Kia's Sportage & Venga Awarded Top Euro NCAP Honours

At Waters AutoPlanet we're pleased to announce that two of Kia's newest vehicles, Sportage and Venga, have both been awarded the top 5-star safety rating by leading independent European safety organisation, Euro NCAP, making them two of the safest cars on the market this winter.

The Kia Sportage crossover and Venga B-segment MPV were both given the maximum 5-star rating, placing them at the top of their respective classes and in the distinguished company of other Kia models such as the Soul, cee'd and Sorento.

Brett Kavanagh, Marketing Manager at Waters AutoPlanet said: "These awards prove that Kia's engineers strive to design vehicles that make it easier for drivers to avoid hazards, thanks to good visibility, powerful braking and excellent road holding. This is particularly important as the winter sets in and driving conditions are naturally riskier; Kia owners have peace of mind that they and their passengers are protected by the very best passive safety technology.”

Kia Sportage obtained scores of 93 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 86 per cent for Child Occupant protection, 49 per cent for Pedestrian Protection and 86 per cent for Safety Assist. Venga scored 89, 85, 64 and 71 respectively, in the same categories.

Sportage and Venga also received praise for having Electronic Stability Control (ESC) fitted as standard in most markets. "These latest results from Euro NCAP highlight Kia's commitment to ensuring exceptional levels of safety in its vehicles," commented Benny Oeyen, Vice-President, Marketing & Product Planning, Kia Motors Europe.

In the name of safety this winter, Waters AutoPlanet have five top driving tips for motorists:

· Keep an emergency kit in the car (torch, blanket, first aid kit, shovel, reflective warning sign)

· Fill up your tank before your journey and carry a fuel canister – stopping and starting on the roads uses up fuel

· Check weather reports before you set off anywhere – don’t risk it if you really don’t have to

· Be mindful of black ice – if you can’t see ice, it doesn’t mean it’s not there

· Drive slowly and keep your distance between you and the car in front to avoid bumps if you skid on ice

For more information Waters Kia can be contacted on 0845 871 7014 for Chingford or 0845 871 5085 for St Albans and AutoPlanet Kia can be contacted on 0845 871 7134 for Tunbridge Wells.