The Kias you're not allowed to drive: The stylish electric cars, hatchbacks, crossovers and SUVs denied to Australian new car buyers, but why?

Kia can do no wrong right now.

Double-digit sales growth, soaring demand and an affordable and even desirable range of models ensure that the South Korean brand is the envy of the whole car industry right now.

Still, there are certain Kias available elsewhere right now in the world that could boost the company's standing even more in Australia. So here is a list of models that we reckon would work a treat Down Under.

After all, you can’t have too much of a good thing, right?

Kia Telluride

The US-built, award-winning Telluride (named after a town in Colorado) is the largest vehicle in Kia’s formidable SUV armada, measuring in at five metres long, nearly two metres wide and almost 1.8m high.

Sharing much of its mechanicals and 2900mm wheelbase with the conceptually similar Hyundai Palisade, the boxy yet bold Telluride possesses a gutsy 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine, driving either the front or all four wheels via an eight-speed auto.

It’s proven a smash hit Stateside too, with nearly 100,000 sold last year. If Kia could be convinced to switch the steering wheel over to the right, we reckon Australia would be a prime destination for this chunky, roomy and capable seven- or eight-seater family SUV.

C’mon, Kia. If Toyota can do it with the American-made Kluger, then surely the way-more-beguiling Telluride can take the trip across the Pacific too.

Kia Sonet

Not a misspelled track by ‘90s indie icons The Verve, but a version of the Hyundai Venue styled by ex-BMW designer Karim Habib and without the awkward looks to better take on the popular Mazda CX-3.

Like its cousin, the Sonet is based on Kia’s K2 front-drive platform that also underpins the Rio and Hyundai i20 among scores of other models, so the Indian-built SUV ought to drive well. Engine choices include a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit and optional 1.0-litre three-pot turbo.

More SUV-esque than the Rio-derived Stonic, the Sonet was created as a low-cost entry into the booming baby SUV segment, and would likely be priced in the low-$20,000 arena against the Venue, CX-3, MG ZS and Suzuki Ignis.

With Xeroxed-down Seltos style and a peppy powertrain, Kia’s smallest SUV could prove a big hit in Australia.

Kia XCeed Plug-in Hybrid

In 2014 Kia imported the Pro_Cee’d GT – a daftly named but swift and stylish three-door coupe with impressive 7.5-second 0-100km/h capability. It bombed dismally despite warm reviews.

Now there’s the XCeed – another variation of the Mazda3-rivalling Ceed hatchback theme also made in Slovakia for Europe – but this time we’re talking about a raised five-door coupe/SUV in the vein of a Mercedes GLA. At a fraction of the price of course.

If Kia Motors Australia was cherry picking, it might consider the 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version, with around 104kW of power, a Pro_Cee’d GT-matching 265Nm of torque, and a WLTP-certified all-EV range of 42km-combined, or just 1.7L/100km when the combustion engine kicks in.

Seen in this light, the XCeed PHEV is a suave crossover with terrific teetotalling engineering.

Kia Soul EV

Also known as the e-Soul in some (thankfully non-English speaking) countries, the Soul EV is a battery electric version of the very two-box-orientated third-generation hatchback of the same name.

Related to both the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, it offers two battery pack options according to budget – a 39.2kWh model with 276km range, or a 64kWh model with over 450km – while a 150kW/395Nm electric motor can scoot the squarest of Kias to 100km/h in just 7.6s… so this Soul’s no slouch.

It also ushers in a soothing ride, making it a quiet and refined travelling companion.

With efficient wagon-like packaging, five seats and heaps of cargo space (from 315 litres to 1339L), the e-Soul could be a cult car for the EV generation. Plus, like the XCeed PHEV and Sonet, this is another Kia already available in right-hand-drive configuration.