June 6 2011 – for immediate release

THE ‘EUROPEANISATION’ of Kia’s approach to new and replacement models has paid off with a significantly stronger forecast residual value for the latest incarnation of its Picanto city car, compared to its predecessor.

It means the Picanto 1.0 1 5dr is forecast to retain 46% of its cost new after 3 years, with 30,000 miles on the clock. This compares with 41% for the outgoing version.

Jeff Knight, editor of CAP Monitor, the industry’s independent benchmark used car value forecast guide, says that key to Kia’s improvement is a distinctly more European visual style as well as better build quality and specification.

He said: “As we would expect, every aspect of the Picanto is improved over its predecessor. The car is roomier, reasonably quiet for a car of its type and is an all-round better package.

“But the real key to its success as a future used car will be what we might call the ‘Europeanisation’ of the car’s appearance. Previous incarnations...