Mark Tisshaw, Editor of Autocar, commented: “It seems like a very long time since any of us have thought of Kia as ‘that funny budget car brand from Korea’. What a transformation Kia has been through. Very few brands of Kia’s size can boast product lines half as up-to-date. Both the totemic EV6 and Sorento family SUV were launched in 2021, and still feel box-fresh. The sheer confidence exuded by the design of the Niro and Sportage was what really impressed, and made it so obvious that this year’s Best Manufacturer award could go nowhere else.”
Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, said: “The past year has been fantastic for Kia. Record sales in excess of 100,000 in 2022 meant we entered the year with full confidence in our model line-up, with each vehicle appealing to different customers. Everybody at Kia and throughout our nationwide dealer network is fully committed to ensuring we maintain this impressive trajectory, and I am thankful for the hard work and dedication shown by the entire Kia team. I would like to thank the Autocar judges for recognising this commitment by naming us their ‘Best Manufacturer’ for 2023. The next 12 months will be equally as exciting for Kia as we welcome EV9, and continue our journey to becoming a leader in electrification.”