KIA LAUNCHES 3-DOOR PICANTO TO THE UK

Kia’s sporty, some might say naughty side, is clearly creeping out of the woodwork as this new Picanto 3-door will testify. While it may not set pulses a racing with its powertrain, the car is a signal by Kia that the brand is moving into the performance arena.

The newly-launched 5-door is a sub-mini family hatch with good value credentials. It will significantly improve Kia’s sales numbers for the next few years, especially for the next few months while it is still new. With the launch in the UK of the 3-door, more people should be opening their eyes to Kia’s potential.

Powering it are two engines, a 1.0-litre and a 1.25-litre, which we would round off as a 1.3-litre. The smaller of the two sneezes out 51kW, while its bigger sibling does a respectable 63kW on the dot. An optional 4-speed automatic will be sold in the UK, which is disappointing seeing that the industry norm is currently 5 or even 6-speed.

Depending on the package buyers choose, a range of nice stuff can be had for a song, including steering controls, and iPod auxiliary cable, LED daytime running lights, and ABS with EBD.

No word on whether we’ll see this model in South Africa yet.