Kia’s momentum in the UK market shows no sign of slowing, with the brand securing four major honours at the 2026 What Car? Car of the Year Awards. Spanning family SUVs, electric people movers and cutting-edge EVs, the latest accolades underline both the breadth and consistency of Kia’s current product portfolio. The Sportage, EV3 and PV5 Passenger all collected headline awards, while the flagship EV9 was singled out as the best electric seven-seat SUV in its class.
The recognition arrives on the back of a record-breaking year for Kia in the UK. During 2025, the brand sold 113,436 new vehicles, achieving a market share of 5.6 percent and securing its position as the fourth best-selling manufacturer in the country. That performance was supported by the launch of nine new models in a single year, including the refreshed Sportage and the PV5, marking Kia’s first step into the UK’s competitive commercial vehicle and electric MPV segments.
According to Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, endorsement from What Car? carries particular weight among both industry and consumers. He noted that being recognised by one of the UK’s most trusted automotive publications remains one of the strongest validations a vehicle or brand can receive. Philpott highlighted the Sportage’s fourth consecutive ‘Family SUV of the Year’ title as evidence of its enduring relevance, while also pointing to the rapid success of the EV3 and the early acclaim for the PV5 Passenger as signs that Kia’s electrification strategy is resonating strongly with UK buyers.
The Kia Sportage continues to be a cornerstone of the brand’s UK success story. Named What Car?’s ‘Family SUV of the Year’ for the fourth year in a row, the Sportage has demonstrated remarkable consistency in one of the market’s most competitive segments. Updated with a significant mid-life facelift in 2025, the model introduced a more EV-inspired design language, enhanced in-car technologies and a simplified three-grade specification structure designed to make ownership easier and clearer for customers.
What Car?’s judging panel praised the Sportage for striking a rare balance between comfort, agility and value, noting that Kia’s rapid expansion into electric vehicles has not come at the expense of its traditional strengths. In sales terms, the verdict is equally emphatic. With 47,788 registrations in 2025, the Sportage was not only Kia’s best-selling model in the UK, but also the country’s best-selling SUV and second most popular car overall.
Kia’s ambitions beyond conventional passenger cars were also recognised, with the PV5 Passenger crowned ‘MPV of the Year’. First delivered to customers towards the end of 2025, the PV5 Passenger represents Kia’s entry into the electric MPV and light commercial-derived people carrier market. Built on the dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service, the PV5 Passenger has been designed from the ground up to maximise interior space, flexibility and usability.
The What Car? judges highlighted its generous passenger accommodation, clever storage solutions and intuitive infotainment system, as well as the availability of vehicle-to-load charging on selected versions. Offered with a choice of standard- and long-range battery packs and two trim levels, the PV5 Passenger is designed to suit a wide range of use cases, from family transport to business mobility. Kia has already confirmed that a seven-seat version will join the line-up in 2026, expanding its appeal further.
In the electric SUV arena, the Kia EV3 once again claimed the title of ‘Small Electric SUV of the Year’, repeating its success from the previous year despite an influx of new rivals. Underpinned by Kia’s E-GMP platform, the EV3 delivers the interior space and flat-floor practicality typically associated with larger vehicles, while maintaining a compact footprint suited to urban and suburban driving.
Judges praised the EV3 for its comfort, driving position and impressive ride quality, as well as its competitive real-world range even in entry-level form. Commercially, the model has been a standout performer. In its first full year on sale, 11,188 EV3s were registered in the UK, accounting for almost ten percent of Kia’s total sales and making it the brand’s fastest-selling EV to date.
Completing Kia’s award success is the EV9, which was named ‘Best electric seven-seat SUV’ within its category. The judges commended the EV9 for offering genuine seven-seat capability without compromising luggage space, as well as for its strong real-world range and rapid charging performance. Positioned as Kia’s flagship electric SUV, the EV9 continues to reinforce the brand’s ability to compete convincingly with established premium rivals.
Collectively, these latest honours add to an already impressive track record at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards. Over the past four years, Kia models including the Sportage, EV3, EV4, EV6, EV9 and PV5 Passenger have accumulated 13 awards, reflecting sustained excellence across multiple segments.
As Kia looks ahead to 2026, with further product introductions planned and an expanding network of dedicated PBV centres alongside its passenger car dealers, the brand appears well positioned to build on its recent success. The latest What Car? awards suggest that Kia’s combination of design, technology, practicality and value continues to strike a chord with UK motorists.
