2009 Kia Picanto

The Picanto is one of the smallest cars plying the Middle East's aggressive roads. Introduced for 2005, it has been facelifted for 2008. Powered by a tiny 1.1-litre four-cylinder, it is smaller than a family-size Coke bottle, mated to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. The tall styling makes sure there is fair headroom, though legroom is conservative at best. Standard features include 14-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers, radio cassette player with roof antenna and 4 speakers, manual air-conditioning, combination vinyl-cloth cabin, variable intermittent front wipers, front cup holder, seat belts and, thankfully, a tachometer. Available features in higher trim levels include a rear wiper and washer, rear shelf cover over the luggage area, body-coloured exterior trim pieces and bumpers, a luggage net, and not much else. We believe most markets do not get anything more than seat belts as safety features, although a few markets do get the front-wheel-drive... Read More