When it comes to compact, entry-level city cars, Suzuki clicks, but then there are options from brands like Kia and Hyundai. Kia Picanto, also known as Kia Morning in South Korea, is one such model from Kia, and it’s the smallest model in the brand’s portfolio. The first generation went into production in 2003. Picanto is Kia’s popular A-segment city car and best-selling model in certain global markets and targets younger and first-time car buyers. 

Picanto has been a success in multiple European states, and that’s the reason every generation got design input from KIA’s European design team. Currently, globally, a third generation has been in production since 2017. The model got a facelift in 2020, and recently, the same generation went through another makeover to keep the generation relevant even after almost five years in production.

Picanto name is also not new for us here in Pakistan because its for sale locally since September 2019. Well, not only the name but the generation we have is also not new because Pakistan customers are currently enjoying a 2nd generation of Picanto which went into production in 2011. Our today’s blog might not be relevant to us as such directly, but this will be a good read for our current Picanto owners or Kia brand followers.

Exterior 

The company wanted some flare, evident from the new exterior styling. As per Kia, they have introduced their “Opposite United” design philosophy to this model. The facelift carries over the dimensions, but it got an all-new front and rear and adopted some inspiration from the flagship EV9, a three-row electrified SUV. There is a new tiger-nose grill, a vertically stacked headlight module with DRLs, a new front bumper and grill, an all-new bonnet, and front fenders.

Like the front, a new lighting LED can be seen on the rear, which includes a light bar across the width. The rear hatch door/tailgate and bumper are also slightly redesigned. On the side profile, nothing much is changed, but a 14-inch steel wheel comes standard while upper trims get 14 or 15-inch alloys, while 16-inch are also available on the top-of-the-line GT version.

Keep in mind that there will be optional LED headlights on the front and rear, and the vehicle you see here in this post is top of the line version. Overall, on the outside, Picanto now looks modern, bolder, and sportier, but obviously, the base model might be slightly different with tone-down features.

Interior 

While the exterior got a major makeover, the interior got minor updates as far as visuals, and the entire layout remains intact like before. Kia promises improved materials and more standard features. There is an 8″ infotainment screen with new and updated software. Lower trim levels will get smaller screen size.

Apple Car-Play & Android Auto is available. Kia Connect is also an option that provides onboard services like live traffic, weather, location of vehicle parked, onboard car diagnostics and health reports, and more. Picanto now offers an improved voice-guided navigation system, which is now capable of over-the-air updates.

Besides infotainment, there is a digital 4.2-inch LCD instrument cluster with digital speed and tachometer ( base models might get a typical analog needle). The HAVC controls remain as before. The base model gets fabric seating while upper trims like GT-Line get artificial leather as KIA’s more sustainable undertaking aims to move towards reuse, recycling, and less burden on the environment and animal free.

Sunroof is available on higher trims besides other convenience features like heated seats, heated steering, auto-folding side view mirrors, remote engine start, and wireless charger.

Mechanicals 

As for mechanicals, there will be only two engine options; a 1.0L MPI three-cylinder and a 1.2L MPI 4-cylinder engine. No details on power figures, but we can expect 66hp for the 1L engine and 83hp for the 1.2L variant. There will be a 5-speed manual with an option for a 5-speed automatic. Korean domestic model will be equipped with 1.0L and 4-speed auto.

The bad news is the departure of the 1.0L Turbo GDI engine, which was there on the pre-facelift model and produced 99hp for Picanto GT. As per Kia, Picanto will retain the sporty driving characteristics with an improved independent MacPherson strut suspension on the front with a torsion beam rear setup. The steering system is also tuned for better driver response and agile handling.

Safety 

Picanto facelift now also comes with improved ADAS safety features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian detection, Blind spot monitoring, Lane Keep Assist, driver attention warning, and Lane Following Assist, which uses a front camera to monitor road marking to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane.

The autonomous braking has been updated, which can also now detect intersections, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control is also part of the deal. Picanto is also equipped with a Rear cross-traffic alert & Emergency Stop Signal/ ESS. The other safety equipment includes vehicle stability control, cornering brake control, hill start assists, and 7 airbags. The company has also improved Picanto’ s structural integrity and stiffness with additional hot stamping on the frontal subframe and the B -pillar.

Price

Lastly, we might not see this version of Picanto very soon in Pakistan, but this might also be the last of Picanto powered by a conventional gasoline engine. Kia’s brand restructuring includes 15 new electrified models in the next 3 to 4 years, and Picanto’ s replacement will be one of them. Kia Global has yet to release the pricing for the refreshed Picanto, but it will soon be available in Korea, Australia, and European markets with a base price of around $20,000/-.

So, how is the refreshed Picanto?