You have to put the Kia Picanto into its proper context. This was the little A-segment shop-about that changed the way we think and feel about small utilitarian cars, much the way the (original) Mini did back in 1959.

It was launched at Geneva back in 2011 and arrived here in South Africa in time to be included as a finalist in the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists’ Car of the Year competition. That it didn’t win is still seen as a travesty by many long-term motoring journos, because if ever a car embodied the competition’s stated reward-system for “excellence”, the Picanto was The One.

What put some journos off at the time was an extremely lifeless steering feel, thanks to Kia miscalculating the amount of steering lightness customers would want using its revised electric power assistance. But those jurors who marked it down should have known better, as the Picanto’s strengths far out-weighed this factor, and after all, for city driving – the car’s natural habitat, it was fine.

Kia revised that steering system soon after its South African debut, and despite losing out on a COTY award (it came second) and it is seen as the little car that put the Kia brand well and truly on the map, selling upwards of 500 units a month here.

Facelift Details

Now it has had a slight facelift. In fact, the changes are so slight that you have to be a Kia aficionado to spot them, but more of that later.

At its essence the Picanto took the standard two box shape of city cars produced up until that time and miraculously made the car funky. Bear in mind that until this point these A-Segment cars looked like cartoon-character cars without the character – tiny wheels and a top-heaviness that made them appear as if they would topple over in an instant.

Inside the materials are classy for this level of car, and the overall design of panels, pockets, console and even the steering-wheel spokes echoes the exterior to give the car a wonderfully integrated design theme. The man credited with this work is former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, who has had a long, distinguished career in car design and is pretty much credited with turning Kias from ugly ducklings into suave, sharp fashion statements – the Sportage SUV and Optima coupe are just two of his eye-catching achievements in modern times.

So, with such a good shape, what was Kia to do when it came to facelift time? The answer, my friends, is just about sweet nothing. The grill surround has been slightly revised, there are daytime running lights added, and the intake on the bumper is now a single, even gruffer shape.

At the back there are some black edges on the corners, while inside there is a slightly different audio housing. And that is it.Were we disappointed to be hauled out by Kia to attend a launch of such minor significance? Not at all! It was a chance to re-acquaint ourselves with a car that is still one of the benchmarks in its market segment, although pricing on these Korean cars of late has not made life for the dealers any easier.

Kia Picanto Price in SA

Still, the basic 1.0 LX model (which retails) for R136995 in manual form uses a three-cylinder motor to eek out 51 kW, while the car we drove last week (including some laps around the Vereeniging go kart track!) was the 1.2 EX, at R 149995 a four-cylinder model distinguished by classy-looking alloy wheels, a chrome grille surround, chrome door handles and body-colour side mouldings.The price includesa five-year/150 000 km warranty.

Safety & Features

The pricing is nowhere near the ultra el-cheapo levels of some entry cars now, but its quality feel makes it still seem like a very good option. Buyers should note that while both models have driver-side airbags, ABS braking is only available on the 1.2-litre car. So yes, the Datsun Go is not the only entry-level car on our market to be ABS-less!

The array of standard equipment on both models is impressive and includes air-conditioning and audio, trip computer and USB ports. The EX has remote steering controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear-knob and electric rear window winders amongst other goodies.

An obvious strong competitor for this car in the style stakes would be VW’s Up!, but of course that car is still only available in three-door form. For all these reasons, it was good to re-acquaint ourselves with an excellent little citycar.