Search Car Reviews



See all makes



Kia shows off new Picanto

Supermini’s stylish new look, frugal engine range and spacious cabin.

Kia shows off new Picanto back

By Nick Gibbs

January 2011

The cleaner, roomier Picanto took a bow at Geneva last night, boosting Kia’s city car presence.

Shown in three and five-door body styles, the new car wears Kia’s family grille with its distinctive ‘tiger-nose’ styling and offers a more sculpted look than the current generation car.

The newcomer is also slightly longer at 3.6m, giving greater interior space and expanding the boot to measure 200 litres. The three-door has been given a slightly sportier look with a tweaked front end, while the show car wore 15-inch alloys and twin exhaust pipes.

However the majority of sales are expected to be the five-door, which will start from around £8,500 when it goes on sale at the beginning of June. The three-door follows in September.

Equipment levels have been boosted from the current car, with top spec models getting air-con, electric and heated door mirrors, as well as smart entry key and heated front seats. Interior design is clear and logical, while materials are improved over the current model.

Two engines will be available from launch, both petrol. Cleanest is the three-cylinder 1.0 that emits just 99g/km of CO2, and returns fuel consumption of 67mpg. Meanwhile the 1.25-litre four-cylinder also ducks into the free tax band with emissions of 100g/km with the stop-start technology, giving economy of 66mpg.

A turbo version of the one-litre engine is expected to follow in 2012, making 110bhp and creating a warm hatch of the three-door version, with 0-60mph in less than 10 seconds.

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous   Next >

Sponsored Results

10 Comments

Wowza

What a little corker this is! And never mind being bolder, more mature and more self-confident, thanks to the traditional family grille and Kia's 7-year warranty, I think they could be on to a winner with this.

By JPW2010 on 4 January, 2011, 1:05pm

Diesel

The 1.0 diesel available in some European markets in the current picanto is a great little engine, so smooth and quiet, and should make it into this model.

By bibbyg on 4 January, 2011, 7:23pm

*Sigh!*

Sadly, this new Picanto will not be available in the U.S. I would buy one in a heartbeat.

By orino on 6 January, 2011, 6:55am

Supermini???

This is hardly a mini, but incredibly far from a supermini!!!

By jhcrous on 6 January, 2011, 7:38am

Deserves to be a great success

New Picanto looks great.
With low emission engines and 7 year warranty, it deserves to be a success.
On a practical note, the reversing and rear fog lights, mounted low down on the corners of the rear bumper, look very vulnerable to parking damage.
I wonder what it would cost to have the damaged light units renewed.

By jamesmclaughlin on 6 January, 2011, 12:58pm

By managing to make the little Picanto look both cute and handsome, KIA seem to have pulled off the impossible here. I can see this car appealing to both men and women in equal measure, what a great little car. I wouldn't pick that colour though, yeuch!!!

By sgtgrash on 6 January, 2011, 5:15pm

Another KIa Kermit

Car designers seem to be like sheep.
Yet another car with the usual frogs mouth under grill.
Boring.

By toycollector on 6 January, 2011, 5:58pm

Nice effort

I have to admit this is very smart, much bolder than the previous Picanto - I am sure Kia will shift plenty of these.

By cousins11 on 6 January, 2011, 8:04pm

Kia Picanto - Looks good for the money!

If Kia can keep prices competitive, they must be on a winner. The old Picanto looked good, especially with alloys, and represented a lot for your cash. If the new one is as well appointed and priced, it'll find a ready market among drivers who want a car that offers value for their money. OK, not the most exciting or inspiring drive, but that 7 year warranty means that it'll still represent a wise choice for a long time.

By n50pap on 8 January, 2011, 1:29pm

Give me five!

I hope the new Picanto still has 5 seats and seatbelts.

By greggt3 on 9 January, 2011, 9:02pm

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.



Sponsored Results

- Advertisement -

Pictures

Kia shows off new Picanto back
Kia shows off new Picanto interior
Kia Picanto
Kia Picanto front
Kia Picanto interior
Kia Picanto rear
Kia Picanto front side
Kia Picanto rear side

Sponsored Results

- Advertisement -