March 8 is regarded as International Women’s Day. As such, jurors from the Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) saw it fitting to announce its selection for the car of the year on the said date.
From a total of 59 vehicles, which was trimmed down to six finalists, the Kia Niro is the last car standing as it was able to get the most votes from the journalists judging the WWCOTY. The Kia Niro bested other finalists that include the next-gen Ford Ranger, Nissan X-Trail, Jeep Avenger, Citroën C5 X, and Audi RS 3.
The Kia Niro is a compact crossover SUV that’s powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine that delivers 104 hp and 144 Nm of torque. The latest version of the Kia Niro debuted in January 2022 with several powertrain options including hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and battery electric (BEV).
Kia said that the Niro HEV produces a combined output of 139 hp, thanks to its 32kW electric motor. Meanwhile, the Niro BEV equipped with a 64.8 kWh lithium battery and an electric motor generates 201 hp and 255 Nm of torque. It has a claimed EV range of 401 km.
The Niro’s 1.6-liter engine is then connected to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which Kia claimed has been optimized to increase efficiency and reduce weight.
The said compact crossover SUV is also equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), designed to help avoid potential hazards while out on the road. It comes with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Following Assist, among others.
WWCOTY Executive President Marta Garcia said that this year’s voting is “particularly difficult due to the excellent level of all the candidates.”
A motoring journalist from the United States, Elana Scherr, did note that the Kia Niro “delivers a complete package” that makes it worthy to be the recipient of the 2023 WWCOTY award.
She added that the Niro’s “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."
For the uninitiated, the WWCOTY is the only car awards group in the world comprised exclusively of women motoring journalists. The group said that it has over 60 women motoring journalists from 43 countries. In fact, the Philippines has a representative in the WWCOTY, which is Genevieve Tiu. She is a motoring journalist and video producer at CarGuide.PH as well as a contributing writer for PhilStar Wheels.
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