Al Suttie continues his new series of articles by evaluating the Kia EV3, spotlighting five key takeaways on its interior, specification, onboard space and all-round appeal.

Kia EV3 GT-Line S

List price (BiK): £43,890 incl. heat pump (4%)  Official range: 361 miles  Range as tested: 322 miles

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Takeaway One:

Has Kia reached its peak with the EV3? It might well have as this family crossover is a superb all-rounder with no discernible weakness that I could detect during my time with it. Okay, it’s no sporting delight, but then the sort of person choosing the EV3 is more concerned with comfort than the Nth degree of handling finesse. And anyway, the EV3 has plenty of grip for safe cornering while also delivering a commendably smooth ride across all surfaces.

Takeaway Two:

It can’t have escaped your attention, and some of the louder but less-informed media commentators, that cars are getting bigger. Hardly hold-the-front-page stuff, but it’s worth noting the Kia EV3 is decently compact in its exterior dimensions without compromising on cabin or luggage space. As a result, it carries the family easily while slotting into parking spots without fretting about opening the door to get out.

Takeaway Three:

For my EV3 encounter, I was blessed with the top-spec GT-Line S with heat pump included. It might nudge the cost up a tad, but it’s worth it for the convenience of quick charging. It was impressive how swiftly the Kia could go from 30 to 80% charge with the usual rapid chargers near me. It also delivered a real-world range of more than 300 miles with a combination of town, country and motorway use.

Takeaway Four:

I’m sure it’s something I would adapt to over a longer period with the EV3, and is perhaps a consequence of moving from one car to the next, but I still find the Kia’s gear selector a smidge unintuitive. No issue with pressing the ignition button to bring the car to life – I rather like this as it means I know the car is switched off when I leave – but the twist action to select Drive or Reverse doesn’t quite compute with my brain.

Takeaway Five:

While my time with the EV3 was exclusively spent in the driver’s seat, both my wife and gangly teenage son sat in the back seat on a few occasions. Both reported slightly less knee space than they’d like, but head and shoulder room wasn’t a bone of contention. A major stumbling block for the EV3? No, and certainly not enough to regard this car as anything other than among the absolute best in its class.