2nd KIA PICANTO
Sport trim brings a raft of extra equipment, plus stronger performance. But it comes at a price
THE Kia Picanto has been around for even longer than the VW Group trio, but it benefited from a facelift last year aimed at keeping it looking and feeling fresh in the face of newer rivals.
While lesser models in the range appear a little mundane, like the SEAT, Kia has thrown a host of racy add-ons at the Picanto Sport to give it extra kerb appeal. There are 15-inch alloys and tinted windows, plus more aggressive-looking bumpers, thicker side sills and a twin exhaust tailpipe. Inside, the normally dark layout is lifted by two-tone cloth and fake leather, gloss black plastic and aluminium pedals. The extras bolster an already smart design, and the Picanto matches the SEAT for kerb appeal.
The Kia also offers more equipment: while the Mii is hardly sparse, it misses out on its rival’s USB connectivity, electric rear windows and climate control. Also standard in the Picanto is an excellent seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav and infotainment system, whereas the SEAT makes do with the ungainly dashtop-mounted Garmin unit.
The 84bhp 1. 25-litre petrol is the only engine option in the Kia, and it leaves the Mii trailing in terms of power. As a result the Picanto put in an impressive 0-62mph time of 10.7 seconds, but it only feels noticeably faster than the SEAT if you keep the engine on the boil – peak torque doesn’t arrive until 4,000rpm. It’s also not as refined, with a coarse note intruding as the revs build.
Unlike the Mii, there’s no sportier suspension to go with the Sport badge on the Kia. Even so, the ride isn’t as settled, fidgeting round town and crashing into expansion joints despite an initial softness.
Don’t think this makes the Picanto fun to drive, however; it’s nippy and agile on city streets, but up the pace and there’s still noticeable body roll, while the steering lacks feel and is slower. Add in more noticeable wind and road noise out of town, and the Picanto feels more at home in the city, and shows its age more than the SEAT.
On paper the Picanto is also more expensive than its rival – but there are a couple of things to remember if you’re doing the numbers. The first is that Kia is currently offering an additional £1,000 off the Sport trim tested here, and SE editions, if you take a test drive before you buy.
The second is that a brand new Picanto is due to make its debut next spring, so dealers may well be more inclined to haggle.
Either way, the smallest Kia still delivers on the firm’s brand values of a solid ownership proposition. It gets the brand’s transferable seven-year warranty, and is available with three years of fixed-price servicing from just £299.