BIG on style, performance and practicality theKia EV3 is the Korean company's fully electrified compact SUV that sits below its larger siblingsthe EV6 and EV9.

It is keenly priced and also offers good driving ranges between charges.

It shares the same design language as its big brothers and so it has the same upright styling which has helped it grab the World Car of the Year award.

Starting from £32,995, EV3 buyers there is a choice of three trims called Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S, with the latter priced at £42,995.

The GT-Line S also comes with an optional heat pump, adding £900 to the cost.

The EV3 Air is available with two battery sizes - 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh - with the larger battery coming as standard on the higher trim levels.

The entry EV3 Air comes with the smaller 58.3kWh battery but can still go 270 miles on a fullcharge according to WLTP tests.

All other modelsfitted with the larger 81.4kWh battery can achieve between 361 and 375 miles and if you drive a lot in town that can be boosted considerably with the aid of regenerative braking.

The EV3 stands out from the crowd thanks to its distinctive upright shape, its signature lights, flush door handles and smart gloss black trim around the wheel arches, side sills and roof rails, along with smart 17-inch alloys.

The cabin features lots of high-tech, with soft-touch surfaces, top quality fixtures and fittings, plus a nice textile dashboard.

There is a curved dual-screen set-up with two 12.3-inch displays blended together, flanking a smaller 5.3-inch panel for climate control operations.

The EV3 is packed with features including a good sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and a navigation system.

The entire EV3 line-up is front wheel drive and features a single-speed transmission.

The car came with the 81.4kWh battery anddelivered 201bhp and 283Nm of torque, resulting in a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 105mph.

Thereare five drive modes that alter the characteristics - these are called Eco, Normal, Sport, MyDrive, and Individual.

In addition, the level of regenerative braking is adjustable via steering wheel paddles, and at its highest setting, it enables one-pedal driving.

The EV3 is agile around town but is also a comfortable motorway cruiser.

The driving position is very good with greatall-round visibility and the steering is nicely weighted. The suspension deals well withmost surfaces and does a great job of smoothing out bumps and lumps.

The Kia EV3 is spacious with ample room for four adults totravel in real comfort and five for shorter journeys.

The boot can swallow 460 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,250 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats folded down.

Charging cables can be stored beneath the boot floor and there is an additional 25-litre compartment under the bonnet. The cabin also has numerous areas to house smaller items.

When it comes to charging the larger 81.4kWh battery, a 350kW fast charger can take it from 10-80 per cent in just 31 minutes, or 1 hour and 19 minutes with a 50kW charger.

At home, charging with a wallbox takes just over seven hours.

The smaller 58.3kWh battery in the Air model can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 29 minutes via a 350kW charger, 55 minutes on a 50kW charger and just over five hours if plugged into a home wallbox.

This particular car was the EV3 Air with the larger battery,costing £35,995 and I found it to be family-friendly and practical with good performance and accurate range claims.

It also has one of the best warranty packages in the business - seven years or 100,000 miles, as well as eight years for the battery.

The EV3 also boasts all the latest safety features and driver aids, so If you are shopping for a compact electric SUV, this car is well worth checking out.