Kia became the first non-European brand to score a hat trick at the 2026 Golden Steering Wheel Awards, Germany's most prestigious auto awards, Electrek reported.

The Korean automaker won with the EV2, the K4 Sportswagon and the EV5, each taking first in its class. It is the first time a non-European brand has won three Golden Steering Wheel Awards in a single year in the prize's 50-year history. The award is organized by AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG. Ninety new models were nominated this year. Readers chose 27 finalists, three in each of the nine classes, which were then tested by a panel of celebrities and auto experts at the DEKRA-Lausitzring racetrack. Vehicles were judged on handling, comfort, ease of use, quality and everyday practicality, as well as the sustainability and value they offer.

Kia won across three very different categories with the fully electric EV2 and EV5, alongside the gas-powered K4 Sportswagon.

What won in Europe, and what U.S. buyers can actually get

The EV2, Kia's entry-level electric SUV, won the award for "Best Car Under €30,000." Developed specifically for Europe, the compact EV is only 4.06 meters long but offers up to 403 liters of cargo space. It also offers a WLTP driving range of up to 453 kilometers (281 miles), which Electrek said is among the longest in its class.

Kia's EV5 beat the Audi Q3 and Cupra Formentor VZ5 in the compact SUV category. Launched in December, the EV5 is about the size of the Sportage. It is available with front- and all-wheel-drive powertrains and offers a range of over 550 kilometers (341 miles). Depending on the configuration, the EV5 can tow up to 1,800 kilograms (about 4,000 pounds).

The Kia K4 Sportswagon, launched in May, outperformed the new Volkswagen ID.3 Neo and Cupra Born in the compact class. In Europe, Kia offers a full lineup of all-electric vehicles, from the entry-level EV2 to the EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, the three-row EV9 and the PV5 van. Kia has no plans to sell the EV2 or EV5 in the United States, Electrek reported, but the EV3 is now available there. In 2024, the EV3 won the Golden Steering Wheel award for "Best Car under €40,000." The 2027 Kia EV3 starts at $29,890, making it among the most affordable EVs in the U.S. It is available in five trims and two battery packs. The base EV3 Light has a 58.3 kWh battery that provides up to 221 miles of range, while the Wind, Land, GT-Line and GT use an 81.4 kWh battery for up to 321 miles of range.

For Tesla watchers, the result is a reminder that Europe's volume awards are not being swept by one American brand. Kia's European electric lineup is broad, its winning EV2 and EV5 are staying on that side of the Atlantic, and the model U.S. shoppers can actually buy, the EV3, starts under $30,000.