Kia has done the double by winning the UK Car of the Year Awards two years in a row as its EV3 is crowned overall victor in 2025. Following the Kia EV9’s triumph in 2024, it’s also the fourth year in succession the top prize has gone to an electric vehicle.

The EV3 won its Small Crossover category and then beat the winners of the six other categories.

“Securing back-to-back successes in this competition has only been achieved once before, which shows the outstanding attributes and appeal of the Kia EV3,” said John Challen, co-chairman, UK Car of the Year Awards. “Kia has successfully grown its EV portfolio and the specification, driving range, and distinctive styling are all EV3 elements that impressed our panel of experts.”

Receiving the winner’s trophy, Paul Philpott, president and CEO, Kia UK, said: “We’re delighted to once again be victorious winning the outright UK Car of the Year Award with EV3. This follows our success in 2024 with EV9. These consecutive awards clearly demonstrate Kia’s strong leadership in electrification, the genuine demand from UK customers, and the quality of our product line up.

David Ross, senior editor of heycar, added: “The Kia EV3 is a great looking car with a long warranty, impressive technology and a premium interior feel, yet it still offers excellent value for money. We’re sure it will prove to be a big hit with heycar buyers and congratulations are due to Kia for winning this prestigious award.”

The Kia EV3 won the UK Car of the Year Awards 2025 by a clear margin and was praised by many of the judges, who represent the whole spectrum of the automotive world. Matt de Prez of Fleet News said: “While it competes with small crossovers on price, the EV3 is as big as models in the segment above. Combined with its long range and decent spec, it’s a great all-rounder.”

Gareth Herincx, who writes for Yahoo and Hello, said: “Distinctive, spacious, safe, competitively-priced and easy to drive, the Kia EV3 is one of the best all-round, family-friendly EVs on the market – and it comes with a seven-year warranty.”

Adding to that, EV expert Alex Grant noted: “The EV3 takes all of the best bits of the EV9 and distills them into a product targeting one of the UK’s biggest-volume segments. It’s futuristic to look at but intuitive to use, rides and handles UK roads brilliantly and offers a usefully long range of almost 400 miles. A very easy way for families to go electric.”