This white latest generation Kia Picanto (model code TA) was snapped by reader Sean Ooi on the Guthrie Corridor Expressway this week. Notice the stickers on the rear? It looks like a showroom car from another country. This isn’t the only new unlaunched Kia that’s been sighted on test in Malaysia in the past few months – we saw the Kia Rio on the road too, back in March 2012.
I’m not completely sure if it’s Naza Kia testing the Picanto, as the Kia Rio we saw had its badges taped, but this one didn’t, which gives me the impression that whoever put it on the road doesn’t really care much about the impression the public gets from seeing it on the road.
A long time ago I would just assume that if a Kia Picanto is on the road with trade plates, it meant the distributor is putting some miles on the car to see if it suits the Malaysian road environment, but not any more. This is because we’ve previously seen the Toyota Passo Sette (the originator of the Perodua Alza) and the Nissan March being tested on the road before, but not by Perodua and Nissan respectively – instead we identified the trade plates as belonging to Proton, so I suppose they were conducting some benchmarks.
Does anyone recognise the B1400A trade plate? Does it belong to Naza Kia?
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments express mixed feelings about the Kia Picanto TA, with some praising its improved design, good looks, and fuel efficiency, especially the diesel version, while others criticize its appearance and compare it unfavorably to the Perodua Myvi. Several commenters mention the car being used for benchmarking by Perodua and speculate about its upcoming launch in Malaysia. There is also a recurring theme of skepticism toward Korean cars due to past experiences, with some supporting local brands. Others highlight the car’s potential based on positive reviews in international publications. Overall, discussions show a fascination with the model’s visual appeal and engineering, tempered by doubts about local market acceptance and past service issues with Korean vehicles. Sentiments vary from enthusiastic support to outright negativity.