It may only have a modest 1.0-litre engine but the Kia Picanto City moves pretty well.

The clue is in the name, of course, and around town driving is where its strength lies.

I certainly didn’t venture into the fast lane on the motorway, although it still performed well at speed. The three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit that I drove develops 68bhp and 95Nm of torque.

The slightly more powerful 1.25-litre four-cylinder engine is offered in three guises, all developing 84bhp and 121Nm of torque.

Both child seats fit in the back, although not altogether comfortably as it’s a three-door model, but it would be quite acceptable as a second car if you have a young family.

Features in the Picanto City include the signature red grille, 14-inch alloy wheels, chrome door handles, heated door mirrors and front fog lights.

Metallic paint is a standard feature and it is available in a striking blaze red or bright silver.

Its high specification includes reversing sensors, which make parking in tight town centre spaces effortless. Inside, there is premium cloth upholstery, ample storage for personal items and a leather trimmed steering wheel with audio controls and iPod connectivity.

Features unique to the ‘City’ include ambient LED lighting and a ‘Hollywood’ style vanity mirror with a three-stage illumination sequence.

Bluetooth connectivity allows you to make hands-free calls via voice recognition and stream music wirelessly.

Air-conditioning is effective when on its highest setting – how nice for this to be a priority when a year ago things were quite different!

Boot capacity is quite small at 200 litres, but the rear seats fold on a 60/40 split, which increases the size to 605 litres.

With its low CO2 emissions, it is exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge.

Picanto ‘City’ is in insurance group four, helping to keep costs down further.

Safety features include Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management and Hill-start Assist Control.

Significantly, ‘City’ is fitted with Cornering Brake Control, which is a first in the Picanto range.

Like all models, the ‘City’ is extremely safe with six airbags and five three-point seat belts all round, making it one of the few five-seaters in its class.

The ‘City’ is covered by Kia’s seven-year warranty, and owners can cover the first three services of the car with Kia’s ‘Care-3’ service package for just £269.

Fact file
Car: Kia Picanto City
On the road: £10,245
Top speed: 95mph
0-62mph: 13.9 seconds
Fuel: 67.3mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 99g/km