A jury of influential motoring writers from 12 Eastern European countries has voted the Kia Rio winner of the prestigious ‘Autobest 2006’ award for being ‘the new car most suitable for the needs of the population of the region, thoroughly modern with new technology and affordable to buy.’Announcing the 2006 winner, Autobest Chairman Mr. Dan Vardie commented, “This year’s competition was very tight, and the Kia Rio emerged as the winner thanks to its fantastic value for money, great versatility, and the important strides made by Kia in developing an excellent dealer network across all of Europe.” With a total score of 706 points, the Kia Rio comfortably surpassed its shortlisted contenders -- the Ford Focus (659), Renault Clio (599), Chevrolet Spark (467; known as Matiz in some markets) and Suzuki Swift (449) -- to claim the crown. The 2006 shortlist of finalists was selected after each jury member proposed five all-new models they regarded as the ‘best’ cars of the year that cost less than €15,000.
“The Autobest 2006 award for the Kia Rio is a splendid achievement for the growing Kia brand,” commented Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. “Jury members from the emerging Eastern European countries have given our B-Segment newcomer the strongest possible endorsement as the ideal car for motorists in this region.”