Bravo Kia! I have driven a hot contender for my car of the year.

The electric EV3 covers just about every base whether it be space, performance, quality or range. It seems new buyers agree because the compact SUV is currently the UK’s best selling battery electric car.

That said if you read comments on Facebook EV3 is the world’s ugliest car. Well, the dramatic styling is a bit of a marmite job: you love it or hate it. I am sitting on the fence for now, although the light signatures are stunning, but whatever misgivings on looks are trampled into the dust by its all round capabilities.

There is a three model range starting at £33,005 with a 51kWh battery and a range of 270 miles, or 81kWh that could be good for an impressive 375 miles. The city cycle is said to add another 100 miles which would be music to the ears of taxi drivers.

My 325 miles on a full charge was the best return on any electric car I have driven but it was during the mini heatwave so conditions for electric driving were about perfect. Even turning on the heating made only a negligible difference to the range; it’s a different story in a cold winter.

Using a home wall charger is an all night job from 10 per cent to full but using the more powerful public charging stations can get to 80 per cent in half an hour.

Enough of the stats, what makes EV3 such an appealing car? Quite a lot but the first thing to notice is the space. With no gearbox and handbrake mechanism the front of the cabin is open creating an abundance of floor level storage areas, although the lack of a conventional storage box between the front seats is a bit of an oddity.

Instead the two top level models have a slide out tray which looks attractive but isn’t that practical especially when there aren’t any cup holders. They are on the floor. It also means that apart from the glove box, which is virtually filled with the instruction manual, there is nowhere to hide valuables.

The dashboard is all digital laid out in Kia’s familiar ‘widescreen TV’ style with two integrated 12.3in screens. The driver’s section is neat and clear although I would prefer the digital speedo to be centred rather than on the side. It is a pity the head up display is only fitted to the top model.

There is a mass of information in the central touchscreen but it is instinctive and easy to fathom. Physical switches for heating will satisfy those who believe dabbing a screen is a driver distraction. My tip is to use voice control for heating, radio selections and navigation destinations, but have postcodes on hand for tricky Welsh place names…Bwlchgwyn is a non starter!

For its size EV3 is a serious family car with plenty of leg and shoulder room for three adults across the back seat, and there will be no complaints about boot space which has a two level floor, and there is a frunk box under the bonnet that is big enough to take the charging cable.

Performance is in the realms of a hot hatch of old and while the handling can’t match a petrol or diesel it is not going to bother anyone other than a rally driver. The penalty of lugging around a heavy battery pack is stiff suspension so be prepared for hefty thuds over potholes but on normal surfaces the ride is fine with very little wind or road noise.

The level of equipment, safety features and technology are right up there even on the entry Air model. Steering wheel paddles for regenerative braking and slowing the car saves wear on brake pads while a new over the air app linked to navigation reads the road making braking and speed adjustments ahead of time without the driver needing to press the brake pedal.

Throw that in with adaptive cruise control and you almost have a driverless car.

Electric car sales are the best they have ever been but there is still a fair bit of discounting so be prepared to haggle, and here’s a bonus. Two of the three EV3 models come in under £40k avoiding the new surcharge that slaps an extra £410 on road tax for five years.

In a word EV3 is a triumph. As I said at the top of the start, bravo Kia.

Fast facts

EV3 GT-Line

£39,495

Battery pack: 81.4kW; 201bhp

Max charging rate: 127.5kW

Combined range: 367 miles

0-62mph 7.9secs; 105mph

Zero emissions

Boot: 460-1250 litres

Insurance group 35

Warranty: 7 years