After Euro NCAP released yesterday the results of its latest round of crash tests, the Kia Picanto was the only one out of the 10 cars tested that was awarded four, and not five, stars. The reason being that the electronic stability control system (ESC) was not standard across its range, as the Euro NCAP tests mandate.

As nine out of 10 cars tested this month earned the highest result of 5 starts in Euro NCAP’s crash tests, the safety organization is gearing up for making the 2012 requirements even more demanding.

In alphabetical order, the five-star winners are: the Audi A6, the BMW X3, the Chevrolet Aveo, the Chevrolet Orlando, the Citroen DS5, the Hyundai i40, the Opel Ampera, the VW Golf Cabriolet and the VW Jetta.

For the first time since the Kia Picanto was introduced into the market in 2004, the Korean city car is available with a three-door body style.

Revealed alongside the second generation of the five-door model at the Geneva Salon this past March, the three-door Picanto will go on sale in the UK from the 1st of September with prices starting from £7,795 for the base 1.0 ‘1’ and rising to £12,295 for the 1.25 'Halo' with an automatic transmission.