Kia Motors Corp. said Tuesday that its Soul electric vehicle (EV) has been named the 2015 Car of the Year in Norway, beating out rivals such as the Audi A3 hybrid and Volkswagen Passat.

The title awarded by Dinside, the Scandinavian country's largest consumer information service provider, gave high marks to the Soul EV for its excellent range, polished design and good internal space management, South Korea's second-largest carmaker said.

The car has been tested under the European test cycle to travel 212 kilometers on a single charge, placing it at the top in its segment in terms of range. Because it uses the boxy shape of the regular Soul, the car also has ample passenger and cargo room. Some eco-friendly cars suffer from limited internal space because the battery pack protrudes into the interior.

"The award is expected to boost the value of the Kia brand in the country, benefitting sales down the line," the company said.

Norwegian consumers have taken a keen interest in eco-friendly cars, and in particular zero-emission EVs. The Tesla Model S was previously named car of the year in the country. (Yonhap)