Could the Kia Picanto emulate the original Mini and become a British Motoring icon?
Blogger and Picanto owner Ian Langfield, see’s no reason why it couldn’t.
“EVERY morning as I drive to work I pass the same MINI Cooper emblazoned with logos for the local estate agent. This sums up the MINI for me as a cynical pastiche of a once revered motoring icon. However, it is only when it is parked next to an original Mini, that the extent of the cynicism becomes evident; as it is clear that this car is not mini in size and does not share the same gene pool of practicality or economy. I am fairly certain Issigonis (pictured) would be deeply offended by the attempt to pass this car off as the spiritual successor to his baby.
However, I think I may have found a real successor in the unlikeliest of places. As I have recently blogged, my fleet of cars no longer contains any British cars. My dearly loved Rover 400 has been replaced by a new Renault Scenic, which is definitely the business if you’ve got a growing family, and our latest addition is a new (well, pre-registered) Kia Picanto.
As a pre-registered car, this came with just three miles on the clock, three years’ warranty. three years’ RAC cover – all for only £5,299. For that you get ABS with EBD, central locking, electric windows, CD/MP3 player, five doors, five seats (60/40 folding rear seat). Inside the quality is leagues above my Scenic, with nicely finished solid feeling plastics and fabrics, and there are storage spaces everywhere – in the doors, under the steering wheel, above and below the dash. But the best thing about this car is the smile it leaves on your face when you drive it.
Think back to the first time you drove an 850cc Mini. The roller skate handling, the ability to nip through traffic (remember ‘You’ve been Mini’ed’?). The Picanto is an absolute hoot, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking at a small runabout to take kids to school or to run around town in. The only real draw back I can see is the tiny boot, but even that has hidden storage compartments.
I notice Motorpoint are now knocking out 55-Reg CityRovers at £4,699, but I would definitely advise spending £600 more and bagging a Picanto instead. The last time I took my 400 in for a service, I was given a CityRover as a courtesy car; a car which at that time retailed for £2,000 more than the Picanto, and yet it offered no real advantage. The ambience of the CityRover was akin to an early LADA 1600, and my skin crawled when I touched any surface in the vehicle, especially the seats. Not so the Kia, every surface is pleasant to touch and steering and gearchanges are an absolute joy. Every journey you make seems just a little bit too short, so I keep offering to fill the car up with petrol at every opportunity. It is that much fun!
So there we have it, in my opinion a worthy successor to the original Mini, and a car that Issigonis himself would appreciate. Of course, I am sure there are probably other potential successors out there, but how many can offer such a good smile-per-Pound ratio?”
Note* Alec Issigonis was an Automotive Designer (1906-1988) and is best known as the creator of the Mini, but also designed two more of the five best-selling cars in British motoring history – the Morris Minor and the Austin 1100.
You can read more about this remarkable man at the Design Museum.
