Overall rating:

Kia's resurgence continues with its new Picanto, the sub-supermini now offering style and quality to match its inherent value. Neat detailing, good economy and packaging combine to make the new Picanto a very strong competitor in the small car market.

Key Facts

Pricing: £7,995
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol
Transmission: five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: Ford Ka, Hyundai i10, Citroen C1
CO₂ emissions: 99g/km
Combined economy: 67.3mpg
Top speed: 93mph
0-62mph: 13.9 seconds
Power: 68bhp
Torque: 52lb.ft

In the Metal:

Kias look good. Since the cee'd was introduced in 2006 Kia's style has developed, and the new Picanto shares the clean, crisp look of its relatives combined with some neat detailing. It's never going to get your heart racing with desire, but the simple shape is accentuated by some smart highlights, the rear lamps looking particularly distinctive.

Inside it's more of the same. It's all very functional and tidy. The materials are of good quality too, being more tactile and better looking than many more established rivals, while space and comfort are impressive. The boot's not massive, but then neither are those of its rivals.

Driving it:

It's quite ordinary from behind the wheel, which, given its place in the automotive food chain, isn't really a complaint. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine isn't exactly bursting with power, but despite a slovenly 13.9-second 0-62mph time it feels more enthusiastic on the road. Certainly it's brisk enough for town traffic, though on the motorway you need to be busy with the five-speed manual gearbox to maintain momentum. It's a sweet enough gear shift though, and the little off-beat three-cylinder engine tune is amusing.

The ride is comfortable, but the steering is a bit leaden and slow. Refinement is good though, with decent wind, road and engine noise suppression, while visibility is good all round.

What you get for your Money:

Kia has always offered a strong value and equipment-laden package and this new Picanto is no different. The entry level 1 is pretty basic, doing without air conditioning, though Kia plans to offer the '1 Air' from September including air conditioning for a premium of £600. Opt for trim 2 and you'll ask for nothing. Do so and the price rises to £9,595, but the extra outlay pays for leather on the steering wheel and gear knob, iPod stereo integration and a USB socket, stereo controls on the steering wheel, electric heated and operated mirrors and a host of other equipment. All Picantos come with an epic seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, too.

Worth Noting

There's a 1.2-litre version, but choose it and you'll pay more to buy and run it. The 1.0-litre doesn't feel slower; indeed it's the more enjoyable to drive of the pair, and thanks to CO₂ emissions of just 99g/km it is road tax exempt. Officially, it'll return 67.3mpg on the combined cycle too.

Summary

Buyers in the sub-supermini market have a surprising breadth of choice. The marketplace where the Picanto competes is populated by savvy buyers looking for a good-value, inexpensive to run means of getting around. The Kia Picanto certainly fills that brief - much like its predecessor did. Only now there's some desirability too. Sure it's still an ordinary little car, but it's neatly styled, nicely built and decently specified. And all that matters.