The third-generation Picanto is young, fun and stylish

The transformation of the Picanto from the drab and sparse first generation through to the current mark three has been a big one.

The Picanto now comprises of eight stylish new models: the ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘Titanium Edition’, ‘3’, ‘X-Line’, ‘X-Line S’, ‘GT-Line’ and the range-topping ‘GT-Line S’.  While earlier versions were revered for their economy, the Picanto has matured into a small car that’s young, fun and stylish.

The Picanto is full of energy, comfort features, smart ways to stay connected and advanced technologies to keep you safe.  It’s a small city car that offers a grown-up drive to go with its sporty new looks, yet it’s still economical to run.

The Picanto is Kia’s smallest car and it’s now available with two highly distinctive body styles with the crossover-style ‘X-Line’ model alongside the conventional five-door city car.

The ‘X-Line’ variants are longer, wider and taller than conventional city cars and have increased ground clearance. They make no pretence at being a full-blown SUV but have a more rugged look in a market in which the crossover is king.  Both variants are powered by a 1.25-litre engine with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.

The ‘X-Line’ and ‘X-Line S’ are 75mm longer, 30mm wider and 15mm taller while the unchanged size of the conventional Picanto disguises the ingenuity that has gone to improve passenger and luggage space.

In the conventional city car market, size matters and customer research shows that city-car buyers do not want big cars, so Kia engineers and designers have ensured that the Picanto is no larger than the previous model, while still delivering greater space and practicality.

The new Picanto is more spacious than its predecessor while occupying not a millimetre more road space.  Of course, a great city car needs to focus on giving buyers exactly what they want: seriously cheap motoring with as little compromise as possible on space, quality and driving characteristics.

There is a lower waistline to make the cabin lighter and airier, a slimmer dashboard to enhance space for the driver and front passenger, and lower seats placed further backwards in the cabin. There is more head, leg and shoulder room in the front than the previous model.

New materials and trim enhancements emphasise the significantly improved quality of the Picanto. The seats are in smart black cloth, premium black cloth, grey faux leather or black and red faux leather, depending on model; there are black, silver paint or satin chrome door handles, and leather trim adorns the steering wheel and gear-lever.

Driver and passenger well-being have also been improved by extensive measures to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. These include greater use of foam, insulation pads and body strips, plus new engine mounts and revised, quieter heating and ventilation units. Even the windscreen wipers have been placed lower to reduce wind noise

The third-generation Picanto is built on Kia’s new and immensely strong H platform, which boosts both driving dynamics and safety. It helps make the Picanto the safest small car Kia has ever made and the amount of advanced high-strength steel in the body construction has doubled from 22 per cent to 44 per cent, making the new car’s shell not only more robust but also 23 kilogrammes lighter.

Advanced connectivity and driver assistance features now keep occupants fully in touch with the outside world while minimising the risk of accidents.

In line with every Kia, the Picanto comes with the best warranty in the business – seven years or 100,000 miles, subject to terms and conditions. The warranty is fully transferable to the next owner if the car is sold before the time or mileage limit expires.

Small cars do not have to be spartan and the new Picanto will not disappoint.

 To book your test drive contact 01900 608000 or visit Walkingshaw, Joseph Noble Road, Workington, CA14 4JH or visit www.walkingshaw.co.uk

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