While not yet officially on Kia Australia’s model list, the Picanto compact is doing brisk business in Europe and now the range has been boosted by the arrival of an entry-level three-door model.
It’s all about anticipating where the market will go an currently everything points to downsizing so Kia wants to be in the right place at the rioght time with predictions ‘City Cars’ (Europe’s A-Segment) will gorw to account for 3.3-million sales in 2015 and around one-third of those buyers will select a three-door bodytype.
The three-door Kia Picanto is dimensionally identical to the five-door model but designer Peter Schreyer has given the newcomer an individuallook with a new roof, new glass aft ofg the A-pillar and an interesting rising beltline which bisects the dfoor handles. A more sporty look is accentuated at the front with larger airintakes trimmed in red or silver while the rear is highlighted by a black-out centre panel in the bumper.
Again inside, the three-door Kia Picanto mirrors the five-door for space and clever folding/slidign front seats make ‘walk-in’ access to the rear easy.
Under the bonnet, Kia Picanto three-door comes with a choice of Kia latest ‘Kappa’ engines – a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder delivering 54kW/95Nm or a 1.25, four-cylinder offering 63kW/121Nm.
In Europe, the three-door Kia Picanto is being offered in four model grades (three grades for the five-door). All come standard with ESC and front, side and curtain airbags.
Range-topping ‘Equinox’ models go the full tilt with Galaxy Black exterior paint, 15-inch ‘telephone dial \’ style alloy wheels, high glass balck treatment for the dashboard fascia and gear lever plus red ‘Chilli’ coloured premium seats.
