New Kia Picanto: the city car evolves in every respect

Jaime Gomez 17 February 2017 2 min.

New Kia Picanto: the city car evolves in every respect

Kia has unveiled the new Picanto just a few weeks before the Geneva Motor Show begins. The new generation will be the first to feature a turbocharged 1.0 l petrol engine. The new Kia Picanto has made a qualitative leap in every respect.

One of Kia’s best-kept secrets for the Geneva Motor Show, which runs from 9 to 19 March, was the presentation of the new Picanto, a model that is set to make waves in the coming months. A new engine, a refreshed design and an increase in material quality are, broadly speaking, the key features of the new city car.

The exterior of the Picanto is finished with new light clusters featuring LED indicators and daytime running lights, giving it a high-tech look. This generation will be the first to offer a GT-Line version, inspired by the brand’s higher-performance models, just as it did a couple of years ago at Geneva with the Cee’d.

Roomier and quieter cabin

The designers of the Korean brand have created a cabin with materials and a layout that give it a much higher-quality look than its predecessor. Its interior is also more spacious than the previous generation, and its boot has been enlarged from 200 to 255 litres, making it one of the largest in its class. Kia will only produce this model with five-door bodies.

As for the mechanicals, the new Picanto will offer three petrol engines. Two of them will be the same naturally aspirated direct-injection 1.0 and 1.25 litre units offered in the previous version. The novelty in this area will be available in the second quarter of 2017 and will be a turbocharged 1.0 litre engine with a T-GDI (gasoline direct injection) system. All engines will be paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, except the 1.25 l engine, which will be offered with a four-speed automatic transmission as an option. There are no diesel engines as in the current generation.

Improved safety with autonomous emergency braking

Technology in safety is another of its strong points, and Kia has put in a lot of effort in this area. The South Korean company has increased the strength of its chassis by using 44% advanced high-strength steel, or AHSS; as a result, its torsional rigidity has increased by 32%. Among its safety features are six airbags as standard and the Emergency Braking Assist System, a device capable of stopping the vehicle autonomously if necessary.