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Kia Picanto — from bargain basement to a tech savvy model
Kia has introduced its latest generation Picanto but it has evolved from the cheap, simple car it once was, says Mark Smyth
There are good things and bad things about the fact that technology is filtering down from upper models. If you are in the mood for a bit of downsizing, then it means you no longer have to forego some of those great items such as touchscreen infotainment, hands-free telephony and multiple USB ports. The flip side though is that where the cost of tech disappears into a price tag involving multiple zeros on a luxury car, lower down the spectrum, prices are increasing to accommodate it. Korean brands Hyundai and Kia have been at the forefront of offering some of the tech for some time now. Years ago we remarked on how the brand was including USB ports and iPod connectivity in many of its models. This was at a time when other car makers weren’t even looking at it. The Koreans ticked the value for money box with a long list of standard kit that occasionally made you wonder how they managed to make any money at all. One of the standout models was the Kia Picanto. Not the original models o...
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