This week, Kia Picanto is celebrating its 20th year in the UK market, the year when Mark Zuckerberg first launched Facebook in 2004. Since its introduction, Kia has sold over 260,000 Picanto units, with the model seeing three completely new generations and four mid-life refreshes.

The car was first introduced in 2003 in Kia's home market of South Korea as the 'Morning', a name that is still used in some markets today. The city car was rebranded as 'Picanto' before hitting the streets of Europe, adding a bit more 'spice' to the European A-segment.

Despite being the smallest of Kia's vehicles on sale in the UK, the Picanto has consistently punched above its weight in sales performance, becoming Kia's fourth best-selling model in the UK this year. In August 2023, the Picanto surpassed a quarter of a million lifetime sales in the UK, marking an incredible milestone. It is the second best-selling model in Kia UK history, just behind the Sportage.

In recent years, the Picanto has established a dominant position in the UK A-segment. The brand continues to focus on this market as it has noticed a high demand for compact, versatile, and affordable vehicles. So far in 2024, the Picanto is the third best-selling car in its segment (second in retail sales) and holds a market share of over 25%, the highest ever. This impressive performance is a continuation of the positive momentum of the Picanto in 2023; the Picanto ended the year with a 22% market share in the UK A-segment.

In its 20th year on sale in the UK, the Picanto is undergoing a major mid-life refresh, further solidifying Kia's commitment to the A-segment. The redesigned and aggressively styled new Picanto is the most sophisticated version of the model to date. Improvements in onboard technology, safety systems, comfort, and refinement make the new Picanto one of the most advanced models in its segment while retaining the fun and versatile character of its predecessors.

The short history of Kia's A-segment hero, the Kia Picanto, began in 2004 when it was first launched in the UK and became an instant hit among customers; its cute and quirky design combined with an incredibly affordable price point. The model underwent a minor facelift in 2007 to freshen up the Picanto's appearance. However, the UK's 2009 scrappage incentive scheme was a key factor that put the Picanto and Kia on the map for many UK customers.

During the scrappage incentive scheme from May 2009 to March 2010, Kia sold over 22,000 Picantos in the UK, showing a 348% increase over the previous equivalent period. The right car at the right time, this period cemented the Picanto as a true contender in the A-segment and solidified Kia's position in the UK market. This period continues to remain Kia's biggest sales period for the Picanto to date.

In 2010, Kia extended its famous seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty to the Picanto, a warranty that was previously only available on Kia's products produced in Europe. This industry-leading warranty added significant value by providing customers with ultimate peace of mind and enhancing the value for money.

2011 brought a completely new generation of Picanto with a more open and modern look and was available for the first time as a three-door model. Designed from scratch at Kia's European Design Centre in Frankfurt under the supervision of Hyundai Motor Group design legend Peter Schreyer. The new Picanto, more efficient than ever, was efficiency and affordability-focused, with almost all models emitting 100 g/km CO2 or less and all versions being exempt from road tax and congestion charges.

The second-generation Picanto also began to collect impressive motor awards from several UK publications, thanks to its low starting price, efficient engines, and refined driving experience. In 2015, the Picanto underwent a minor facelift, increased standard equipment levels, and offered a range of 11 models with a trim level that catered to all customer needs.

The third and current generation Picanto arrived in the UK in 2017, by which time Kia was already a well-established player in the UK automotive scene.