WeeklySA_AdminOPPOSITES UNITED: Redesigned with a particular focus on young professionals and short, urban commutes, the newcomer promises to be easier to drive than before
By Ali Mphaki
It is twenty years since the first generation Kia Picanto hit our shores taking the competitive A-segment of the market by storm.
Nippy, compact and sporty, it should not come as a surprise to learn that more than 100 000 Picantos have been snapped from showrooms since 2004- an emphatic vote of confidence on the marque. which is arguably the brand’s cash cow, Making its debut on Monday, April 20, in its new guise the Kia Picanto sports a radical redesign inside and out in a bid to sustain its appeal.
Redesigned with a particular focus on young professionals and short, urban commutes, the new Picanto promises to be easier to drive than before, with more standard equipment, over-the-air update functionality and new technology that’s said to make it “one of the safest cars in its class”.
At the front, Kia’s signature Tiger Nose front grille features on the city car for the first time, along with optional LED headlights and a rear light bar to give it a wider stance – enhanced by a 12mm-wider track width at both ends.
A revised fender and bonnet combine to create a significantly enhanced, dramatic new visage . These changes have not made any impact on the Picanto’s dimensions: it retains a height of 1,495 mm, length of 3,595 mm and width of 1,595 mm.
Depending on the grade, three different wheel design options are available, ranging from 14-inch steel wheels with stylish covers to 14- and 15-inch alloy wheel options. As part of its refresh, a variety of updated colours are also available. Complementing perennial favourites like Clear White, Sparkling Silver metallic, Aurora Black Pearl, Astro Grey metallic and Signal Red, Picanto gains three new colour options in Sporty Blue metallic, Smoke Blue metallic and Adventurous Green metallic.
Inside, Picanto retains its high-quality, high-technology interior, with the familiar horizontal layout adding greater visual width to the interior. The centrally aligned dashboard retains the ‘floating’ 8-inch colour touchscreen as its main focal point, ensuring that many of the car’s controls are intuitively positioned to reduce instances of distracted driving. Black cloth-upholstered seats are standard, while higher specification models are fitted as standard with two-tone black and grey leather upholstery.
Under the bonnet new Kia Picanto retains the familiar, reliable 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines the range is renowned for. Both engines feature improved exhaust gas recirculation lines and optimised intake valve timing. In addition, each engine provides improved combustion chamber cooling thanks to new improvements made in this field, in combination maximising efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
The fuel-efficient 1.0 MPI three-cylinder engine produces 49 kW of power at 5,500 r/min and 95 Nm torque at 3,750 r/min, while the four-cylinder 1.25-litre engine develops 62 kW of power at 6,000 r/min and 122 Nm of torque at 4,000 r/min.
As part of the introduction of the new Picanto, enthusiasts will be advised Kia has also repositioned the entire range in line with its most recent model editions, the Start, Street, and Style nomenclatures of the outgoing range fall away in favour of a standardised naming convention.
LETS take a glimpse at the three derivatives on offer;
The Picanto LX.
The new Picanto LX takes all the best features of the outgoing Picanto Start and Picanto Street to create a new high-value model as entry point into the Picanto range. The higher specification levels in this model is a direct result of extensive research amongst existing customers as well as target customers in the segment, and a true reflection of Picanto’s always forward attitude when it comes to urban mobility and the freedom that comes with movement.
The Picanto EX.
The mid-tier Picanto EX replaces the outgoing Picanto Style model and builds on the solid foundation its new LX sibling has laid. Exterior enhancements are limited to the standard inclusion of a new 14-inch alloy wheel and side repeater lamps that are incorporated into the electric folding side mirrors. Inside, a storage box is added between the two front seats, while the rear seats gain a rear occupant alert function. Drivers also gain the benefit of an upgraded 4,2-inch Supervision TFT cluster and automatic light control, with two additional tweeter speakers included as well. From a safety perspective, Picanto EX models also gain ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and HAC (Hill-start Assist Control).
The Picanto EX Plus.
With the global introduction of the new Picanto range, the much-loved X-Line derivative has been discontinued in favour of the sportier GT-Line derivative. However, after much research and feasibility studies for the local market, Kia South Africa has opted to not include a GT-Line derivative at this point in time.
Instead, Kia has introduced a new range-topping derivative in the Picanto line-up in the form of an EX Plus specification. As is to be expected, the EX Plus retains all the features available in the Picanto EX and gains a Smart Key with push-button start/stop, an illuminated vanity mirror for the driver, automatic climate control, park distance warning sensors at the rear, artificial leather upholstery, and high-gloss trims on the centre fascia. On the outside, the EX Plus model gains LED rear combination lights and 15-inch alloy wheels.
VERDICT;
From its humble beginnings two decades ago to the forward-thinking city slicker it is today, the Kia Picanto has evolved into a car that personifies progress. No doubt the manufacturer spent a lot of time assessing the past successes and shortcomings of the Picanto range in order to ensure the new range is best positioned to carry the proverbial torch well into the future.
The decision to purchase a Kia Picanto is one that should be made with the head and the heart:
Recommended retail pricing for the range is as follows:
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX Manual: R 260,995
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX Auto: R 278,995
Kia Picanto 1.2 EX Manual: R 284,995
Kia Picanto 1.2 EX Auto: R 302,995
Kia Picanto 1.2 EX Plus Manual: R 307,995
Kia Picanto 1.2 EX Plus Auto: R 325,995
