Kia EV3 Crowned ‘Car of the Year’ at 2025 Autotrader Drivers' Choice Awards

Kia Corporation on Monday announced that the Kia EV3 has won two major honors at the 2025 Autotrader Drivers' Choice Awards, receiving 'Car of the Year' and 'Best Mainstream Electric Car' titles.

Previously recognized as Autotrader New Car Awards, the Drivers' Choice Awards recognized 25 categories of vehicles, with the finalists and winners selected based on real-world feedback from more than 225,000 UK car owners with the help of an online survey.

Each car owner was required to rate the model based on 16 different criteria, including reliability, performance, appearance, and running costs. Owners were also asked to inform on overall satisfaction and how likely they are to recommend their cars to others.

In the United Kingdom, EV3 performed exceptionally as customers appreciated its outstanding value, clever packaging, and impressive refinement. Autotrader's Editorial Director Erin Baker stated that the Kia EV3 might be the brand's most affordable EV for sale, but it still provides premium appeal and competitive features.

It achieved the highest marks for the quality of the features available in the car and was appreciated for its attention-grabbing look and impressive driving experience.

Kia UK's CEO and President, Paul Philpott, commented that EV3 has received positive customer response since its launch in the market. He added that the model has already won the UK and World Car of the Year for 2025; it's more encouraging to see real customers voting Kia EV3 for Car of the Year via Autotrader.

He also unveiled that EV3 is the best-selling electric car in the UK's retail market, and this positive customer response provides Kia dealerships with momentum to launch more customer-centric electric cars like EV4 and EV5 by the end of this year.

Previously, Kia EV6 was named the 'Best Car for Families' and 'Best Car for Dog Owners' in 2024. Additionally, its Soul EV was awarded 'The Best Value Electric Car Award, and EV6 was selected for 'The New Car of the Year Award in 2023.

In the UAE, Kia electric cars perform incredibly well and match customers' expectations. By 2030, Kia aims to expand its regional electric vehicle portfolio and further boost retail sales figures. The Korean automotive manufacturing company currently offers its UAE customers the Kia EV5, Kia EV6, and Kia EV9.