A black SUV flies around the bend on a narrow country road near home.
You can probably guess the make and model – who drives like that, oh yes people who drive this particular vehicle.
He looks out of control as his weight and the downhill slope has resulted in him picking up too much momentum. I take to a driveway and he swerves. I would not want to be his nearside alloy wheels because he is in the gutter.
It’s at this point that I start to appreciate the many merits of Kia’s latest electric vehicle, the EV3.
It is very much in control and one of the main reasons for that is my lack of speed. I’m approaching a left hand bend so lift off.
As soon as I do, the regenerative braking system slows the car markedly; there’s no freewheeling here unless I use the paddle-shifts behind the steering wheel to reduce or turn it off.
As I’m currently explaining to the boy and his L-plates, speed is your enemy. Without excessive speed you have more time to react appropriately, proportionately, safely.
You can steer to safety, stop even, and if you come to blows, the impact is so much reduced which minimises harm to bodywork and human flesh.
If only all cars reacted like the EV3 the world would be a better place. I’m finding myself particularly chilled this week in Kia’s latest EV.
Sometimes, as a driver, you just want an easy ride and that’s what this brilliant Kia provides.
EV3 is the baby sibling of the gargantuan EV9. It shares the same contemporary boxy looks but is just that bit smaller and more manageable.
With looks like this it could not be anything other than an electric vehicle and its lines are uber clean and tidy. In pale frost blue livery and with accent day running lights it is quite an eye-catching motor.
The other reason I’m stress free is the range. Top this bad boy up at the charging station and the range distance to empty and stranded his 375 miles. That’s a proper tankful that is and the recharge time seems pretty quick too with the maximum being achieved in a little over an hour.
Somewhere under the skin is an 81.4kWh electric motor powering the front wheels with an eagerness that sees the benchmark acceleration test time hit 60mph in about 7.5 seconds. It is also rapid and powerful should you require an overtake or hill-climb.
At any speed it is just so smooth and quiet and it feels at home in town, in the countryside or on the motorways.
EV3 is accomplished whatever the demands. In town it is nippy and manoeuvrable. It will dart and squeeze and is a breeze to park anywhere.
On twisting country roads the suspension masters the bumps and controls the body perfectly. Add light steering , great performance and those regen brakes and you have a vehicle that is fun to drive and very well behaved.
Inside the EV3 has a feeling of recycled and recyclable materials, which is no bad thing.
The cabin is spacious and uncluttered, especially as the gearchange is a twist and go stalk on the steering column. Two digital screens provide all the information you are likely to ever need and the infotainment centre is great, the satnav easy to plumb in, the sounds system excellent.
The boot is capacious, larger still if you drop the seats and the comfortable cabin is well designed, airy and very accommodating.
It has been such an easy week and that’s largely down to the EV3. It’s not just easy-going, it’s easy to live with and it makes me wonder why all modern cars aren’t like this.
Factfile
| Engine: 81.4kWh electric |
| Power: 201BHP, 350Nm |
| 0-62mph: 7.7 secs |
| Top speed: 105mph |
| Range: 375 |
| Transmission: one-speed auto FWD |
| CO2 g/km: 0 |
| Price: £36,005 |
