By Staff Reporter

The Kia Picanto has been a stalwart of not only the Kia brand locally but also the segment with many Kia Picantos finding homes in South Africa. Kia has revised the local offering to keep the Picanto at the top of its game.

Picanto Start

The Start derivatives gains a front passenger airbag and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS). The addition means that two front airbags and ABS is now a standard feature across the Picanto range, as is ISOFIX child seat anchors.

The Picanto Start will also be only available with Kia’s 1.0 MPI engine, with a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The three-cylinder engine produces 49 kW at 5 500 r/min and 96 Nm torque.

Picanto Street

The Picanto Street gains an infotainment system with an 8-inch colour touchscreen. The infotainment system which was only offered in the range-topping Smart derivatives comes with the safety and convenience of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the Picanto Street now also features electric windows front and rear, as well as electric heated side mirrors. The car’s 14-inch steel wheels gain a newly-designed plastic wheel cover.

Previously only available with a 5-speed manual transmission, both the 1.0 and 1.2 Street models are now also available with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The Street models are powered by a 49 kW, 1.0-litre MPI engine as the Picanto Start, as well as Kia’s four-cylinder, 1.25-litre MPI engine (with 61 kW and 122 Nm of torque).

Picanto Style

The Picanto Style builds on the features of the Street models and gains a leather wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with audio remote controls and a leather-clad gear shifter. Side mirrors now feature integrated indicator lamps, and also gain electric folding capabilities. The Picanto Style also features 14-inch alloy wheels.

Picanto Smart

Following customer feedback showing that that infotainment and connectivity is most important in an urban runabout, the Smart model sees park distance control and the reverse camera move to the options list. The sunroof is now standard.

Going forward, the Picanto Smart will only be available with the 61 kW, 122 Nm 1.2-litre MPI engine, with a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

2020 KIA Picanto Pricing

Kia Picanto pricing is as follows:

• KIA Picanto 1.0 START Manual             R 167,995
• KIA Picanto 1.0 START Automatic         R 181,995
• KIA Picanto 1.0 STREET Manual           R 179,995
• KIA Picanto 1.0 STREET Automatic       R 193,995
• KIA Picanto 1.2 STREET Manual           R 188,995
• KIA Picanto 1.2 STREET Automatic       R 202,995
• KIA Picanto 1.0 STYLE Manual              R 189,995
• KIA Picanto 1.0 STYLE Automatic          R 203,995
• KIA Picanto 1.2 STYLE Manual              R 198,995
• KIA Picanto 1.2 STYLE Automatic          R 212,995
• KIA Picanto 1.2 SMART Manual             R 219,995
• KIA Picanto 1.2 SMART Automatic         R 233,995

All Picanto models ship as standard with KIA’s industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a 2-year / 30,000km service plan.