Kia Picanto

The revisions to the Picanto are subtle, but they’re worthwhile. There’s a higher-quality feel to the interior and the styling is more modern. The firm hasn’t decided whether the CRDi diesel will be coming to the UK, but with the best performance and lowest emissions, we’d be surprised not to see it in the line-up.

The Cee’d is Kia’s headline news this summer, but the manufacturer’s entry-level model has also been tweaked to keep it looking fresh.

Since it was launched in 2004, the Picanto city car has consistently been Kia’s best-seller. So what has changed for the mid-life facelift?

The front end now features softer lines, a new grille and rounded headlamps. The alterations don’t go much further, because every panel from the windscreen back has been carried over from the current Picanto.

Inside, there’s an improved dashboard made from higher-quality plastics and with a better layout, so the cabin feel less low-rent. The dials are backlit in the same orange as those in the Cee’d, and now you can plug in your MP3 player to the new adaptor.

Petrol power comes from the same engine range as the old car. There’s a choice of 58bhp 1.0-litre or 64bhp 1.1-litre motors – although we would go for the torquey new 1.1-litre CRDi diesel. This three-cylinder is surprisingly refined, and provides the model with strong mid-range acceleration.

Better still, it should return 64mpg on the combined cycle, helping the Picanto to be one of the cheapest cars to run in its class. Out on the road, the Kia is an accomplished performer, with a decent ride and good body control when cornering. However, the light electrically assisted power-steering and soft ride mean it feels at its best in town, as you would expect.

The Cee’d proves that Kia is ready to move up a gear with high-quality design and engineering. The Picanto still has plenty of appeal, but even after these revisions, it’s clear that it belongs to an older generation.

Rival: Fiat Panda
The Panda has a greater range of engines and more space than its Korean rival. There’s also the choice of a performance version, which the Kia does without.