Kia had two models nominated for Car of the Year Awards at the New York International Auto Show.
Korean auto manufacturer Kia has become well-known for its reliability, modern design, and affordable options. In fact, two Kia models have grabbed nominations in the World Car of the Year Awards, and one of them reigned supreme.
The Kia Telluride snagged the title of 2020 World Car of the Year on April 8. Meanwhile, the Kia Soul EV was named the 2020 World Urban Car.
Finalists in Each Category
World Car of the Year
- Mazda3
- Mazda XC-30
- Kia Telluride
World Urban Car of the Year
- Kia Soul EV
- Mini Electric
- Volkswagen T-Cross
World Performance Car of the Year
- Porsche 718 Spyder/Cayman GT4
- Porsche 911
- Porsche Taycan
World Luxury Car of the Year
- Mercedes Benz EQC
- Porsche 911
- Porsche Taycan
World Car Design of the Year
- Mazda3
- Peugeot 208
- Porsche Taycan
Winners were supposed to be announced at the New York International Auto Show, which is normally held in late March or early April. It was originally scheduled for April 8, 2020, but has been rescheduled for August 28–September 6, 2020, and will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. Though the celebration in the winners' honor will be held off, the winners were still announced on April 8.
The mid-size Kia Telluride SUV had already been named 2020 MotorTrend SUV of the Year. Drivers love it for its great handling, three-row seating, and technology-minded features like blind-spot and surround-view parking monitors. The 3.8L V6 engine with 291 hp is capable of hauling up to 5,000 lbs., making it downright rugged for such a stylish ride.
The Kia Soul has a 201-hp electric motor with a single-speed direct-drive transmission. It gets124 city/93 highway mpg and offers a host of high-tech features and updated details in a hatchback design.
Winners in 2019 included the Jaguar I-Pace for World Car of the Year, the McLaren 720S for Performance Car, the Audi A7 for Luxury Car, and the Suzuki Jimny for Urban Car.
Do you own one of the winning models? Do you agree with the picks? Let us know in the comments.
