Kia Picanto 2024: behind the wheel of a well-equipped city car

Since 2004 the Kia Picanto has been a benchmark model in its segment, and proof of this is the million units sold across Europe since its launch, which has received major updates in 2010, 2017 and now in 2024.

In Spain it has also achieved significant results, having registered more than 80,000 units, partly thanks to the disappearance of many rivals in its segment.

The new edition, fully updated, is based on a strategy of connected experience, simple and effortless driving, and a very complete technological and safety equipment.

The new Kia Picanto, inspired by the “Opposites United” design philosophy of Kia, measures 3.60 metres in length, 1.59 m in width, 1.48 m in height, weighs 985 kg in its basic version and offers room for up to five occupants and 255 litres of boot space (up to 1,010 litres of storage with the rear seats folded down). Its aerodynamics improve slightly compared with the previous edition (0.32 vs 0.33).

Its new, more eye-catching light signature is integrated with a new front bumper and “tiger nose” grille. In the GT Line versions, LED headlight units with daytime running lights are included. The rear, with a new rear light signature, also stands out for its modern and functional design. It is available in nine different colours, four of them new (€400 for metallic paints and €200 for white). In the Concept trim the wheels are 14-inch steel (175/65); in Drive they are the same size but alloy, while in the GT-Line they increase to 16-inch alloy with 195/45 tyres.

Spacious, well-equipped interior

With a practical and simple design, the cabin of the new Picanto is available in several trims. The basic Concept includes seats upholstered in black fabric, while the optional trims include gloss black details and allow the cabin to be personalised, even with synthetic leather seats which, in the case of the GT-line, includes as standard the gloss black finish, coloured trim around the air vents and gear lever, and door armrests and seats customised in synthetic leather.

It comes as standard with a navigation system with an 8-inch “floating” touchscreen and wireless connectivity to pair up to two mobile devices at the same time via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: one for hands-free phone use and content playback, the other solely for content playback. In addition, it includes a high-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the instrument cluster.

The digital system offers Kia Connect with services such as real-time traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest (POI) and data on possible parking places, both on and off the public road. Depending on the country, users can remotely send route directions to their car before a journey, check the location of their vehicle, access reports on it and diagnostic notifications.

It features voice recognition to search for points of interest, addresses, weather information, etc., and the new online navigation service uses historical and real-time traffic data stored in the cloud to predict faster and more accurate routes. It also offers functions such as last-kilometre navigation to help customers reach their destination after parking, with information on points of interest.

It includes a remote OTA (Over The Air) update system to keep the navigation and infotainment systems at the latest version without the need to take any action.

Advanced safety systems

Among the safety systems, depending on the version, it offers a collision assistant, emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection (includes a front collision prevention assistant at intersections: if there is a risk of collision when turning left at an intersection, the function carries out automatic emergency braking).

Also available are the blind spot assistant, lane keeping, drowsiness detector, speed limit recognition assistant and lane tracking assistant using a front camera. It is equipped with the rear cross-traffic collision prevention assistant which, when reversing out of a parking space, alerts the driver and stops the vehicle if it detects another vehicle approaching from behind.

It also features an emergency braking warning that automatically activates all four hazard lights to alert vehicles behind during sudden braking, and a hill start assist that keeps the car braked until it starts moving.

As standard it is equipped with electronic stability control, cornering brake control and straight-line stability, up to six airbags, and ISOFIX anchorages for child seats. It also includes a 7-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty.

Two engines to choose from

Two 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines with 63 CV, or 1.2-litre four-cylinder engines with 79 CV are offered. Both are naturally aspirated (the previous turbo engine has been dropped) and incorporate improved exhaust gas recirculation ducts and optimised intake valve timing, with better cooling of the combustion chamber. The first one quotes a maximum torque of 9.5 mkg at 3,750 rpm, while the more powerful variant rises to 4.5 mkg at 4,200 rpm.

It does not have a hybrid system, so in both cases they carry the DGT C environmental label, and they are offered with a five-speed manual or manual-automated gearbox, which, by means of actuators, takes care of clutch operation and gear engagement.

Driving pleasure

Although it is a small model, the sense of space and quality stands out clearly. It is an easy and appealing car to drive in the city, as it moves with sufficient competence, is simple to park (it has a turning circle of 9.4 metres) and provides a reasonable level of performance for its purpose.

We have only had the opportunity to drive the small-engine version with manual gearbox, and dynamically it offers a pleasant, smooth and quiet behaviour. We only found the fifth-gear ratio a little long when tackling slightly steep slopes. Steering, suspension and brakes more than fulfil their role and provide pleasant driving that gives the driver confidence. The noise level is also reasonable for a city model. It quotes combined consumption figures of 5.1 l/100 km and emissions of 115 g/km of CO₂.

The range starts with the 1.0 engine in Concept trim and five-speed manual gearbox, for €16,592. If you opt for the same engine in GT-line trim with automated gearbox, the price rises to €20,150. For its part, the versions equipped with the 1.2 engine, only available in GT-line trim, are priced at €20,575 in the manual version and €21,500 with the automated gearbox.

Technical specifications of this car

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