KIA's relentless march into the car buying public's consciousness is turning into quite a success story.
A host of new models together with successful revamping of older models give budget car buyers plenty to think about.
The little Picanto hatchback is an excellent example of improving on what was a very good product in the first place.
The new model takes it on apace even though the car has consistently been among the UK's top-selling small cars. Kia describes it as cute, fun, practical and affordable. It's not hard to disagree.
The new Picanto is also better looking, quite a bit better looking and now comes in new styles, graded by numbers, just like the Skoda Fabia, with Picanto, Picanto 2, Picanto 2 auto and, you guessed it, the Picanto 3.
A smart new rear light cluster makes a big difference to the back end, while at the front there are also revised lights together with a grille that shares its styling with the Carens and the cee'd, plus a new bumper and bonnet.
The entry-level Picanto now has four seats instead of the five in the rest of the range, and runs on 13-inch wheels. These measures reduce weight and rolling resistance helping the car to emit just 117 grammes per kilometre of CO2 - a figure low enough to put it in VED band B at £35 a year for the private driver and make it exempt from the London congestion charge.
The interior has also had a facelift that definitely takes it away from the budget range. It is still not quite up to European standards, but your discerning buyer would be hard-pressed to pick too much fault.
The black trim can make it seem a bit dour but it is lifted by chrome insets and the instruments are now backlit with orange lights.
Interior space is pretty impressive. Both front occupants benefit from good legroom and headroom and while the rear seats are a bit cramped, two adults could fit in quite comfortably for short distances.
Sub-superminis like this have never been famed for boot space and the Picanto is no exception, but it is at least as roomy as it competitors with room for three of four shopping bags.
The 1.1-litre 64bhp engine feels a lot more powerful and sporty than the figures would suggest.
Acceleration is brisk around town, although the engine runs out of puff under prolonged acceleration. The upside is the fantastic economy with more than 50mpg easily achievable from the clean petrol engines.
Clearly not a sport model, the Picanto is pretty refined although tyre and engine noise are intrusive at higher speeds and it does wallow a bit with hard cornering.
Even the 1.0 entry level Picanto comes with body-coloured bumpers, front electric windows, twin airbags, variable intermittent wipers, 60/40 split rear seats and an integrated MP3 compatible audio unit.
The Picanto 2 adds leather trim on the steering wheel and gearlever knob, tilt adjustment of the steering column, 14-inch steel wheels, a tachometer and digital clock, drivers seat height adjustment, full cloth trim and remote central locking.
Picanto 3 - the sports-luxury model - features electrically-operated and heated door mirrors with integral side repeaters, 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, rear spoiler, rear electric windows and alloy pedals.
The range starts at £5,995.
FAST FACTS
Kia Picanto 3 1.1 5dr
Price: £8,035
Mechanical: 64bhp, 1,0860cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 96mph
0-62mph: 15.1 secs
Combined mpg: 53.3
Insurance group: 4
CO2 emissions: 126g/km
BiK rating: 13%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage