Budget Rio 'kills' Picanto

The strong local sales performance of Kia's entry-level Rio light car has effectively killed plans for the maker to add the Picanto minicar to its local range.

Kia discussed adding the recently revised Picanto to its local line-up earlier this year. Available with a choice of 1.1-litre petrol or 1.2-litre turbodiesel engines and auto and manual versions, the Picanto is currently sold in key European and Asian markets

"Frankly when we brought the 1.4-litre Rio in it sort of wiped out the Picanto," Kia's Director of Sales and Marketing Bill Gillespie told the Carsales Network.

 "We'd still like to do it [in the future] but I'm not sure whether there's a big market in this country yet for A-class minis. Perhaps if petrol continued rising like last year things might be different,"

Kia introduced its entry-level 1.4-litre version of the Rio five-door (more here) earlier this year at a bargain basement price of $12,990.

The Kia sales boss told the Carsales Network at current exchange rates the price differential between the Picanto and Rio could be as little $1000.

To comment on this article click here