Kia’s perky Picanto offers a fun and nippy drive in the big city, says RAY MASSEY

How higher to welcome scorching August than with the spicy new Picanto city-car from Kia that celebrates the mannequin’s twentieth anniversary within the UK.

The tiny Picanto is good for motorists in search of an reasonably priced new automobile that provides worth for cash and is not electrical.

Mine had a frugal 1-litre, 3-cylinder 62bhp petrol engine linked to a slick 5-speed handbook gear-box that delivered a whopping 52.3mpg fuel-efficiency and low-tax CO2 emissions of 121g/km. How’s that for saving the planet. And never a plug or charger in sight.

It is all bundled up right into a four-door five-seater ‘GT-Line’ package deal with a good quantity of equipment that sells for £16,745.

It isn’t the most affordable supermini on the forecourt, however costs begin from £15,595 for the entry-level Picanto ‘2’ trim whose fuel-efficiency stretches to 54.3mpg.

Working on 16in tyres, in comparison with 14in customary base fashions, my perky Picanto supplied a enjoyable and fizzy drive, regardless of a slight discount in energy on the earlier mannequin. It is made for cities, with a decent turning circle of simply 9.4 metres, commuter runs, and whizzing between villages, although is fairly good on lengthy runs round nation lanes, too.

However do not count on supercar efficiency. Acceleration from relaxation to 62mph is a leisurely 15.4 seconds, although early low-end acceleration feels fairly nippy. High pace is a greater than enough 90mph. It struggles a bit initially on steep inclines, however is okay as soon as it will get into its stride. At a fraction over 3.6m lengthy, it has all the pieces you want in a compact package deal together with a wise exterior and new LED headlights.

Whereas inside, there may be an 8in digital sat-nav display and 4.2in driver show with a good inside and sporty seats.

The intelligent boot has a removeable flooring into which you’ll be able to pop purchasing luggage. When you want extra space, the rear seats fold down.

The rear-door opens vast and there may be room inside for 2 in consolation and three at a squeeze. For a bit extra oomph, there is a extra highly effective 1.2-litre petrol 77bhp model from £18,045 which cuts zero to 62mph acceleration to 13.1 seconds and raises the highest pace to 113mph. Computerized variations are additionally out there.

Acceleration from relaxation to 62mph is a leisurely 15.4 seconds

Inside, there may be an 8in digital sat-nav display and 4.2in driver show with a good inside and sporty seats

Normal driver aids embody hill-start help, rear-parking sensors and a reversing digicam

The intelligent boot has a removeable flooring into which you’ll be able to pop purchasing luggage – in case you want extra space, the rear seats fold down

Normal driver aids embody hill-start help, rear-parking sensors and a reversing digicam. The automobile additionally comes with Kia’s seven yr/100,000 guarantee and 12 months’ roadside help. 

Apple and android smart-phone connectivity is customary on all fashions, with wi-fi cellular charging out there on greater spec variations.

Picanto was launched within the UK in 2004 – the identical yr as Fb – and greater than 260,000 have been bought right here since, making it Kia’s 2nd largest vendor after the Sorento SUV.

The Korean car-maker sees its smallest automobile as a ‘gateway’ to the model whose vary stretches to from the little Picanto supermini to the massive Sorento and the large boxy all-electric EV9 SUVs.

With the vacation season in full movement, listed below are some ideas for households trying to get pleasure from UK motoring occasions

British Motor Present: working for 4 days from August 15 to 18, in Farnborough, Hants. It guarantees stunt driving and enviornment shows, supercars, classics and new automobile take a look at drives (thebritishmotorshow.stay).

On the beat: The British Motor Present runs for 4 days from August 15 to 18

CarFest: stars, automobiles, meals and a picnic-style pop pageant are among the many sights on the three-day CarFest held over the August Financial institution Vacation weekend (August 23 to 25) at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire. The occasion raises funds for charities together with Youngsters In Want (carfest.org).Automobile museums: the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, Warwickshire is a good pitstop for automobiles and a espresso alongside the M40 (british motormuseum.co.uk); the Coventry Transport Museum (transportmuseum.com) and the Nationwide Motor Museum Beaulieu (beaulieu.co.uk) additionally organise summer season occasions.

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