Even the Dacia Sandero, Britain’s cheapest car, now costs more than £10,000, while the entry-level Ford Fiesta has edged closer to £17,000.
New cars are getting more expensive – but Kia aims to offer an exception to the rule with a well-equipped special version of its Picanto city car.
Priced from £13,845, the new Picanto Shadow includes premium features such as rear privacy glass, LED front and rear lights, and standard metallic paint.
It also has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a reversing camera and ‘faux leather’ upholstery that some upmarket brands would be tempted to call ‘vegan leather’.
Casting a Shadow
© Provided by Motoring Research Kia Picanto Shadow
Other standard features include air conditioning, electric and heated door mirrors, and automatic emergency braking.
Kia insists the Picanto Shadow ‘eclipses its rivals’, with the extra features adding just £845 to the price of the Picanto 2 it’s based upon – a car that was facelifted earlier in 2021.
Power comes from a 66hp 1.0-litre petrol engine, which is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
Kia has sold more than 11,000 Picantos in the UK so far in 2021, making it the second best-selling city car behind the Fiat 500.
Ordering is open now and deliveries of the Picanto Shadow begin in early 2022.
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Keyword: Kia Picanto Shadow proves some new cars ARE still affordable