Shiro is Japanese for white and accordingly comes with Arctic White paint as standard. This new variant is available with optional Spare Wheel Pack and two-tone paint (Storm White with a Pearl Black roof). Staying true to the Leaf's roots as the original affordable mass-market electric family car, the Shiro comes with over £1,000 worth of benefits for £28,495, £2,000 less than the N-Connecta on which it is based.

There's a modern look both outside and in where clever design meets practicality. There's a fully digital Pure Panel cockpit with two 10-inch displays and Multimedia infotainment system awaits occupants and is just as eye-catching as the bold and elegant new steering wheel.

I have been a big fan of Kia for many years, it makes excellent cars and to be fair, there's nothing particularly wrong with the EV9. But to achieve World Car of the Year, surely it has to have worldwide appeal - and this car doesn't in my mind.