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Kia releases Picanto and Stonic special editions

Kia Picanto Zest and Stonic Maxx get unique colours and generous equipment lists, while Niro PHEV now offered in cheaper ‘2’ trim level

Kia has released special editions of both the Picanto city car and the Stonic crossover. Both are available to buy now, with the Picanto Zest priced at £12,650, and the Stonic Maxx starting from £19,055.

Standard equipment for the Picanto includes 15-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights at the front and LED units at the back, rear privacy glass, grey leather-effect upholstery. A seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system includes a reversing camera and smartphone integration through either Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The ‘Lime Light’ metallic paint is also included as standard.

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The spec list puts the Zest roughly in line with the Picanto X-Line trim, but while that model is only available with the 1.2-litre petrol engine, the zest is 1.0-litre only. The 66bhp unit is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and a standard start/stop system, resulting in CO2 emissions of 102g/km. A group 5 insurance rating should help to keep running costs down.

The Stonic Maxx is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine which produces 118bhp. It’s combined with a six-speed manual gearbox or, for an extra £1,000, a seven-speed automatic.

The Maxx is set apart from the rest of the Stonic range thanks to its red-on-white paint finish and graphite-coloured 17-inch alloy wheels. Elsewhere, the likes of rear privacy glass, faux-leather interior, a reversing camera and satin chrome door handles complete the extras.

Meanwhile, Kia has expanded the Niro PHEV range, by making the petrol/electric plug-in powertrain available on the entry-level ‘2’ model. That means that prices for the Niro PHEV now start from £30,265 - £1,680 less than before. Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloys, heated door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, leather/cloth upholstery, and an eight-inch touchscreen which features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reversing camera.

Do you like these new special editions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below...

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Chief reviewer

Alex joined Auto Express as staff writer in early 2018, helping out with news, drives, features, and the occasional sports report. His current role of Chief reviewer sees him head up our road test team, which gives readers the full lowdown on our comparison tests.

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