The award was voted on by the IMWA judging panel on a wide range of criteria, including innovation and safety to space, comfort, build quality, driving experience and value for money. In the end the Kia Rio beat off stiff competition from the Ford Focus and hotly tipped Peugeot 508 to take the prize.
Presenting the award to James Brooks, Managing Director of Kia Ireland, Paddy Murphy of sponsor, Continental Tyres Ireland, said: "From a great crop of entrants for this year's award, the Irish motoring writers have selected an exciting model to carry the 2012 title and no doubt the Continental Irish Car of the Year accolade will provide a great badge of honour for the Kia Rio to help it in the competitive Irish market next year. The Rio's victory is a measure of the progress which Korean manufacturers have made on the car market in a very short time."
Other category winners at the event were:
Irish Van of the Year: Volkswagen Crafter
Irish Small Car of the Year: Kia Rio
Irish Compact Family Car of the Year: Ford Focus
Irish Family Car of the Year: Peugeot 508
Irish Executive / Luxury Car of the Year: Range Rover Evoque
Irish Performance Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz SLK
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