When it comes to small cars the previous generation Kia Picanto was one of the most fun I have ever driven and now featuring a new design with advanced technologies I find out if it’s as good.
With five doors, and five seats, this seemingly small city car boasts more space inside than you would think. Featuring design and lighting elements of Kia’s flagship EV9 and other recent Kia models inside and out, this third generation Picanto is a big improvement over its predecessors.
Sadly, the removal of a reasonably potent turbocharged engine from its line-up means that this model has lost its fun factor. With a wheel in each corner, the new Picanto’s handling remains superb. It just lacks some get up and go offered by the now redundant turbocharged powertrain.
With five trims to choose from, the Picanto range is priced from £15,845 for a ‘2’ model which comes with 14-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, automatic headlight control, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, reversing camera system, rear parking sensors, black cloth seat upholstery, 4.2-inch driver display screen, and an 8-inch touchscreen navigation with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
A ‘GT-Line’ is priced from £16,995 and adds, 16-inch alloy wheels with GT-Line styling, GT-Line exterior styling, GT-Line interior styling, alloy pedals, gloss black door mirrors, LED front lightbar, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, privacy rear windows, and black and grey artificial leather upholstery.
Priced from £17,785 is a ‘3’ which adds, start/stop button with smart entry system, wireless mobile phone charger, front heated seats, automatic air conditioning, and LED indicators within the door mirrors.
The first trim to offer a 1.2-litre engine, rather than the 1.0-litre of the previous three models, is a ‘Shadow’ which, priced from £18,045 Only seems to have a main addition of adventurous green artificial a leather upholstery.
A top of the range ‘GT-Line S’ starts from £18,695 and also features the larger engine, the spec adds sunroof with tilting and sliding function, gloss black radiator grille, GT-Line side skirts, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist 1.5 – city, pedestrian, cyclist & junction turning.
For an additional £700 all models offer an automatic gearbox as an option, but given that it is an automated manual, it doesn’t receive great reviews so sticking to the 5-speed manual if possible, seems best.
The Picanto’s 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine produces just 62hp with 93Nm of torque, seeing you from 0-62mph in 15.4 seconds (auto ‘box in 18.2 seconds) and with a top speed of 90 mph. As sluggish as this may be, it is new different to most other city cars and can return a claimed 54.3mpg.
The more powerful 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine produces 77bhp with 113Nm of torque, seeing you from 0-62mph in 13.1 seconds (auto ‘box in 16.5 seconds) and with a top speed of 98 mph. This engine will be nicer to live with for those who commute, and with a claimed return of 51.4mpg could be easily lived with.
The model tested and pictured, a ‘GT-Line’ equipped with the smaller engine and manual gearbox, done almost everything I asked of it during our week together without a fuss. Living semi-rural, the engine a bit vocal when asked to gain momentum in a hurry, but around town it is grand. A combined return over the week of around 48mpg, was very impressive.
I have a liking for small cars, and their agility to park literally anywhere, easily. And I still like the Kia Picanto.
Kia offer a 7-year / 100,000 mile warranty as standard, which is fully transferable to subsequent owners. A 12-year anti-perforation warranty runs alongside a 5-year paint warranty. With vehicle servicing required every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes sooner.
