The redesigned Kia Picanto, regardless, is on sale in the UK. Prices start from £15,595, which is a significant jump from the outgoing model’s initial value of around £13,000; however, Kia believes it can justify the increase through the stylistic and technological tweaks of the car.
Most brands have pulled out of the city car category to make bigger profits from their SUVs. But Kia saw the void this style would create in the market and boldly went ahead with the Picanto’s facelift.
Kia hopes the changes to the Picanto will help it become the leading brand in the urban vehicle market. And the company is in a position to claim that name because, in 2023, the Picanto accounted for a fifth of all A-segment sales in the UK.
Standout features include new LED lighting fixtures spanning the full width of the bonnet, vertically stacked LED headlights, a selection of new alloy wheel models, a new virtual gauge cluster and an updated colour scheme. Find out everything about the car.
The Picanto Diversity is divided into 4 versions, called 2, GT-Line, 3 and GT-Line S. The most budget-friendly Model 2 comes with small 14-inch alloy wheels, a rearview parking camera, and an 8. 0-inch infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and heated exterior mirrors. You also get a bank of driver-assist technologies that add lane assist, cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and speed limiter.
GT-Line models start at £16,745. They get a sporty frame kit, larger 16-inch alloys, LED headlights, privacy windows and gloss black external trim. The car’s interior is also upgraded with alloy pedals and leatherette upholstery.
Above that, there’s the Picanto 3, priced at £17,545. It has the same external styling as the base model, but benefits from many additional internal features, such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel (in a town car!), automatic climate control, and a wireless smartphone charger.
The top-of-the-line GT-Line S edition carries the same sports frame kit as the Picanto GT-Line, but it also has a lot more equipment. That’s the case, as it costs £18,445. Updates over the Picanto 3 come with a customisable ambient lighting system, a sunroof and a blind spot collision-avoidance assist system. It’s also available exclusively with Kia’s toughest 1. 2-litre petrol engine.
Kia has been a little less adventurous with the Picanto’s engine lineup for this facelift. There are only two gasoline features available.
The first 3 models in the car range come with a 63hp 1. 0-litre 3-cylinder engine, while the GT-Line S edition comes with a slightly livelier 78hp 1. 2-litre four-cylinder engine. Both come with a five-speed manual gearbox. You can have a five-speed automatic as an option.
We’re not going to bother rhyming over the engine’s functionality stats, in part because it takes a calendar rather than a stopwatch to measure them. However, we will tell you about the fuel economy figures they claim. Either way, they’re more impressive.
Kia claims that the 1. 0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine can deliver between 54. 3 and 55. 4 mpg in the WLTP combined cycle. What’s more impressive is that the larger 1. 2-liter engine is only less efficient, with advertised figures ranging from 49. 6 to 51. 4 mpg. .
If you’re looking for a small car in the market, one of our favorite features on the market was simply improved. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than the previous edition of the Picanto, but the new look and generous, popular gadget might just be worth it.
Kia also offers the Picanto with a £1,000 cash deposit if you sign up for a PCP deal for one. Plus, each and every Picanto comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, so it’s undeniable to own.
For the latest tips, news, and money offers, sign up for the Parkers newsletter here.
Luke Wilkinson is an associate editor at Parkers. He has five years of experience as an automotive journalist and devotes his time to writing news, reviews, reports and recommendations for Parkers and its sister magazine CAR.