Picanto battles to be King of the Kids

Proof good things can come in small packages, the updated KIA Picanto offers a lot of car in a small body

DESPITE being ignored by many commentators as 'small fry', car companies have long recognised the importance of an entry model car, one that captures buyers young, often as their first car, starting them on the road to generational ownership of a brand's offerings.

For a number of years now, KIA was especially good at this, with the delightful Picanto micro-car earning a reputation as a fun and dependable model, with a hint of bite, thanks to the GT-Line variants.

Chunky lines and squared off edges give the Picanto extra car park credibility, helping it stand out from the crowd

IN 2024, the Picanto received an overhaul, with changes including a new engine offering, as a 1.2-litre four cylinder petrol unit replaced the previous 1-litre, three cylinder petrol turbo engine.

While much of the car remained the same, the basic body shell was retained, this change to the driveline heralded a major difference for the Picanto.

The body is very much a two-box design, one for the engine and a larger one for the cabin, thankfully the designers chose not to try and inflict 'fluidic' design and the Picanto is more of a rounded cube than a mobile teardrop, which is one of its attractions for me.

There is a touch of the aero about the overall shape, even with a squared-off nose, the Picanto avoids looking like it was carved out of a block while still having a degree of individuality and an instantly recognisable profile.

I did appreciate the doors retaining a decent opening arc, even in modern carparks, with reduced width spaces, I could open the doors wide and enter and exit comfortably.

Our test car was the GT-Line, so it scored the 16" alloy wheel option, not only do they look good, they imbue the steering and handling with a sporty feel, although there is a degree of ride comfort sacrificed in the interests of retaining the same rolling diameter as the base Sport model.

KIA has completely reinvented itself as a manufacturer over the last 20 years, and now produces a string of solidly built cars, and the Picanto is no exception, panel gaps are measured in millimetres and remain even throughout the car.

Although interior dimensions are dictated by exterior size, the Picanto makes good use of the available space to be comfortable, even for tall and wide drivers

ALTHOUGH compact in dimensions, with an overall length of 3.59 metres and width of 1.59 metres, interior space is useful, and I had no issues squeezing my 185cm frame behind the wheel.

Admittedly, I used most of the rear seat legroom, but it was comfortable to drive, the low seating position kept me clear of the roof lining.

The luggage space is surprisingly accommodating, holding a week's groceries, with room for tall objects thanks to the square shape of the body

More importantly, the near vertical rear seat back rests, combined with the arched roofline meant the small luggage space remained usable, with a week's worth of groceries nestled between the wheel arches.

Although small-ish, the seats are comfortable and supportive, yes, I would always prefer a longer seat base, but otherwise, the accommodations do the job, and the premium faux leather trim has a nice embossed pattern that looks good, and didn't get overheated from prolonged usage.

The D-Shaped wheel gives a racy feel to the interior, while the dash is compact, but contains everything the driver is looking for.

The driving position is good, the tilt adjustable (no reach adjustment, sadly) steering wheel is small, but thick-rimmed for comfort, with cutouts for thumbs at 9 and 3, and a flat bottom, just because KIA could!

Thumb buttons adorn the face, controlling audio, telephone, cruise control and the central display in the instrument cluster, allowing the driver full control of all major functions without taking their hands off the wheel.

The passenger isn't left out, the centre console gives them access to the full audio system, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the manual airconditioning system, letting them choose the preferred temperature and fan speed.

Thankfully, the GT-Line gets height adjustable seatbelts, allowing me to go for the lowest position and avoiding being hung up by the belts.

Other nice touches include alloy 'sports pedals', while they look good, their is an actual benefit, the horizontal grooves help prevent your feet from slipping, maintaining full contact and control, and the driver's footrest is appreciated, giving your left foot somewhere to sit.

Surprisingly, for a small car there are plenty of storage niches, including a central bin, seat back pouches and console-mounted cup holders, with larger bottle holders in the doors, as part of the 'map storage' pockets, although in these days of onboard navigation, even in my most Luddite moment, I no longer carry paper maps.

Not a place for adults, but the rear seat does well for a micro, more proof KIA is working hard to win the hearts, minds and wallets of the buying public

The fit and finish is good, the cabin has a friendly feel, despite the in-built tech it is a welcoming place, not sterile and cold, which is always a risk with modern interiors, the reality is the Picanto is a micro-car, so despite KIA's best efforts, there is a fair amount of road noise makes it inside.

This is not a criticism so much as a recognition there is only a limited space to isolate the passengers from the outside world, and the Picanto is not the only car to have this problem, that said, it is not so unpleasant as to be a real issue.

Short overhangs and the longest possible wheelbase gives the Picanto a purposeful attitude when driving

PRODUCING 62 kilowatts from its inline four cylinder petrol engine, the Picanto is not a fire-breathing monster, but there is a saying it is not all about size, it is how you use what you have that matters.

Unfortunately, the Picanto's modest output was blunted by the four-speed automatic transmission, leaving it feeling a bit breathless when it came to sporty driving.

With the five-speed manual, this would likely be a different proposition, but in reality, the auto will be the option selected by most buyers, and it was what we had to work with.

Once moving, the Picanto had no problem keeping up with traffic, but overtaking, especially at highway speeds, did require a generous application of the right foot to get the engine up and partying, meaning that overtakes did require a little more pre-planning than larger cars.

I accept that is one of the downsides of owning a small car with a small engine, but if you are going to put a GT-Line badge on the car, it needs to have a bit more spark, perhaps a lightly boosted turbo may be a solution?

The four-speed auto was also part of the problem here, with only two ratios to choose from, third and top, the engine has to take a deep breath and spool up before anything happens, where a five- or six-speed, with perhaps three or four ratios to choose from for hard acceleration, would have more bite.

There is, of course, a financial penalty attached to a different transmission, which may be outside the 'window' of Picanto buyers, but I think it is worth revisiting, even as an option on the GT-Line only.

As mentioned earlier, the 16" alloys on our test car did allow it to be introduced to corners at higher speed, thanks to more rigid tyre sidewalls, 45 Series versus 65 Series on the 14" rims, this is one of the attractions, readers of an age greater than my own may recall with fondness similar behaviours in Minis, especially the Cooper S variants.

Blessed as I am with a body type that made go karts a social activity rather than a career choice, such cornering antics were reserved for cars like this, where you can drive up to a corner and tip it in, then bask in the results, tyres squealing as they scrabbled for grip.

The biggest challenge when driving the Picanto is the need to keep engine revs high, not an easy thing when there are only four gears, and the computer is trying to upshift as quickly as possible, sapping such power as you manage to generate.

The new 1.2-litre four cylinder is a quieter and more refined engine compared to the previous 1-litre turbo triple

Compared to the previous three cylinder turbo motor, I admit this is a letdown, where before it was a chainsaw-style rasping roar, now it is a more refined sound, slower revving, with a commensurate drop in performance.

While this is a personal disappointment, KIA would have done plenty of market research, and undoubtedly it has told them prospective buyers want the less raw, visceral, approach, and a more leisurely and relaxed driving experience.

Overall, the Picanto drives well, and delivers on this call for refinement, yes, it can still be grabbed by the scruff of the neck and hurled down the road, but it takes a lot more effort than it used to, and really doesn't suit the nature of the updated model.

Fun from every angle, the Picanto is well worth a look for a town car with attitude, while KIA hopes to attract young buyers with its squat, purposeful looks

SO, I guess you have figured out the answer to the next bit, no, I am not about to go and buy one.

Which is sad, as I loved the older model, but I realise times change, and more people would like a less aggressive approach to their micro cars, and KIA is only doing what the buying market wants.

That said, if you, or someone you know and love, wants or needs a town car that is easy to drive, doesn't tax the wallet too severely at the fuel pump, and has a reasonable level of comfort and practicality, then go and check it out, it could be just what you need.