Kia has added two more awards to the growing list won in 2019 (including the Soul winning the 2020 Irish Car of the Year award ) at the Professional Driver Magazine Car of the Year awards.
The all-electric Kia e-Niro picked up the Private Hire Green Car of the Year award, thanks to its long range of 282 miles and affordability. With its useful packaging and efficiency, the Kia Optima Sportswagon was chosen as the Private Hire Estate Car of the Year
Professional Driver editor, Mark Burs, said the e-Niro was one of the first truly practical electric cars that was suitable as a private hire vehicle.
"The e-Niro ticks all the boxes – it’s affordable, it has enough range for a couple of days’ work between charges, and it’s roomy and comfortable.”
Remarking on the Optima Sportswagon, Mark Bursa said: “For many private hire operators, an estate gives more versatility than a saloon, especially if you’ve got to carry passengers with luggage.”
The Professional Driver Car of the Year Awards winners are decided by more than 100 judges from the world of chauffeur and private hire firms, experienced chauffeurs, as well as carefully chosen motoring editors and journalists.
This year, the judges tested more than 50 vehicles on how they were to drive and also how they were for passengers. Other criteria scored were satellite navigation systems, boot space, and running costs, before an average score was calculated to find the winners.
