Kia Picanto Road Test

Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto Ice version includes air-conditioning with air-filter, a storage tray under the front passenger seat, a front lighter and ashtray, and a chrome-effect surround to the centre console and front grille.

If you like your creature comforts then the Picanto 3 is the one for you. Apart from the body kit, you gain electric rear windows, electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors and height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Picanto’s original selling point was that it had five doors, when many of its competitors had only three. It turned out to be good forward planning on Kia’s part as many of the others in this segment have now gone down this route.

As part of the makeover process, Kia has made the interior more welcoming. Naturally, in a small car, there isn’t a great deal of space but in the Picanto the legroom is limited but adequate. The outer rear seats, like those in the front, are gently bolstered to provide support, but the centre, occasional seat, is little more than a panel.

For big shopping days the 60:40 rear seats fold but I couldn't get them to fold flat. Nevertheless, it does increase the carrying capacity from 157- to maximum, 882-litres.

The driver’s environment has changed somewhat and the fascia is now completely black. In fact, the whole lower cabin is black up to the window line, where it gives over to a beige colour. It is just a little thing but it makes a difference to the ambience.

Apart from the change in tone, the fascia has also seen a change in format with new upper and lower sections with different textures and a new centre console, which houses a CD/radio with MP3 compatibility. The same audio system features throughout the range but the Picanto 3 has the added benefit of Aux, USB and iPod connections, complete with cable.

The steering wheel is now more modern and bears a chrome Kia emblem and the instrument panel gains orange illumination as in the cee’d.

Offers aside, there aren’t that many cars available for £5,995. The Proton Savvy and Chevrolet Matiz, spring to mind - so the Picanto still wins on that count although the others are hot on the trail.

Kia Picanto