The best brand new car is an electric Kia: Korean brand’s family-friendly e-Niro named Car of the Year but British carmakers miss out

An electric family car has for the first time been crowned the best in Britain in the motor industry’s Oscars.

The economically-priced and practical Kia e-Niro from Korea became the first pure battery powered car – and the first Korean car – ever to win the prestigious Car of the Year Award by consumer magazine and website What Car?.

The fully-charged zero-emissions Kia beat 23 other category winners – including petrol, diesel and hybrid rivals – to take the overall title. It was also named best all-electric car in its category at the annual awards held at Grosvenor House in London’s Park Lane on Tuesday evening.

Award winner: What? Car has chosen the electric Kia e-Niro to be the Car of the Year winner for 2019

Award winner: What? Car has chosen the electric Kia e-Niro to be the Car of the Year winner for 2019

Kia achieved a hat-trick when its perky Picanto won best City Car for the second year in a row in the motor awards.

But it was a largely British-free line up of stars with Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Lotus among those missing from the gongs.

Honda’s Civic – built in Swindon – was the closest thing to a UK winner, with fellow British-based Japanese manufacturers Nissan and Toyota also missing out.

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