Kia takes a couple of spots in this years DieselCar Top 50 with the NIRO, cee'd and Sportage all taking awards.

• All-new Kia Niro tops the hybrid category in the joint Diesel Car and Eco Car 2017 awards
• Sportage claims third position out of the top 50 highly rated vehicles available in the UK
• cee’d is rated at number 40
• Kia models impressed judges with their practicality, style, economy and value for money 

Kia has received yet more recognition and won a tightly contested award in this years’ Diesel Car and Eco Car Awards, with the all-new Kia Niro hybrid crossover winning best hybrid vehicle and the Kia cee’d and Sportage models coming well within the top 50 cars available in the UK, concluded by the panel of judges of Diesel Car and Eco Car.

The all-new Niro was launched in August 2016 and presents customers with the high efficiency and low running costs of a petrol-electric car with the style, practicality and desirability of a compact crossover. The judges awarded the model with an overall place of 38 and were impressed by the vehicle’s efficiency and customer-friendly styling and practicality.

Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car and Eco Car commented, “Some hybrids have often come under fire for being awkwardly styled, but not so the Kia Niro, which embraces the booming crossover trend, but still offers wallet-friendly running costs. 

Looking just as stylish as the Sportage SUV, the Niro can return over 70mpg and offer all the space a family should need. It might be high-tech, but its comprehensive seven-year warranty will reassure owners that this family-sized Kia is built to last.”

Last years’ car of the year for Diesel Car, the Kia Sportage, came in at a very respectable number three overall in the 2017 awards. The vehicle has created huge success for the Kia brand in the UK in the past year and a half, with 2016 sales exceeding 40,000 alone.

“Last year’s winner can hold its head high, smashing sales targets for Kia and still being one of the best medium SUVs money can buy. The latest Sportage is the biggest yet, with plenty of space for five people and their luggage. 

On the road, the 1.7- and 2.0-litre diesel engines are refined, easy to drive and free from body roll in the corners, making it a relaxing place for passengers. That awesome seven-year warranty and an impressive list of standard kit makes the Sportage an even more compelling buy.” Said Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car and Eco Car.

Finally, it was the cee’d which also received highly positive recognition from the judges, the model which is now five years old in its current version, came well into the top 50 taking the 40 spot. It impressed judges with its sharp and handsome looks, generous equipment levels, good road manners, economy and that it’s managed to stay competitive even in 2017.

This award win and recognition for Kia in the UK comes at a very successful time for the brand and further bolsters that success. Every month of 2017 has been a new sales record for the business and with an increasing product line upcoming later this year, Kia’s new and existing customers are going to be well catered for.

The Third generation Kia Sportage wins used car of the year and best used crossover in prestigious Diesel Car Awards

• Third generation Kia Sportage wins used car of the year and best used crossover in prestigious Diesel Car Awards
• Sportage impressed judges with its timeless design, practicality and generous equipment levels
• Kia’s seven year warranty and award winning approved used car scheme also contributed to the victory

Less than a year after the all-new, fourth generation Kia Sportage was launched and quickly won the 2016 Diesel Car Car of the Year award, the third generation version of this hugely successful SUV has won another prestigious accolade, the 2017 Diesel Car Used Car of the Year award.

The third generation Sportage which was on sale from 2010 to 2016 was a hugely important car for the brand, boosting sales and changing perceptions of customers around the world. In the UK it sold nearly 91,000 units in total, with its final sales year being its most successful.

Much like the current Sportage, the third generation model provided customers with excellent levels of specification across the entire range, striking and distinctive design, a significant level of space, thoughtful practicality, excellent reliability and serious peace of mind, due to the brand’s industry leading seven year warranty. It’s these collective attributes which impressed Diesel Car judges enough to place the Kia Sportage ahead of its worthy second hand car rivals.

Beating more premium rivals, the Sportage also won Best Used Crossover in the awards, due to its frugal 1.7 turbo diesel engine option, engaging handling and highly competitive residual values.

Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car Magazine commented on the victory, “The Kia Sportage was a very worthy winner of this years’ used car awards. It has a hugely likeable persona, is great to drive, delivers plenty of space and generous equipment levels, plus it comes with excellent manufacturer benefits such as Kia’s seven year warranty and excellent used car scheme. The Sportage is as good as it gets as a used car buy!”

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive of Kia Motors (UK) Limited on receiving the award, “This award means a huge amount to us at Kia, the third generation Sportage was the most significant car in Kia’s recent history. It changed consumer perceptions; it gave us sales success and provided our dealers with a landmark model to develop their business with. We’re incredibly proud to receive this award and honoured to have been recognised at the highest level.”

USA - The Kia Sportage has been named the “Best New Compact SUV” of 2017

• Innovative Packaging, Premium Materials and Value Take Sportage to the Head of the Class
• Sportage also nominated for esteemed Cars.com Best of 2017 Award

The 2017 Sportage, the fourth generation of Kia Motors America’s longest running nameplate, is considered the best in its segment as Cars.com has . With the honor, the Sportage is also in the running for the “Best of 2017” Cars.com award.

“With all of the improvements made for the 2017 model year, it’s hard to ignore the Sportage” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. 

“Instead of bland utility, the Sportage combines distinctly European and sporty styling with an impressive level of craftsmanship and surprising features, all for an excellent value. 

To be recognized by the experts at Cars.com as ‘Best Compact SUV’ and as a ‘Best Of’ nominee represents how far the Kia brand has come in its continued commitment to world-class quality and top-notch design.”

The 2017 Best of Awards is the annual show Cars.com hosts in Detroit during the North American International Auto Show. This year's categories include Best of 2017, Best Pickup Truck of 2017, Eco-Friendly Car of the Year, Family Car of the Year, Luxury Car of the Year and Play Car of the Year. Each car represented on the list excels in three key criteria; quality, innovation and value. All vehicles are 2017 models and Best of 2017 nominees must be all-new or fully redesigned.

“It's hard to overstate how far Kia has come in the last 15 years: The South Korean brand has steadily refined its lineup while adding features that wouldn't be out of place in a luxury vehicle. 

The redesigned 2017 Sportage compact SUV continues that trend with its distinctive styling, a roomy interior, easy-to-use technology and upscale available features,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor-in-chief. 

“The SUV segment is booming and compact SUVs are especially hot. That field is extremely competitive, but the new Sportage is well positioned to challenge them — and win.”

The all-new 2017 Sportage, an IIHS Top Safety Pick + – when equipped with optional front crash prevention – wraps a contemporary design around a structure that is both stiffer and more spacious than ever before. Advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD improve the Sportage’s driving dynamics while premium materials create a class-up experience in an otherwise utilitarian segment. The 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four found on the FWD SX Turbo makes 240 horsepower (237 on AWD models) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, while LX and EX trims use a normally aspirated 2.4-liter engine that produces 181 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque.

Kia adds two new trim levels to the ever popular Sportage SUV model.

• Introduction of a ‘GT Line S’ and ‘KX-5’ model.
• 1.7 CRDi engine with a 7-speed auto DCT on ‘2’ and ‘3’ grades.
• Upgrades to paint options and the multimedia system including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

December brings new changes to the all-new Sportage. The model, launched in February 2016, has had a huge 35,000 sold since then.

As well as the introduction of a ‘GT-line S’ model, a ‘KX-5’ version and a 1.7 DCT powertrain are now available. An updated multimedia system and new paint options have been added to the line-up. 

This means 2017 is set to be an exciting year for Sportage customers and the Korean car manufacturer hopes they will continue the Sportage’s popularity well into 2017.

‘GT-Line’ on Sportage has proved to be a big success in its first year, and now the range sees an even higher specification, the ‘GT-Line S’. 

This will provide the looks and styling of the GT-Line with a number of high level specification items to add further appeal to the line-up. The ‘GT-Line S’ will be paired with the high powered 2.0 CRDi 6-speed auto and the 1.6 T-GDi 7-speed auto DCT powertrains. 

Additions also include a heated steering wheel, headlamp washers, bi-xenon headlamps, smart park assist system plus much more.

Replacing the ‘First Edition’ is the KX-5. This is a range-topping high end, highly specified model that showcases the full extent of technology that the Sportage range has to offer, available with a 2.0 CRDi engine and 6-speed automatic transmission.  It features two-tone leather upholstery, electronic parking brake, wireless phone charging plus much more over the KX-4.

On ‘2’ and ‘3’ grades, the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) paired with the 1.7 CRDi engine will be available. This improves the MPG and lowers the CO₂ when compared to traditional automatics. MY17 Sportage also has an upgraded multimedia system from the ‘2’ grade and above offering a number of key improvements such as 3D Mapping, SD map updates, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

As for the updated paint strategy, customers can choose whether to have Standard at no additional cost or Optional and Premium paint colours, for which the price will vary accordingly.

Kia celebrates the tenth anniversary of European production in Slovakia.

• Kia has built over 2.5 million vehicles and 3.8 million engines in Europe
• 1.7 billion Euros invested in its production facility in Žilina, Slovakia
• Over 20,000 jobs created in Slovakia at the plant and among suppliers

Kia Motors today marks the tenth anniversary of production in Europe. From the official launch of volume production on 7 December 2006, over 2.5 million vehicles and 3.8 million engines have rolled off production lines at Kia Motors Slovakia in Žilina.

The company has invested more than 1.7 billion EUR since its arrival in Slovakia, generating over 20,000 jobs directly at the plant and among 40 of the facility’s most significant Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. 

Operating three production shifts each day, Kia alone employs approximately 3,800 people. Kia currently manufactures the cee’d model family, Sportage and Venga at the facility, and exports to 95 countries worldwide. 

14 per cent of models produced in Žilina are right-hand drive cars, while almost 40,000 Kia cars produced in Kia’s only European plant are present on Slovak roads.

Eek-Hee Lee, President and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia, commented: “In the past decade, our company has become one of the biggest employers, producers, exporters and taxpayers in Slovakia. I would like to express my deep thanks mainly to our employees for their effort and passion. They have been the major force in achieving our production and business results over the past decade, and pushed the company to become one of the most efficient production facilities across the Hyundai Motor Group.”

The initial investment for building the plant represented 700 million EUR. The Korean manufacturer has continuously invested into production of new models at the facility, as well as installation of new technologies, with the company’s total investment in the region now totaling around 1.7 billion EUR. In 2016, Kia has invested 60 million EUR in Žilina, with plans to invest a further 130 million EUR in 2017 in innovating the company’s existing product portfolio.

Kia Motors Slovakia has so far paid corporate income tax of around 320 million EUR in Slovakia. Accounting for all taxes, customs duties and levies, Kia has contributed to the state budget or local self-governing region four times the amount drawn in state incentives and tax releases.

Kia Motors Slovakia currently employs around 3,800 people directly at the Žilina facility, with an average age of 35. The longest serving member of staff at the facility has been with the company for 12 years, seven months and four days. Over 800 people have worked at Kia Motors Slovakia for more than 10 years, and almost 2,800 people longer than 5 years, confirming the company’s position among the top employers in the country. Kia is committed to developing the skills and competencies of its employees, and has organised 8,900 training courses for staff since 2006. From the start of full vehicle production, Kia Motors Slovakia has issued over 2,160,000 lunches to its employees in the canteens.

Jan Taliga, Head of Press Shop, Kia Motors Slovakia, commented: “We fondly remember the moment the very first Kia cee’d model rolled off of the production line. As the first Slovak employee, I have witnessed not only the first stages of construction, but also the extension of production from one to two and then three working shifts. During my time working for Kia, I have developed my skills, and enjoyed working as part of a team with my colleagues.”

In the last 10 years, the most popular model produced by Kia in Žilina has been the Kia cee’d model family, accounting for 45 per cent of the total number of vehicles manufactured so far, followed by the brand’s current European best-seller, the Kia Sportage. The most popular colours among customers are black, white and silver.

Every day, two trains and 90 transporters are dispatched, sending 1,400 cars to 95 countries globally. Since 2006, Kia has exported most of its vehicles to Russia (18 per cent), the UK (12 per cent), Germany (9 per cent), Spain (6 per cent), and Italy (6 per cent). Žilina has also produced a series of unique fleet orders for the Slovak and Polish Police Forces, Czech Post, Slovak representatives of an international car rental company, as well as both the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturer and mobile service provider in Poland.

The plant is home to two engine production shops. The facility’s 1.6-litre diesel engine is the single most popular engine produced in Slovakia, accounting for 20 per cent of the total engine production to date, though the majority of the 3.8 million units produced are petrol engines (53 per cent). Almost half of the engines produced by Kia are exported to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech in Nošovice in the Czech Republic.

Among the most favoured long-term employee benefits are direct bus lines provided by the company. 32 company buses transport employees to and from work and cover 10,275 km throughout the Žilina region every day – almost 2.5 million km annually, and equivalent to one bus driving around the world more than 62 times in a year.

UK SALES SEPT - Kia Motors sets a new record for the month with over 15,300 units sold.

• September sales of 15,340 sets a new record for the month
• Second only to March 2016
• Sportage remains best seller followed by Picanto and Rio

Kia Motors (UK) Limited out-performed the UK new car market with a near 10 per cent improvement compared to September last year by delivering 15,340 new cars to customers.

Official figures showed Kia recorded a 9.7 per cent improvement compared to the market’s 1.6 per cent increase. 

Kia’s best seller was the Sportage, with 6,411 vehicles delivered during the month. Picanto was the marque’s second-best seller with 2,316 delivered to customers. The brand’s Top three was completed by Rio with 1,638 sales.

Kia also out-performed the retail market recording a 5.5 per cent increase whilst the market generally was down by 1.7 per cent. The September performance was only bettered in March this year when 16,207 new Kias were delivered to the company’s ever-expanding customer base.

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive commented: “Ever since the start of this year when we launched the all-new Sportage we have seen more and more UK motorists turning to our brand and our 188-strong dealer network. This performance is testament to our excellent design, remarkable quality and durability and the focus on best-possible customer service by our dealer partners.

“I am confident we shall exceed our target of 88,000 units in 2016 to mark yet another record year for the brand. And with four all-new models coming in 2017 – two new versions of existing products and two additions to our growing range – I believe that we are set to continue that upward trend,” he added.

The September performance means that Kia has now delivered 72,949 new cars during the year to date – up 13.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. Kia is also increasing its performance in the fleet and business market with a near 50-50 split between business and retail sales – in contrast to the market as a whole. It also means Kia’s year-to-date overall market share has risen to 3.39 per cent compared to 3.06 for the first nine months of last year.

August see's more growth in the UK despite all the doom mongers and the withdrawal from Europe.

SMMT NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS

• UK new car registrations increase 3.3% in August to 81,640 units, with YTD performance steady at 1.68m.
• Fleet sector drives market, with demand in the month growing 7.7% as private registrations fall -0.2%.
• Registrations of alternatively fuelled vehicles up almost a third (30.8%).

The UK new car market achieved modest growth in August, as registrations rose 3.3% against the same month last year, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 81,640 new cars were registered in the month, with year-to-date performance remaining positive, up 2.8% to 1.68 million units.

The fleet sector drove the growth with demand, buoyed by attractive finance deals and discounts, rising 7.7% to 43,267, while private registrations fell slightly by -0.2%. Diesel demand also fell marginally by -0.2%, with petrol registrations edging ahead 5.3% and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFV) seeing significant growth of 30.8%. Almost 54,000 AFVs have been registered so far in 2016, compared with just over 44,000 last year.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “August is traditionally one of the quietest months as consumers look ahead to the September plate change, so growth, albeit small, is good news. With showrooms full of exciting models featuring the very latest technology and a raft of affordable finance options, it still makes economic sense to consider buying a new car. The key to maintaining this strong market is consumer confidence for which we look to government to deliver the conditions for economic growth.”

Kia Motor's UK takes a double award at this years CAr Dealer awards ceremony,

• Also awarded ‘Manufacturer Marketing Initiative of the Year’
• Awards voted for by franchised dealers across the UK
• Kia Sportage highly commended for ‘Car of the Year’

Kia Motors UK Limited has won two prestigious awards at the Car Dealer Power 2016 Awards at a ceremony held at Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. In their seventh year the awards are run by Car Dealer magazine and the votes are cast solely by the 4,500 franchised dealers who read Car Dealer magazine.  

Paul Philpott, CEO and President of Kia Motors UK said of the two wins: “These awards are a true reflection for us of what our dealers really think of the brand and highlight how happy they are with the way the brand is developing.

“Winning the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award for the second time clearly demonstrates the strong partnership we have with our dealers and shows that they are confident and committed to Kia. With many exciting new cars being launched in 2017 the future for Kia and our dealer network can only grow stronger.” 

James Baggott, CEO of Baize Group, parent company of Car Dealer Magazine, said: “Kia has been on a meteoric rise over the past few years - sales success has followed with each new model introduction and its dealers are reaping the benefits of its hard work.

"Survey respondents were overwhelmingly happy and delighted with the support they got from the manufacturer. They praised the firm’s advertising campaigns, its excellent aftersales support and its management structure for its openness and availability."

The all-new Sportage launch was awarded ‘Manufacturer Marketing Initiative of the Year’.  A fully integrated ‘Big WoW’ marketing launch for the model was launched across national, digital, social , dealer and CRM campaigns in the lead up to the car going on sale at the start of the year. Dealers were highly appreciative of the way the launch was planned and executed and made a great contribution to the success of the all-new Sportage with over 20,000 being sold since February.

James Baggott said: “Replacing a model that has transformed your brand is never easy - it’s that all too difficult second album.  Fortunately for Kia they got it absolutely spot on when it came to the all-new Sportage.

“Loved by customers and dealers alike, the replacement for this manufacturer’s best-selling model has continued to power the car maker forwards.”