Kia Picanto will challenge the big guns

February 20, 2017

Kia has announced details of its latest Picanto city supermini which will go on sale in just a couple of months’ time and the Korean car maker claims it will be the most versatile model in its class.

Kia-Picanto

The third generation Picanto is due to be revealed at next month’s Geneva Motor Show and it’s bound to attract plenty of attention thanks to its more sporty and youthful design. It also comes packed with the latest technology and, according to Kia, the largest luggage capacity in the city car class.

Buyers will be offered extra personalisation options with a range of vibrant new stand-out colours, five optional interior colour packs featuring contrast artificial leather upholstery and stitching and a choice of four alloy wheel designs, ranging from 14-inch to 16-inch in diameter.

The new Picanto will be on offer with a choice of three petrol engines, including Kia’s new 100PS, 1.0-litre turbocharged direct injection (T-GDI) power unit which will be the most powerful engine ever offered in the Picanto, offering a top speed of more than 110mph with a 0-60mph sprint time of about 10 seconds.

However that engine won’t be available until the latter part of the year. Until then, buyers will have the choice of two enhanced versions of naturally aspirated 1.0-litre and 1.25-litre engines carried over from the outgoing Picanto.

New Picanto has a slightly longer wheelbase which has enabled designers to free up more interior space and Kia claims that the car now has more leg and head room than best-selling rivals while the boot capacity has been increased to a whopping 255 litres – up from 200 litres – and that’s the most of any car in the class.

The Picanto will only be available with five-doors, with Kia discontinuing the three-door model for the third-generation. The 1.0-litre models will, however, come with a choice of four or five seats.

Trim levels for the UK market have yet to be revealed but, for the first time, Kia will offer the Picanto in a new GT-Line specification, inspired by the sportier appearance of the company’s higher-performance GT models.

NEXT:

Latest News

Nissan LEAF WWCOTY winner

Nissan LEAF scoops the top car honours

The all-new Nissan LEAF has been named the overall winner for 2026 by
[...]
XPENG art competition

XPENG invites artists to come forward

XPENG UK is inviting artists and creatives across the country to submit their
[...]
RAV4 rear

Introducing the new 2026 Toyota RAV4

With more than 15 million sales globally, there’s no denying the success story
[...]
Volvo EX60 front

Volvo unveils its EX60 ‘game-changer’

Volvo has launched what is being billed as its most important car ever
[...]
Kia EV2

The Brussels Motor Show highlights

The constant clicking of the camera lenses and the bulky press packs may
[...]
Polestar 3 Euro NCAP

Polestar 3 awarded top safety honour

Polestar 3 has been awarded Euro NCAP’s Best in Class award for safest
[...]
Dacia Bigster hotel

Dacia Bigster has starring role to play

Dacia is offering an otherworldly way to experience the great outdoors with a
[...]
New Honda badge

Honda gives its badge a fresh new look

Honda cars will be given a fresh new-look with the introduction of a
[...]

Finalists announced for WWCOTY title

Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) has announced the category winners of
[...]
Mercedes CLA

Mercedes CLA scoops the top honours

The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA has been awarded the European Car of the Year
[...]
GEM freezing weather

Stay safe in freezing driving conditions

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to prepare
[...]
Calories galore

Home charging is kind on the waistline

Drivers switching to charging their electric vehicles at home are discovering an unexpected
[...]
Mazda CX-80

Mazda upgrades CX-60 and CX-80 models

The Mazda CX-60 and CX-80 ranges will see a comprehensive package of upgrades
[...]
mitsubishi

Mitsubishi announces its UK comeback

The IM Group, a leading UK-based vehicle importer and distributor, today announced plans
[...]
Monte Carlo Classique Historique Rally

Drumming up support for classic rally

Members of the Caithness and Sutherland Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club gathered at
[...]
Kia K4

Kia launches all-new K4 model in the UK

Kia has offered a glimpse at its all-new K4 model, which will be
[...]