The milestone model was a white, diesel-engined Cee’d SW that was handed over to a Slovakian children’s charity called the Red Nose Clowndoctors (no connection with Adult Swim's Children's Hospital…).
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The other three awards were won in the Exterior category by the latest Sportage, the Optima sedan and the new Rio.
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On the other side of the fence are two models that achieved the poorest results of 2010. These are the Citroen Nemo with three stars and China's Landwind CV9 that received only two stars.
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There's a right way and a wrong way to drive a vehicle down a steep hill. The folks in this previous generation Kia Sportage chose the wrong way, but fortunately for them, the incident ended without any bloodshed. Watch the video after the break.
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At launch, the South Korean firm's fully redesigned crossover comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 176HP, while returning 22mpg in the city and 31mpg on the highway. A far more potent 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI petrol engine with 270+ horsepower will join the range next year.
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Featuring one of the nicest exterior designs to come out of the Kia / Hyundai group, the new Sportage shares its platform and mechanical underpinnings with its Hyundai brethren, the Tucson, or as it is known in Europe, the iX35.
The new Sportage will have four engines, two gasoline and two diesel. Specifically, they'll be 2.0 liters and under (1.7-liter diesel and 1.6-liter gasoline arrive later, and both will be available with Intelligent Stop and Go), while ranging in output from 115 to 163 horsepower and keeping emissions at a low 138g/km.
Not only does this new Sportage represent some of the best style and efficiency in the segment, it's also going to be able to be optioned with quite a bit of kit: LED daytime running lights, HID headlamps, panoramic sunroof, roll-over sensors, cooler-glovebox, Hillstart Assist Control, and Downhill Brake Control.
Penned under the guidance of former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, the new Sportage carries the new Kia family look as seen on the Soul, Cadenza sedan and Sorento SUV, but it appears to have a more European flavor to it, with extra attention given to details.
The five-door crossover shares its platform with the also new Hyundai Tucson, known as the ix35 in Europe. It is longer and wider than the outgoing Sportage, something that should translate to improved cabin space.
Kia is continuing the development of its next generation Sportage that is scheduled to enter the market in the first half of 2010. Our spies captured a camouflaged prototype of the compact SUV in Germany giving us a taste of the Sportage silhouette and interior styling. As you may have already guessed, the 2011 Sportage (or 2010, depending on which side of the Atlantic you're located) is based on the new Hyundai ix35 utilizing the same platform and hardware.
At least in what concerns the European market model, the next Sportage will most likely be offered with the same engine line up as the Hyundai Tucson's replacement.
That said, European buyers should expect three diesels including a new 1.7-liter unit rated at 115hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, and 136HP and 184HP versions of the Korean firm's 2.0-liter 'R' turbo diesel.
The gasoline engine range should consists of the Hyundai- Kia Group's forthcoming 1.6-liter GDI direct-injection four-pot that makes 140 hp and 123 lb-ft. of torque and a more powerful 2.0-liter unit with 166HP and 145 lb-ft.
Sometimes, unless you receive additional information from a reliable inside source, you can't be 100 percent sure of what's hiding under a heavily camouflaged prototype. This seems to be the case with Kia-World's latest spy photos that allegedly show the next generation Kia Sportage compact SUV, said to be officially unveiled in early 2010. By comparing the shape of the side-window line, we've eliminated the possibility of it being a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe or a 2010 Kia Sorento (the most obvious alternatives), but whether or not it's actually the 2010 Kia Sportage, is something that we cannot answer with absolute certainty (talk about playing it safe...). Now that we've filled your mind with doubts, feel free to check the photos after the jump. Source: Kia-World -Thanks for the pics Miha!
Kia has revised its compact-sized Sportage SUV with exterior and interior styling tweaks along with the addition of a new turbo diesel engine. For the 2009 model year, the Sportage gets a reworked front end with a modified bumper, new headlights and a different grille while at the back, the only significant change are the restyled tail-lamps. All of the design changes are inspired from Kia’s latest production and concept cars. 
Though we don’t have any pictures of the interior in our hands yet, Kia says that the 2009 Sportage’s cabin has been improved with the revised instrument panel and the new seat trims. The only change under the hood concerns the new 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that produces 150Hp. The new Sportage is expected to hit European dealerships in the forthcoming weeks. –Photo gallery after the jump
Kia’s Slovakia facility in Zilina is adding a third model into its inventory as the Korean company announced today that the facelifted Sportage SUV which will make its debut in Frankfurt will be produced there. Hyundai’s subsidiary has already started production of the Cee’d hatchback and SportyWagon at Zilina. At the end of this year, the facility will add a fourth model to its repertoire, the Pro-cee´d three-door hatchback. Back to the revised Sportage, Kia’s compact SUV will be enhanced for 2008 with minor exterior changes that include re-styled front grille, black bezel headlamps, enlarged door mirrors, new-style alloy wheels, a broader range of paint finishes and body-colour bumpers for all models. Inside the Sportage receives new front and rear seat cushions while technical upgrades include re-tuned power-steering and larger brakes. -Press release and high-res images after the jump
Kia Sportage SUV now manufactured in Europe
Full 18-model Kia Sportage line-up produced in Slovakia
Choice of gasoline or diesel engines, with manual or automatic transmission
Improved build-quality, comfort, refinement and towing ability
Kia Motors will officially celebrate the start of full production of its popular Sportage compact SUV at the company´s ultra-modern Slovakia facility by holding the premiere of the 2008 model at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on 11 September.
Kia´s first-ever plant in Europe continues to be a burgeoning success as the Zilina operation has seamlessly added two new models - the cee´d Sporty Wagon and Sportage SUV- to its inventory, just a few months after making its very first cee´d hatchback cars last December. At the end of this year, the facility will add a fourth model to its repertoire, the Pro-cee´d three-door hatchback. With a staff of 2,400 working two shifts, Zilina is already living up to its promise of becoming the most productive car manufacturing plant in Europe, aiming to build 100 cars per employee per year - when fully operational.
The handsome Kia Sportage SUV is little changed on the outside, but 2008 models will feature exterior enhancements that include a re-styled front grille, black bezel headlamps, enlarged door mirrors, new-style alloy wheels, a broader range of paint finishes and body-colour bumpers for all models.
"Made in Europe, the new 2008 Kia Sportage retains all the popular attributes of the original model and now offers customers an even better drive in greater comfort and refinement," enthused Mr Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "Since its launch in Europe during 2004, the Sportage has attracted more than 100,000 buyers and has played a key role, together with the larger Sorento SUV and smaller Picanto city car, in raising public awareness of the Kia brand across the broadest spread of European consumers."
Technical improvements introduced simultaneously with manufacturing the 2008 Sportage in Europe begin with the power steering, which is re-tuned to be a little more direct. Sixteen inch diameter wheels with 215/65 R16 tyres are standard, the suspension dampers are stiffer for improved on-road handling and body roll has been reduced. Larger, 300 mm diameter front brakes now stop the Sportage in just 41.6 metres (from 100 kph), and place the Kia among the best-in-class.
Inside, the 2008 Sportage has improved front seats with longer (by 40 mm) and wider (by 20 mm) cushions for greater support and comfort. The rear seat cushion shape and firmness have been enhanced and the seat lowered by 5 mm to increase headroom.
Wind noise has been reduced by redesigning the door mirror housings and improving the seals around the electric sunroof. The 2008 Sportage has 12.5% more towing capacity than the previous model - now up to a maximum of 1800 kg.
Thanks to the unique Rotation Dipping Painting process at the Zilina plant, which rotates each bodyshell through a forward somersault while immersed in the electro-plating tank, and the built-in quality of Kia vehicles manufactured in Slovakia, all versions of the 2008 Kia Sportage are covered by a new 10-Year anti-corrosion warranty - an extension of four years.
Customers buying a 2008 Kia Sportage can choose from a range of 10 exterior colours and two interior colours - Flesh Beige and Saturn Black. Eight of the exterior colours are new to Sportage, with two solids and six metallics in common with the cee´d models produced at Zilina. Two of the most popular metallic colours (Greyish Silver and Smart Blue), are carried over from the 2007 model year.
2008 Kia Sportage - 18-model line up for European Market*
Diesel / 2.0-litre CRDi
GL manual 5-sp / 4x2 or 4x4 GLS manual 5-sp / 4x2 or 4x4
GL manual 6-sp / 4x2 or 4x4 GLS manual 4-sp / 4x2 or 4x4
GL automatic 4-sp / 4x2 or 4x4 GLS manual 4-sp / 4x2 or 4x4
Gasoline / 2.0-litre DOHC
GL manual 5-sp / 4x2 or 4x4 GLS manual 5-sp / 4x2 or 4x4
Gasoline / 2.7-litre DOHC V6
GL automatic 4-sp / 4x4 GLS automatic 4-sp / 4x4
* The Kia factory in Zilina, Slovakia is manufacturing a total of 18 Sportage derivatives, but the model line-up may vary country-to-country, depending on local market requirements. Please check the final Sportage line-up in your country with your local Kia PR.