Kia Sportage UK Success Continues With Diesel Car Of The Year And Best Medium SUV +VIDEO

• Sportage applauded for its value for money, high specification and excellent handling

• Both Sorento and cee’d claim top 50 places – surpassing many premium rivals

LONDON - May 12, 2016: Only a few months after launch, the all-new Kia Sportage has been crowned with another significant accolade, Diesel Car Magazine Car of the Year. Alongside this prestigious award, Sportage was also named Best Medium sized SUV.

The all-new fourth generation Sportage bettered the competition due to its excellent specification levels, even on low grade vehicles, including Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio and satellite navigation. This coupled with its dynamic handling and distinctive design, made this family crossover a clear choice for the top spot.

The Sportage also impressed with its competitive prices, from only £17,995 or £139 a month, placing it as a very easy purchase decision for customers. The lead-in 1.7 CRDi 6-speed manual version starts at £19,745. Teamed with Kia’s industry leading 7 Year Warranty, the Sportage also brings significant peace of mind.

Kia’s new crossover, which was introduced to the UK market on 5 February this year, has already seen unprecedented sales success, with over 14,000 customers placing orders in just four months.

Not far behind the Sportage in Diesel Car’s Top 50 cars was Kia’s family hatchback the cee’d, which came in at number 21, beating industry staples such as the Mazda 3 and Audi A3. Also claiming a top 50 place was Kia’s range topping large SUV, the Sorento.

Editor and publisher of Diesel Car Ian Robertson commented on Kia’s win: "The Sportage won the top spot because of its generous equipment levels, keen prices and excellent road manners, which means that the Sportage leapfrogs the competition to sit at the very top of the class."

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said: “We are delighted and honoured to get this tremendous accolade from Diesel Car. Clearly new Sportage is a big winner with customers and Diesel Car’s endorsement only reinforces the car’s success.”