With its cheerful looks, useful range and compact dimensions, the Kia EV2 makes a persuasive case for keeping family motoring simple writes Geraldine Herbert What is it? Give a toddler a box of crayons and ask them to draw a car, and the result might look remarkably like the new Kia EV2. A big square body, four enormous wheels and a face made mostly of lights. There is something gloriously cheerful and a little bit quirky about it. At 4.06 metres long, this compact electric SUV promises useful range, family-friendly practicality and prices starting from €28,660. It is not chasing racetrack fantasies. Its ambitions are rather more useful: carrying people comfortably, making everyday journeys easy and fitting into a parking space when you arrive. Styling Kia calls its design philosophy “Opposites United”, although “Tonka toy with a charging cable” might be an equally useful description. The upright shape and boxy proportions will divide opinion, but the EV2 has personality and should be easy to spot in a crowded car park. Its compact dimensions also mean that looking like a chunky little SUV does not come with the usual struggle to squeeze one into a town-centre parking space. Under the Bonnet There are two battery choices. The 42.2kWh version has an official range of 317km, while the larger 61kWh battery increases that to a much more useful 453km. Our Earth Long Range test car pairs the larger battery with a front-mounted 99.5kW electric motor producing 133bhp. Power goes to the front wheels through a single-speed automatic transmission. Efficiency impressed during our week with the car, with around 400km readily achievable. Both versions use a 400V architecture, and DC fast charging takes the smaller battery from 10 to 80 per cent in around 29 minutes. The long-range version needs around 30 minutes. On the road, the EV2 is quiet, refined and comfortable. It may not be the most dynamic thing to drive, but several impromptu day trips proved that it makes remarkably easy company. What About Inside? Inside, the EV2 feels considerably more grown-up than its playful exterior suggests. Three screens dominate the dashboard: a 12.3-inch driver display, a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a 5.3-inch climate control display. Thankfully, Kia has retained physical controls for most of the functions you need while driving. Adjusting the temperature should not require an expedition...