The Kia Picanto 2 is a corking little runaround which has more looks and tech than the original for not a lot more money

HERE’S a car worth its weight in choccy biscuits.

Well, almost.

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Kia’s Picanto costs 1.1p per gram of goodness, whereas a McVitie’s Penguin is 1p per gram, depending on where you do your shopping.

P-p-p-pick up a Picanto.

Turns out many of you do.

The corking little runaround has gone down a treat with 260,000 buyers in 20 years and now there’s an even tastier version in a shiny new wrapper.

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More looks and tech, for not a lot more money.

The cheapest Picanto 2, at £15,595, comes loaded with twin screens, Apple CarPlay, reversing camera, satnav and all sorts of driver-assistance kit.

Some of the driver- assistance tech is useful.

Some isn’t.

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But it’s been added to satisfy European safety regulations.

At least the annoying lane-keep assist which tugs at the wheel is easily switched off.

Squishy elbow pads

Other things that please: Two ISOFIX fixings for child seats.

Split-folding rear seats for your golf bats.

Chunky air-con dials.

Big drink holders.

Manual handbrake.

Turn-key start. I’m serious.

I’ve lost count of the times I’ve pressed the ON/OFF starter button hopping out of a moden car only to find the dashboard is still lit up.

You know where you are with a key.

If it fits your life, you’ll like Picanto.

Cool enough to cut it with the yoofs with those star-map front lights, inspired by Kia’s big-daddy EV9.

Sophisticated enough for Grandad in his elastic-waisted trousers.

He’ll like the squishy elbow pads and chunky foot rest.

Picanto is a titchy 3.6 metres long and 1.6 metres wide, making it a doddle to bomb around town in and to park.

On a dual-carriageway, it feels composed and assured.

We averaged 45mpg from the 1-litre naturally-aspirated petrol over 160-odd miles — without even trying to be good.

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It’s fun.

The rev counter glows purple when you bury your foot in the carpet.

But it’s no cafe racer.

For a bit more zip, you’ll want the 1.2-litre petrol, coming soon.

Both engines have the option of a manual gearbox or auto.

Kia has crunched the numbers to ensure Picanto is cheaper than a Toyota Aygo X, Fiat 500, Suzuki Ignis and even its half-sister, Hyundai’s i10.

Only Dacia really undercuts Picanto with Sandero and Spring but they don’t come choc-full of standard kit or with Kia’s famous seven-year warranty.

The Koreans are heading in to the second half of the decade with a mix of electric, hybrid, petrol and diesel cars, all class-leading or near class-leading.

The do-it-all Sportage is Britain’s second favourite car.

Picanto may be the smallest and cheapest but has all the stuff we need.

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Finance from £195 a month over three years.

That’s £6.96 a day . . . or 28 chocolate Penguins.

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