The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Picanto pointing the way forward
Kia’s latest city car goes on sale in the UK.
Kia has opened the order books on its allnew Picanto.
The third generation of the South Korean company’s city car is on sale now with prices starting from £9,255.
It’s being offered as a five door model only – the less practical three-door version of the previous generation model struggled to sell.
Despite a longer wheelbase and shorter front overhang, though, the new car is no larger than its predecessor – but does offer more head and legroom as well as a larger boot.
For the first time in the Picanto’s lifespan, the city car will gain sportily styled GT-Line and GT-Line S trims, which get more equipment, a muscular body kit, bespoke paintwork and a new steering wheel.
These cost from £11,755 with the onelitre engine, and top out the range in 1.25 GT-Line S trim, at £13,755.
Both the current engine, a three-cylinder one-litre petrol with 66bhp and a four-cylinder 1.2-litre with 83bhp, are carried over to this new car.
There’s also a new turbocharged onelitre petrol. With 99bhp, it’s the most powerful option in the range, and can hurl the Picanto to 60mph in 10.1sec.
Virtually all Picantos will be five-speed manuals, but an unappealing four-speed auto is an option on the 1.2 litre petrol model.
Inside, there’s a new 7in touchscreen infotainment system that will be standard across the range.
The Picanto’s boot can now carry up to 255 litres – more than Hyundai’s i10 – and up to 1,010 litres with the rear seats folded flat.
The Picanto will be offered in 1, 2 and 3 trim levels as well as the aforementioned GT-Line and GT-Line S versions.
Top spec models can expect kit including 15in alloy wheels, electric folding side mirrors with LED indicators, automatic air conditioning, sat-nav, Bluetooth with voice recognition, DAB radio, reversing camera, cruise control with speed limiter and autonomous emergency braking.
Kia also says this is the safest city car it has ever made. Six airbags come as standard and a knee airbag is an optional extra. There’s more high strength steel in the body yet despite this the car comes in at 23kg lighter than the model it replaces.