IC-powered small cars are big business in Europe; just ask Kia, which sells four times as many Picantos in the region as it does in South Korea. That has been fairly consistent during the two decades (21 years in the home market) and three generations of this model. We Europeans just love a dinky petrol-powered hatchback.
More than 60,000 annual sales in Europe
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The answer to the EV question above is no time soon. That isn’t the whole story though, as another little five-door car from HMG, the Hyundai Casper, will soon be joined by an electric variant. And unlike the mainly Korea-only Casper, this one will be headed to Europe. It will also be specially lengthened to 3,825 mm from the 3.6 metres of the original. So then, two bites of the European market cherry in this major segment.
As seems to be the case with quite a few Fiat models, Stellantis has made the brand vulnerable by keeping the Fiat Panda in production for a very long time. Yet thanks to its enduring popularity in Italy, the model leads the size class Europe-wide, way ahead of the Picanto. Then in fact comes the 500 (the old one and the newer EV curiously grouped as one model by JATO Dynamics), followed by the Aygo X and Hyundai i10.
The Picanto came in at position five with a rather handy 31,578 regional registrations during the first two quarters of 2024. Which is good volume and great for the brand at bringing in new owners, potentially for decades. Once people buy a Kia, they tend to get hooked. That is for all manner of reasons, and with the exception of China (fewer than 40,000 vehicles sold YtD and falling dramatically), we see this the world over.
Will SAIC’s MG trump the Kia seven-year warranty?
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By GlobalDataYou need only look at car prices in North America, Asia or the Pacific Rim to be immediately disabused of the notion that any teeny model – or any car, really – is cheap in Britain. Sixteen to twenty thousand pounds for a Picanto is far from bargain basement but at least with this or any Kia model, there is that seven years and 100,000 miles (160,000 km) warranty. Standard equipment is also usually generous, in the way we used to see with, say, Škodas.
SAIC does not (yet) offer the ten-years and 250,000 km comprehensive cover package which it is pushing hard in some markets, including Australia, arguably the most competitive in the world. MG is just one of many brands from China building up a strong following down there. Already it is well inside the top ten (as is GWM), while Nissan, Honda, Mercedes, Tesla and VW no longer are. Kia is fighting hard to stay in fourth place (behind Toyota, Mazda and Ford) and as is the case in Britain, it outsells Hyundai.
Why no new model yet?
Back in the UK, quite a few more than a quarter of a million examples have been delivered since 2004, that mark being crossed in August 2023. The Picanto is also second only to the Sportage as Kia GB’s best selling model.
The major facelift was launched here in July and this will be the final change for generation three. Production will likely end in 2027, at which point some kind of electrified successor will debut. An EV1 could be that car, positioned below the built-in-Slovakia EV2 which might still be coming in 2026 though Kia might yet delay it by a year. In that case, the electric Picanto replacement could be launched in 2028 not 2027.
Fiat might be market leader in the A segment but you do wonder if perhaps the likes of the little Kia makes just as much money: both must surely have half-decent margins. And you can see why so very many buyers continue to want the Picanto. The newly improved model is also a really good and alluring refresh. Just look at how different the front and back ends are. Dare I say it, the car now looks almost expensive.
Two engines, two transmissions
There are eight variants across four trim levels. All but the top-spec GT-Line S are powered by a 46 kW (63 PS) and 93 Nm 1.0-litre engine. The alternative, a 1.2, puts out 57 kW (77 PS) and 113 Nm. Each is normally aspirated and comes linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. The self-shifting option is unusual for being neither a CVT, nor a DSG nor a torque converter. Instead, it’s an automated manual. I have never driven one of these, and the car supplied for a week of assessment was a manual.
The best CO2 emissions number is 116g/km but even the worst isn’t too much higher so the Picanto is highly competitive for its class. If no EV. This time around, the mock-crossover variant has not returned to the line-up and another change is a three-places layout for the back seat (formerly some cars had seatbelts for two).
Something highly unusual is different styling touches for the pricier GT-Line and GT-Line S: these have different bumpers to the cheaper 2 and 3 model grades. That includes indicators on the front wings rather than within the mirror casings. The base 2 has 14-inch rims and then it jumps to 16-inchers for 3, GT-Line and GT-Line S.
A lot comes as standard
An 8.0-inch touchscreen is standard as is SatNav, the boot capacity is a large for the class 255 litres, expanding to 1,010 litres with a 40/60 split. Every car also has a reversing camera and all seats come with separate head restraints. This compared to cheaper and arguably inferior-in-a-crash one-piece backrests.
Vertical headlights along with a linking bar betwee, sets the facelifted car far apart from the one revised for the first time in 2020. And yes, this is the second restyle, the JA-shape model having first appeared in 2017. And for those wondering, yes, the name in the home market and certain other countries remains Morning.
Length is 3,605 and width is 1,595 excluding mirrors. Unlike the Sorento and some other Kias, you do not have to be at walking pace for them to obey your button press command to fold. Other terrific things are big windows and short overhangs, a great turning circle, as well as cloth or vinyl seats (Kia uses the euphemism artificial leather).
No Picanto has a spare tyre which is more or the less the only really bad news. Well, this is not a fast car either, top speeds being 90 and 98 mph for the respective engines. Average economy easily betters 50 mpg.
Conclusion
If not quite in the Volkswagen up! league – many of us miss that great little car – the Picanto is still quite enjoyable to punt along. Naturally you can tell the basic dynamic package dates to the previous decade but so what? Hardly any buyer will care much about that.
For what you pay, and how good the resale value should be, this is a great choice for those shopping in the segment. I would have the biggest engine and the best model grade, even if it does cost just a little less than twenty thousand pounds.
Kia Picanto pricing starts at GBP15,595 and rises to GBP19,720
