All-New Soul EV ‘WORLD URBAN CAR’

• Electric crossover recognised globally as the perfect city car
• Zero-emissions performance and impressive EV range, combined with a compact body, stand-out design and high practicality
• Kia Telluride SUV named ‘2020 World Car of the Year’

Frankfurt, 14 April 2020 – Kia Motors has won big at the 2020 World Car Awards, securing accolades for two of its most recent models. The all-electric Kia e-Soul (known as the Soul EV in the UK) was recognised as ‘World Urban Car’, while the Kia Telluride SUV was named overall ‘World Car of the Year’.

Now available across several European markets as a fully-electric vehicle, the new e-Soul (Soul EV) was lauded by the jury as the ideal car for the city. It combines zero-emissions performance and impressive electric range with a compact body, bold design, and high levels of practicality, making it the perfect companion for Europe’s roads.

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

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The e-Soul is a key model for Kia in Europe, bringing together fully-electric power with cool design. The EV version of the previous-generation Kia Soul became increasingly popular throughout its life, and it even outsold gasoline and diesel models combined during its final year on sale in Europe. Now only offered as an electric car in Europe, we’re proud to see the e-Soul recognised as the most suitable urban car in a world seeking more eco-friendly forms of transport.”

The Kia Telluride, available across North America and in many of Kia’s global markets, was recognised as the overall winner of the 2020 World Car Awards. It 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 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.

“Everyone at Kia is truly honoured 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 e-Soul 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 highly-experienced, well-respected automotive journalists from 24 countries around the world.