Kia Picanto the 'one' for micro-car buyers

Kia's Picanto micro-hatch has finally arrived in Australia as promised – five years after its global launch.

Priced at $14,990 drive-away, the Picanto for Australia has awaited a significantly upgraded model that made its debut at the 2015 Geneva motor show.

For the money the Picanto offers a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine driving through a standard four-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. The engine develops 63kW and 120Nm, for a fuel consumption figure (combined-cycle) of 5.6L/100km.

According to Kia Australia COO, Damien Meredith, balancing the books to bring the Picanto in below $15,000 with an automatic transmission is a reflection of the importer's marketing strategy, targeting inexperienced drivers on the look-out for a car that's easy to park, frugal to run and yet still delivers reasonable spaciousness inside.

Or more precisely, the Picanto appeals to parents of those young drivers.

"When it comes to the crunch, you can’t guarantee to protect your kids from everything, but when it comes to them getting to and from their education facilities, or work and play, you can certainly provide some sensible and practical options," said Meredith.

"With the maximum ANCAP five-star safety rating, Picanto is one such opportunity/"

Measuring 3.6m in length, the Picanto rides on a combination of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.

The luggage capacity is unexceptional at 200 litres with the 60/40-split folding rear seat in place, but Kia claims the Picanto is quite roomy for passengers.

Standard safety equipment contributing to the Picanto's five-star ANCAP rating includes six airbags and vehicle stability management (VSM).

Comfort and convenience features fitted as standard to the Picanto consist of reverse parking sensors, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, power windows, four-speaker audio with CD, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming, manual air-conditioning and trip computer.

A palette of seven colours comprises Dazzling Blue, Midnight Black, Honey Bee, Signal Red, Bright Silver, and Titanium Silver, plus non-premium Clear White.

Launching the Picanto in Australia is an initiative that has been a long time coming. Issues such as the relative strength of the Aussie dollar and the limited market for micro-segment hatches have played a part in Kia Australia's seeming reluctance to enter the segment.

"The decision to bring Picanto to Australia was not one taken quickly, or lightly," Meredith says.

"We don’t live under a rock and it is apparent to anyone who wants to look that the micro-car segment is, to put it plainly, very small.

"With some 700 sales last month the segment represents less than one per cent of the Australian new car market – a number that probably doesn’t look that attractive.

"However, it is a well-known and proven mantra that to be a success you need to do the one-percenters well. We believe that everything about the Picanto ticks a box that needs ticking."