Kia has given its modern compact hatchback, the Kia Picanto, a fresh makeover, featuring an appealing new design and incorporating advanced technologies found in other models across the brand’s extensive line-up.
The new Picanto is available in two trim levels: the baseline version and the sporty ‘GT-Line’ variant. The ‘GT-Line’ captures Kia’s brand vision by combining a stylish exterior with advanced technology, making it an ideal choice for both young, first-car buyers and busy professionals.
Sjoerd Knipping, Vice President of Product & Marketing of Kia Europe, stated:
From urban commuters and working professionals, to young adults buying their first car, part of the Kia Picanto’s enduring success is its mass appeal. In a time when societies are struggling with rising prices and debates about urban space and quality of life are growing louder, the new Picanto allows customers to enjoy the freedom that movement brings.
What to Expect…
The Picanto holds a strong position as one of Kia’s top-selling models in multiple regions around the world, particularly among European A-segment drivers who prioritise short commutes and navigating limited parking spaces. The latest iteration of the Picanto offers an impressive range of features, surpassing its predecessors in terms of standard offerings. Furthermore, its driver assistance systems contribute to a more convenient and comfortable driving experience, particularly in bustling European cities.
The new Picanto offers a unique opportunity for younger and new customers to connect with Kia and embark on their life’s journey, without compromising on quality or convenience. It serves as a symbol of independence and serves as a gateway to creating cherished memories. With its exceptional parking capabilities and manoeuvrability, the Picanto seamlessly integrates into the expanding range of mobility options available in European cities. It effortlessly adapts to the park-and-go mobility trend. Additionally, the Picanto boasts a generous storage capacity of up to 1,010 litres (VDA), allowing for the storage of folding bicycles or e-scooters.
Kia is actively transitioning into a sustainable mobility solutions provider, with ambitious plans to introduce 15 battery electric vehicle (BEV) models by 2027. The enhanced Picanto, with its affordability and fuel efficiency, contributes to this transformation and sets the stage for a future of sustainable mobility.
Updated ‘Opposites United’-Inspired Picanto Exterior:
The upgraded Picanto draws inspiration from Kia’s design philosophy, known as ‘Opposites United,’ which harmoniously combines the contrasting elements of nature and modernity. This fusion results in a striking and futuristic aesthetic with a touch of modern sportiness.
The enhanced Picanto showcases several design elements, including a redesigned front bumper, the iconic ‘tiger nose’ grille, fenders, and bonnet. These elements, combined with a powerful light signature, create a visually captivating front end. Optional LED headlights and Daytime Running Lights further enhance the car’s modern and technological appeal while providing it with a confident and wide stance. The rear design is characterised by its simplicity and stability, with redesigned rear lights and a rear bumper that seamlessly connect vertically. The strong and wide rear light signature, integrated with the volume and core of the new rear bumper and tailgate, accentuates the Picanto’s sense of strength and width.
The standard Picanto baseline model is equipped with 14-inch wheels, while optional upgrades include new 14-inch alloy wheels, 15-inch alloy wheels, and new 16-inch wheels. On the other hand, the ‘GT-Line’ trim exudes a strong presence with its confident front end adorned with prominent sporty elements. The tiger nose grille has been expanded to enhance the impression of high performance. Additionally, the ‘GT-Line’ features dedicated 16-inch diamond-cut wheels and a sporty rear diffuser.
To further enhance its bold exterior image, the Picanto offers a choice of nine vibrant paint finishes. Among them, four are brand-new additions: Signal Red, Smoke Blue, Sporty Blue, and Adventurous Green. These striking colour options allow the Picanto to truly stand out.
Nature-Inspired Interior Design for the Kia Picanto:
The enhanced Picanto offers a variety of cabin finishes to suit different preferences. The baseline version comes with black cloth seats, while optional finishes include Glossy Black. In addition, there is a new range of stylish and nature-inspired interior colour packs available: Adventurous Green and Rich Brown. These colour packs provide customers with the opportunity to customise their car’s cabin with the luxurious comfort of artificial leather seats.
The ‘GT-Line’ trim includes the Glossy Black Pack as a standard feature, and the Adventurous Green Pack is available as an optional upgrade. The colour packs consist of customised artificial leather seats and door armrests, as well as coloured surrounds around the air vents and the gear selector, enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Kia is taking steps towards sustainability in its vehicle colours, materials, and finishes. Their strategy includes three key actions. “Action 1” focuses on becoming “leather-free,” with plans to phase out the use of leather in their vehicles starting with the EV9 model. “Action 2” involves incorporating ten identified sustainable materials into their future vehicles, known as the “10 must-have items.” Lastly, “Action 3” represents the innovation of new bio-based materials through “Bio Fabrication.” These initiatives demonstrate Kia’s commitment to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.
Two Efficient Powertrain
The new Picanto presents customers with a choice between two engine options: a 1.0-litre and a 1.2-litre petrol engine. The 1.0-litre engine is ideal for those prioritising efficiency, while the 1.2-litre engine offers more power, making it suitable for high-speed driving or tackling uphill roads. Both engines prioritise efficiency and strive to minimise CO2 emissions. Notably, the naturally aspirated engines have undergone enhancements in exhaust gas recirculation lines and optimised intake valve timing, leading to improved combustion chamber cooling.
These engine options are paired with either a five-speed manual transmission (5MT) or Kia’s Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). The AMT is based on a five-speed manual transmission but includes clutch and gear shift actuators that automate their respective functions. This transmission offers the benefits of fuel efficiency similar to a manual transmission while providing the convenience of an automatic transmission, ensuring a comfortable experience in urban traffic.
The combination of engine and transmission choices in the new Picanto caters to the diverse driving habits and needs of European customers.
Kia Picanto Ride and Handling
The Picanto showcases its renowned quick and enjoyable handling responses while maintaining excellent ride stability. This is achieved through the implementation of independent MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a torsion beam rear axle. The vehicle’s high ride stability is preserved, ensuring a balanced driving experience.
With a relatively long wheelbase of 2,400mm, the Picanto enjoys improved ride quality and stability across various road conditions. Its quick steering rack enables immediate responses to driver inputs, reducing the number of wheel turns required from lock-to-lock compared to many competitors (2.8 turns). This makes the Picanto easy to manoeuvre at low speeds and in city environments.
The positioning of the front wheels close to the front of the vehicle results in a favourable weight distribution, with less weight ahead of the front axle. This configuration contributes to agile handling and enhances the vehicle’s overall dynamics.
Additionally, the Picanto incorporates torque vectoring by braking, a feature integrated into the Electronic Stability Control system (ESC). This technology, typically found in larger vehicle segments, allows the Picanto to maintain superior handling and stability during cornering while minimising understeer during more aggressive manoeuvres.
Technology and Innovations
The new Picanto comes equipped with a standard 8.0-inch ‘floating’ touchscreen navigation system and a high-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the driver’s instrument cluster. The 8.0-inch touchscreen navigation system offers advanced features such as Bluetooth multi-connection, allowing users to pair up to two mobile devices simultaneously. One device can be used for hands-free phone calls and media, while the other can be dedicated to media usage. Additionally, the system supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, ensuring seamless smartphone integration.
Kia Connect features are also included, providing a range of convenient onboard services. Users can access live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest (POIs), and available on- and off-street parking details. Depending on the country, users can remotely send route directions to their car before a journey, track the location of their vehicle, and access vehicle reports and diagnostic notifications, among other functionalities.
Additionally, the Picanto introduces Online Voice Recognition, allowing users to effortlessly search for points of interest (POIs), addresses, weather updates, or send text messages using voice commands. With the new ‘Online Navigation’ routing service, the Picanto leverages cloud-based real-time and historical traffic data to provide more accurate predictions of time-efficient routes.
To enhance the connected experience, users can also access the Kia Connect App, compatible with both Android and Apple smartphones. This app offers convenient features such as Last Mile Navigation, assisting customers in navigating to their destination even after parking and leaving the car. This is particularly beneficial in areas where parking hubs are located at a distance from shops, cafes, and restaurants in towns and cities.
In addition, the new Picanto is equipped with innovative over-the-air functionality. This feature ensures that the navigation and infotainment systems are automatically updated wirelessly, saving customers valuable time and ensuring they have the latest software versions without requiring any manual action. This exemplifies Kia’s commitment to providing its customers with advanced technology and an enhanced, seamless connected experience.
Kia Picanto Proven Safety Features
The new Picanto is equipped with Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and a comprehensive range of active safety features, ensuring it stands as one of the safest cars in its class. Depending on the chosen specification, the Picanto offers various ADAS features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5 (FCA) with detection capabilities for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. This system even incorporates Junction Turning functionality, which automatically provides emergency braking support in case of potential collisions while making a right turn at a junction.
Furthermore, the Picanto can be equipped with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning, Leading Vehicle Departure Warning (DAW+), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), and Lane Following Assist (LFA). These advanced safety systems work together to enhance occupant safety and promote a secure driving experience.
The enhanced Picanto incorporates Lane Following Assist (LFA), utilising the front-facing camera to monitor road markings and automatically adjusting the steering to keep the vehicle centred within its lane. It also features Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), which detects approaching vehicles from the left or right while reversing out of a parking space, alerting the driver and stopping the vehicle if necessary.
Additionally, the new Picanto is equipped with an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), which activates the hazard warning lights in the event of sudden braking, alerting vehicles behind. Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) ensures a smooth start on hills by holding the vehicle in place with the brakes.
To further enhance safety, the enhanced Picanto comes with Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and Straight-line Stability (SLS) systems as standard. These systems aid drivers in maintaining control during braking and cornering manoeuvres. The car is equipped with up to six airbags positioned throughout the cabin, along with ISOFIX child-seat tether and anchor points for added child safety. Finally, the enhanced Picanto benefits from Kia’s industry-leading seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, providing peace of mind to owners.
In conclusion, the enhanced Kia Picanto is a modern and stylish compact hatchback that offers advanced technologies, safety features, and a range of options to cater to different preferences and needs. With its eye-catching design, efficient engines, and intuitive infotainment system, the Picanto provides a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience.
If you are looking for a reliable and versatile car that combines quality, convenience, and safety, the Kia Picanto range is definitely worth exploring. Whether you prioritise fuel efficiency, power, or advanced safety features, the Picanto has options to suit your requirements.
To learn more about the Kia Picanto range, its features, and available configurations, visit your nearest Kia dealership or browse our website. Start your journey today and discover the impressive offerings of the Kia Picanto range.
