Kia Sportage wins “best in class” award from the Northwest Automotive Press Association

The all-new Kia Sportage was recognized by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) for its outstanding combination of comfort, convenience, performance, and value by being named compact SUV “Best in Class (Under $25,000)” at the annual Northwest Sport-Utility Vehicle of the Year Competition.

[ClickPress, Sun Nov 13 2005] The all-new Kia Sportage was recognized by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) for its outstanding combination of comfort, convenience, performance, and value by being named compact SUV “Best in Class (Under $25,000)” at the annual Northwest Sport-Utility Vehicle of the Year Competition.

The competition -- known as “Mudfest” in the U.S. -- was held in October at the Portland International Raceway (PIR), and the winners were announced at the Seattle International Auto Show last Friday, November 4.
The Sportage competed against 21 other SUVs at the Portland International Raceway, with additional on-road driving on local roads and highways. The 25 automotive journalists in attendance tested the performance, handling, braking, and on-road and off-road capabilities of each competing vehicle. Packaging, versatility and overall value for money were also evaluated in a comprehensive scoring procedure.

“The all-new Sportage has been a hit with consumers since it went on sale last spring, and we are honored to receive this recognition from the Northwest Automotive Press Association,” said Len Hunt, Kia Motors America’s executive vice president and COO.

“The Sportage is a unique combination of value, quality and safety in its segment, and a great example of the ‘exciting’ and ‘enabling’ characteristics our next generation products are bringing to the brand,” he added.

The “Best In Class” award is the latest accolade for the all-new Sportage, which recently received a J.D. Power APEAL Award and was also named one of the “Top 10 Coolest Cars for Grads” by Edmunds.com.
The Sportage is not the only SUV in Kia’s exciting line-up that has been recognized by the prestigious Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA). In 2002, when it first debuted, the Kia Sorento was named the “Best in Class (Under $25,000)” as well as the “Best Overall SUV Value,” which it also received in 2004.

Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com) – one of the fastest growing automakers in the world -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world’s premier automotive brands. Kia’s 16 manufacturing and assembly operations in 12 countries produce more than 1.1 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 155 countries. Kia today has over 32,000 employees and annual revenues of $14 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. Kia Motors Corporation’s brand slogan -- “The Power to Surprise” -- represents the company’s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

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