Roy Lewis road tests the Kia Picanto 1.25-litre Equinox, five-speed manual, three-door (From Hereford Times)

Roy Lewis road tests the Kia Picanto 1.25-litre Equinox, five-speed manual, three-door

7:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Road Tests

AT-A-GLANCE Kia Picanto 1.25-litre Equinox, five-speed manual, three-door.

Price: £11,195 (on the road).

Top speed: 106mph.

0-60mph: 11 seconds.

Fuel: 60.1mpg (combined figure).

CO2 emissions (g/km): 109.

VED charge: £0.

Verdict: Classy and great value, low running costs, fine driving position, high equipment levels, seven-year warranty. Brakes grab.

VALUE for money never goes out of fashion and that’s largely why Kia’s new Picanto is selling so well.

The Korean company expect the city tiddler to capture almost 10 per cent of UK sales in its sector because it has so much to offer, with prices starting at a low £7,795.

The new model boasts lower running costs than its predecessor, classier styling inside and out and improved equipment and quality.

Although already having earned an enviable reputation for reliability, the PIcanto is backed by an industry-leading seven-year warranty or 100,000 miles which should give buyers peace of mind.

The car comes with two new petrol motors – a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder developing 68bhp and 95Nm of torque and a 1.25-litre four-cylinder offered in 3 guises, all developing 84bhp and 121Nm of torque.

While the 1.0-litre returns a combined figure of 67.3mpg, the larger motor averages 60.1mpg in standard manual form, 53.3mpg with automatic transmission and 65.7mpg fitted with eco-friendly features.

The new model, now available with three doors, also shows that Kia can offer a great deal in the way of equipment without a premium price tag.

In fact, the Picanto is a car you can downsize to without sacrificing the comforts, refinement and safety features you might have become accustomed to.

The 1.25-litre motor is a better all-rounder than the 1.0-litre as it offers more lively acceleration and is generally a smoother operator, though it can be noisy when worked hard. Mated to a slick five-speed manual gearbox it is just as happy weaving in and out of the town traffic as cruising at the motorway limit.

Driven with a careful right foot the petrol consumption will impress. But thrash the runabout and you will pay the penalty at the pumps even though the consumption will remain decent enough to show that it is not worth Kia providing a diesel option. Actually, with a diesel motor being more expensive in the first place, the vast majority of customers would never get the extra outlay back through the difference in fuel economy.

Underway, the 1.25-litre has plenty of zip and its small size and good turning circle make it ideal for town work and for parking in tight spaces. The general handling and composure at speed is good with excellent grip. The brakes are powerful and reassuring for a small car but do have a tendency to grab when applied sharply.

The Picanto’s looks have come in for much change. While the previous model may have been regarded as cute, the new one is a little head turner with a more muscular, modern and sporty appearance.

Inside, the difference is also evident with a better cabin than some more expensive models. The black dash and door trims help give a classy look and for the driver there is a comfortable position easily obtained with the height adjustable seat and rake adjustment for the steering wheel. The Equinox version gets premium Chilli upholstery.

For a small car there is good passenger space in the rear while the boot is reasonable for a city motor. Although only 60mm longer than its predecessor, the Picanto still occupies less than 3.6 metres of road space. Yet front leg room has increased by 36mm and luggage space is 27 per cent greater at 200 litres. Despite this, the boot remains on the small side, though with the rear 60/40 split seats folded cargo space is greatly increased.

There should be no worries about safety. The Picanto has a full range of standard electronic features, a stiff body structure with crumple zones to absorb crash impacts and a complete set of passive safety features. There is electronic stability control to keep the car on course in slippery conditions, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist which ensures maximum stopping power regardless of the pressure applied to the pedal by the driver.

And should the worst happen the Picanto has front, side and curtain airbags to cushion the blow.

High- tech kit includes Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition and full iPod control with USB and AUX ports while the topspecification cars have a wealth of extra kit, including automatic air conditioning, automatic light control, heated front seats and 15in alloy wheels.