CarBuyer Car of the Year Awards, The Kia Sportage has repeated the feat in 2012 by capturing the Best 4×4 title again. This year the Kia Rio is honoured as CarBuyer’s Green Car in that award’s first ever appearance.

The CarBuyer website gives straight-forward, no-nonsense advice on every new car on the UK market for people who want to know what will suit their needs and Kia’s now well-established reputation for quality, reliability, style and unparalleled value, thanks partly to its industry-best fully transferable and transparent seven year warranty has helped the brand pick up the two awards.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of CarBuyer and Auto Express said: “Kia’s Sportage was CarBuyer’s inaugural Car of the Year in 2011 and it wins in the 4×4 category for the second year running. We love its style, quality and the way it drives, which when combined with Kia’s impressive buying package, makes for a superb all-round buy.

“Joining the Sportage in the winners’ circle this year is the Rio, which wins CarBuyer’s first Green Car Award. Here’s a car that offers the sort of economy and emissions you’d expect from a hybrid in a conventional diesel-powered car. But the Rio is anything but conventional – it’s a spacious, high quality family hatchback that’s great value to buy and run,” he added.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said: “We were delighted when CarBuyer picked out Sportage last year – and their selection has been endorsed by thousands of satisfied customers since then. So I am extremely happy that Sportage has held on to its crown.

“And I am even more delighted that CarBuyer has recognised just how the Kia Rio is changing the game for normally-aspirated cars – showing that you don’t have to choose expensive hybrid or range-limiting electric technology to do your bit for the environment!” he added.

The Kia Rio range starts at £9,995, with the 1.1CRDi ‘1’ model chosen by CarBuyer retailing at £11,895. The Sportage range is priced from £17,295 to £26,290.