Having learned to drive and always having owned a car with a bigger engine (I'm talking mostly 1.8 and 2.0-litre engines), it was with some trepidation that I took the seat behind the wheel of the 1100cc Picanto. Strangely enough I felt right at home, since my one stint as a Mini owner made sure smaller cars held no mystery for me.

It's pretty good on pull-off and I never felt I would have to over-rev it to get some kind of response out of the motor. Performance is gradual, but decent enough for the engine size — it's still more cut out for city driving than high speed open road cruising. If performance is a priority, rather sacrifice spec and opt for a Hyundai Getz or Daihatsu Sirion, or even the far cheaper Corsa Lite or Citi Golf if you don’t mind a dated car.

The big appeal of this car is its specification sheet. In fact, the well-equpped interior of the EX model we had on test got me smiling in no time. All-black dash and door trim to give the car a premium look and feel. The fascia is split into upper and lower sections, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel featuring a chrome Kia badge. Full cloth seat trim and leather gear selector knob add the more luxurious and sporty feel.

The built-in radio has iPod, AUX and USB connections to play your own music mixes on the radio without having to burn them to CD. In a day and age where everybody has some form of media player, this is a useful feature. Like many other cars these days, the ashtray can be removed and the space used as an extra cup holder for that morning cuppa on the way to work.

The facelifted Picanto sports a fresher look thanks to a more modern-looking grille as well as new headlights, revised front bumper and bonnet, while the back end is adorned with a new bumper and taillights. The EX also has a sports body kit that adds front and rear bumper skirts, a black mesh grille and a roof spoiler as well as different instrument trim and front headrests.

The time I drove the car, it was mostly as a city runabout and I would think long and hard before taking the road to Cape Town in it, despite all the nice things in the cabin.

As a person’s first car, or a couples only car, or a single person’s cost effective pride and joy, nobody can quibble at the price and the specification they will get for their money. Peace of mind is also a given, with a five-year/100 000km warranty in place.

This range-topping derivative might be on the expensive side of the city car equation, but it is very well equipped and fits the bill of being easy to drive, reliable and frugal.