Kia Niro wins Women’s World Car of the Year

March 10, 2023

Which is the best car in the world – according to women? It’s the Kia Niro, which has just been selected as the 2023Women’s World Car of the Year.

The winning car has been announced today – March 8 – on International Women’s Day. The Niro was chosen by the Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) jury, which comprises 63 female motoring journalists from 43 countries across five continents.

The winning car was chosen out of the six category winners in the 2023 competition, namely the Kia Niro (Best Urban Car), Jeep Avenger (Best Family SUV), Citroën C5 X (Best Large Car), Nissan X-Trail (Best Large SUV), Audi RS 3 (Best Performance Car) and Ford Ranger (Best 4×4).

Marta Garcia, Executive President of WWCOTY, notes that picking a winner was no easy task. “This year’s election was particularly difficult due to the excellent level of all the candidates. Each of the finalists had sufficient merit to win the trophy,” she says.

Seugnette van Wyngaard, Head of 1st for Women, notes that the massive selection of vehicles means that it’s hard for female motorists to choose their ideal car too. “That is the reason why competitions such as this one are so important. The independent and expert judging team from all over the globe evaluates each vehicle before the scoring takes place. Their opinions can be trusted by women who are planning to make a sizeable financial commitment in a new car,” she notes.

Aspects such as safety, quality, price, design, ease of driving, and environmental footprint, among others, are considered when casting the votes. But why did the Kia come up trumps?

A global survey into female buying preferences, commissioned earlier this year by 1st for Women, found that when it comes to cars, safety is the single most important feature desired by women. Practicality, performance, and space tied in second place. And the Niro delivers all these qualities – in abundance.

“This is a vehicle I would highly recommend to any man, woman or family due to its endless array of safety features, impressive warranty and spacious interior packed with modern technology. What mother or father wouldn’t feel safe driving their children around in a Kia Niro,” notes Alix Capper-Murdoch, who represents the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the WWCOTY jury.

Elana Scherr, who represents the USA, concurs. “The Kia Niro delivers a complete package that is clearly worthy of this award. Its numerous powertrain options, stylish design, easy-to-use technology, comfortable seating and budget-friendly packaging make it stand out among a field of fierce competition,” she says.

The 1st for Women survey established the importance of practicality and space to women. This comes as no surprise; features such as space are essential to female buyers, especially moms. Many of the WWCOTY judges say that the Niro scores highly when it comes to these factors. Solveig Grewe, who represents Germany, reckons that the Niro deserved to win thanks to the fact that it is spacious and practical. Petra Mühr, who represents Austria, agrees: “The Kia Niro is a spacious, stylish, efficient and practical car that is right on trend with its size, design and drive,” she notes.

Sabrina Parant, who represents Belgium, says that the Niro is the latest in a long line of impressive Kia vehicles. “Kia continues to impress me… After the EV 6 and Sportage models, the Kia Niro offers a flexible vehicle, an attractive design, quality/luxury and a range of engines where all drivers can match their mobility needs. I especially appreciate the comfortable space and the technology,” she enthuses.

The Niro is not currently available in South Africa. “There are no immediate plans to launch Niro in South Africa. We have ordered test/homologation units which are expected soon, whereafter a decision will be made,” says Christo Valentyn, Head of Marketing at Kia South Africa.

However, Charleen Clarke, who represents South Africa on the WWCOTY jury, says that local female motorists are still spoilt for choice when shopping for a car – and she’s a big fan of the Audi RS 3, which was named WWCOTY’s Best Performance Car.

“As a woman, when I buy a car, I insist on a vehicle that is both safe and practical. I would strongly recommend that other female motorists do the same; safety is vitally important – especially in South Africa. However, I also want a car that personifies enjoyment. It needs to be an absolute blast to drive. Its road manners must be exemplary and, every time I go for a drive, I need to do so with a smile on my face. The Audi RS 3 is such a car,” she reveals.

Van Wyngaard believes that another finalist will find favour with female motorists in South Africa. “Women like a birds eye view – and this is offered by the Ford Ranger, which was awarded Best 4×4 by the WWCOTY. The Ranger doesn’t just have that much-desired seating position though. It also scores highly when it comes to the most sought-after other features by women, namely safety, practicality, performance, and space,” she concludes.