Perhaps a less gaspingly scandalous statement is that the Skoda is also the more practical, if not by a huge margin. Chiefly, it’s the fact that the Elroq offers a surprisingly low load lip and a spacious 470-litre boot, not to mention the best head room here for rear passengers.
The Kia and Nissan get a very serviceable 435 and 437 litres respectively, but both have surprisingly high load lips – particularly annoying given that you would assume the hatchback status would mean a lower one. Clearly the design departments won that argument… At least the Nissan gets a clever two-part, split boot floor that can be used to conceal your cable, as well as to separate the space and better secure the groceries after the big shop.
Less impressive is the Nissan’s rear passenger space. Slide into the back of the Kia and Skoda and you will find masses of leg and head room. By contrast, the Nissan’s roofline tapers enough to make taller adults feel a bit hemmed in, and leg room is also tighter than in the others. It will still be a very fine family car, but there’s no doubt that the Nissan is the least roomy compared with the high standards set by the other two EVs here.
Up front, the Nissan does stand out with its textured white cloth inserts and purple leatherette dash. Yes, that’s right: purple. Don’t get me wrong, your Leaf interior isn’t going to make you think of Cadbury’s chocolate or Prince songs, but it’s still definitely a dark purple.
Overall, it’s a refreshingly bright, interesting blend of finishes, although I can see why some might prefer the more understated greys and monotones of the Kia – and especially the Skoda with its lovely, tactile textiles.
Sticking with the Nissan, the infotainment is good, not least as the shelf beneath the touchscreen makes the perfect wrist rest for more accurate prodding. Touch-sensitive shortcut buttons are an easy way of changing the temperature as well.
