An electric vehicle has won one of the most prestigious awards in the motoring industry, the first time an EV has claimed the top prize.

The What Car? Car of the Year Awards is widely regarded as one of the most respected indicators of good car design in the motoring industry, with a wide range of categories all catering for the needs and requirements of a diverse British motoring public.

The awards have been running since 1978 and as to be expected have been dominated by traditionally European petrol or diesel cars, but in a break from tradition and a reflection of the times Kia’s revolutionary EV the E-Niro claimed the top award.

Steve Huntingford, What Car? editor, said: “The demand for electric cars has grown exponentially in recent years, and 2019 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet.

“Most of the leading manufacturers have plans for new EVs, and the fact that the Kia e-Niro was able to beat all its petrol and diesel rivals to win the 2019 What Car? Car of the Year Award shows how far this technology has developed.

“The e-Niro stood out because it addresses the key issues of cost and range that have traditionally prevented many motorists from taking the plunge into EV ownership. Here is a spacious and practical family SUV that demands very few compromises.”

The E-Niro has a realistic range of 253 miles, achieved with a sub-10 hour charging time, laying waste to the main fears of those worried about poor travel distances and long charge times.

The E-Niro is also an SUV, which ticks lots of boxes in the modern car buyers checklist and at £36,495 is certainly more affordable than other EVs in its category.

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