Small car, big milestone: 20 years of the Kia Picanto [Photo Gallery]

In 2004, Greece was the top nation in European football, Shrek 2 was the highest-grossing film of the year, and Scissor Sisters eponymous debut album was the UK’s best-seller. And in the same year, Kia also launched the first-generation Picanto in the UK.

This week, the Kia Picanto celebrates 20 years of sales in the UK, having first been introduced to the UK market in the same year that Mark Zuckerberg first launched Facebook. Since its introduction, Kia has sold more than 260,000 examples of the Picanto, and the model has seen three all-new generations and four mid-life facelifts.

The car first went on sale in Kia’s home market of South Korea in 2003 as the Kia ‘Morning’, a name it still retains in certain markets today. The city car was renamed ‘Picanto’ before it hit European streets, injecting a little extra ‘spice’ into the European A-segment.

Despite being the smallest of Kia’s range of vehicles on sale in the UK, the Picanto consistently punches above its weight in sales performance, as Kia’s fourth best-selling model in the UK this year. In August 2023, the Picanto surpassed an incredible milestone of a quarter of a million lifetime sales in the UK. It’s the second best-selling model in Kia UK’s history, behind only the Sportage.

In recent years the Picanto has established a dominant foothold in the UK A-segment, a market which remains an important focus for Kia, as the brand recognises the high demand for compact, versatile and accessible cars – suitable for all drivers and their needs. So far in 2024 the Picanto holds the position of third best-selling car in its segment (second place in retail sales) and an all-time-high market share of more than 25 per cent. This impressive form is a continuation of the Picanto’s positive momentum in 2023, where it finished the year also with a 22 per cent market share of the UK A-segment.

In its 20^th year on sale in the UK the Picanto is undergoing a major mid-life update, further reinforcing Kia’s commitment to the A-segment. Re-imagined with a striking, aggressive design, the refreshed and enhanced new Picanto is Kia’s most sophisticated iteration of the model to date. Improvements in onboard tech, safety systems, comfort and refinement make the new Picanto one of the most advanced models in its segment yet retaining the fun and versatile character of its predecessors.

A brief history of Kia’s A-segment hero
The first generation of the Kia Picanto went on sale in the UK in 2004, and proved an instant hit with customers, combining cute and quirky styling with an incredibly affordable entry point. The model underwent a minor facelift in 2007 to slightly rejuvenate the Picanto’s appearance. However, it was the UK’s 2009 scrappage scheme that became responsible for putting the Picanto, and Kia as a brand, on the map for many UK customers.

Throughout the scrappage scheme, which ran from May 2009 to March 2010, Kia sold more than 22,000 Picanto cars in the UK, a 348 per cent rise over the previous equivalent period. The right car at the right time, this period secured the Picanto’s legacy as a true A-segment contender and reinforced Kia’s position in the UK market. It remains Kia’s biggest ever sales period for the Picanto to date.

In 2010, Kia also extended its famous seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty to the Picanto, having before been only available on Kia’s European-built products. This industry-leading warranty offered customers ultimate peace of mind, and increased value for money.

2011 brought with it an all-new iteration of the Picanto, this time with a more angular and modern appearance, and available for the first time as a three-door model. It was designed from the ground-up at Kia’s European Design Centre in Frankfurt under the watchful eye of Hyundai Motor Group design legend, Peter Schreyer. More efficient than ever, the new Picanto also centres on efficiency and affordability, with 100g/km CO₂ or less on almost all models, and all versions were road tax and congestion charge exempt.

The second-generation Picanto also started to sweep in the motoring awards, impressing several UK publications with its low starting price, efficient powertrains, and refined driving experience. The Picanto underwent a mild facelift in 2015, raising levels of standard equipment and introducing an 11-model range, with a trim level to suit all customer needs.

The third and current generation of Picanto made its way to the UK in 2017, by which point Kia has already established itself as a major player in the UK automotive landscape. Retaining its diminutive dimensions, it nevertheless brought with it a new range of engines, a huge leap forward in design, and significant enhancements on the inside. The third generation Picanto modernised the A-segment model, bringing new tech from larger, more expensive vehicles in Kia’s line-up at the time.

Along with the Sportage and Sorento, the Picanto is evidence of Kia’s ability to move with the times and keep up with what is fashionable – while retaining its own individual design philosophy along the way. The latest version of the Picanto, which is now on sale, is no exception. Its striking new appearance borrows many cues from Kia’s larger, more ‘premium’ models, bringing a new appeal to its segment.

Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK Limited, commented on the Picanto’s significant milestone, saying: “Throughout the past 20 years, the Picanto has established itself as a firm favourite among a growing number of customers. This latest version of the Picanto is no exception, and it continues to impress in the same areas as its predecessors. The Picanto is a statement of our continued commitment to the A-segment, too. We know that there remains a significant appetite for small, lightweight, cost-efficient vehicles, so we’re investing in this important segment of the market to satisfy this demand.”

The new Picanto is available with a choice of two engines and transmissions; and a choice of five different, well-equipped specification levels, including a new ‘Shadow’ special edition, revealed on 3 June 2024. The model is on sale and available to order from all Kia dealers, with first UK deliveries due to start in July.

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