelvio in its rearview mirror. Fifty-four judges vote on the winners in each category. Rather than being from a single source, the jurors come from a variety of publications, websites, and other media from the United States and Canada. Source: North American Car of the Year<doc-sep>
PEUGEOT 5008 SUV wins ‘Large SUV of the Year’ award at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2019 The PEUGEOT 5008 SUV 1.2 PureTech 130 Allure has won the ‘Large SUV of the Year’ award at the 2019 What Car? Awards for the second year in a row, one of the most prestigious accolades in the automotive industry. The What Car? team of judges praised the 5008 SUV for its high build quality and use of premium materials including soft touch fabrics. Judges were also left impressed by PEUGEOT’s innovative i-Cockpit® and advanced driver assistance systems, along with low running costs from the award winning 1.2L PureTech petrol engine. The 5008 SUV features a class-leading interior, with seven individual seats. The rear row can be folded down, as well as fully removed, while the front passenger seat also folds flat for added practicality. The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® technology helps drivers stay safe on the road with its compact, multi-function steering wheel, 12.3-inch head-up display and 8.0-inch touchscreen with Mirrorscreen®, and its driver assistance technology that include autonomous emergency braking and Active Blind Spot Detection (available as standard from Allure trim level upwards). The 2019 victory means this is the second year in a row the 5008 SUV has scooped the hotly contested ‘Large SUV of the Year’ title at the What Car? Awards. This year it beat rivals including the Audi Q5 and Mazda CX-5. Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: “The PEUGEOT 5008 SUV matches the quality and technology found in much more expensive SUVs, yet is cheaper to run, more practical and at least as stylish. It deserves to be the go-to choice for larger families.” David Peel, Managing Director at PEUGEOT UK, said: “The What Car? Awards are one of the toughest and most prestigious accolades to win. To scoop the Large SUV of the Year award once was already a fantastic achievement, but to do so twice is even better. “The 5008 SUV offers drivers a whole new perspective on interior design and space, with its innovative i-Cockpit®technology. We’d like to thank the What Car? team for the award.” Since its 2018 launch, the 5008 SUV has won 7 international awards and has sold over 7,000 vehicles in the UK. SOURCE: PEUGEOT