DUBAI — Kia Motors Corporation has won big at the 2020 World Car Awards with the Telluride SUV being named ‘World Car of the Year’ and the Soul EV ‘World Urban Car’.

The Kia Telluride was rewarded by the judging panel for its distinctive design and impressive practicality. The World Car of the Year title represents another accolade for a vehicle that has garnered more than 70 awards since its introduction in 2019. The SUV has already been crowned North American Utility Vehicle of the Year and MotorTrend SUV of the Year, among others.

The fully electric Soul EV was named the ideal car for the city by the jury. Combining zero-emission performance and impressive electric range, the Soul EV offers a compact body, bold design, and high levels of practicality. The Soul EV was also recognized and awarded regionally at the 2019 Women’s World Car of the Year awards held in conjunction with the Dubai International Motor Show (DIMS). Kia’s all-electric subcompact crossover SUV model took home the 2019 ‘Green Car Award’.

“Everyone at Kia is truly honored to receive not just one, but two awards from the World Car of the Year judging panel,” said Thomas Schemera, executive vice president and head of product division at Kia Motors Corporation. “This is one of the hardest-fought competitions in the global automotive industry, proving that the Telluride and Soul EV are both truly outstanding vehicles. These accolades are testament to the talents and efforts of a worldwide team, who all strive to create desirable, high-quality and practical cars that drivers love.”

The winners of the World Car Awards are decided by an independent international jury comprising 86 experienced and well-respected automotive journalists from 24 countries around the world.

“For Kia to be recognized with two World Car Awards this year is a remarkable achievement,” added Yaser Shabsogh, chief operating officer, Regional HQs, Middle East & Africa at Kia Motors Corporation. “This latest success signifies that the Kia brand is excelling and innovating in a rapidly changing automotive industry to produce models with enduring appeal for the modern motorist.”

“From all at the Kia Motors MEA team, we congratulate our dedicated and hard-working colleagues on this success and look forward to sharing many more great moments together,” he added.

Available across North America and in many of Kia’s global markets, the Kia Telluride merges a strong exterior design presence with a spacious, practical and high-quality cabin, which can seat up to eight passengers. Equipped with an array of advanced technologies, all-wheel drive, and driver-assistance systems, the Telluride is ideal for family adventures on and off the beaten track.

The compact Kia Soul EV features a powerful battery-electric powertrain with a choice of 64 or 39.2 kWh battery packs. Able to travel up to 452 kilometers on a single charge (64 kWh models; WLTP ‘combined’ cycle), the Soul EV offers drivers greater all-electric range than many more expensive electric vehicles, making it the ideal companion in the urban environment and beyond city limits. A series of advanced range-increasing technologies including regenerative braking ensure drivers can maximize the distance travelled on a single charge. — SG