After six years in the market, Kia gave the third-generation Picanto a second mid-cycle update earlier this year. The refreshed city car premiered almost six months ago, and now it is up for grabs in Australia.
Customers can choose between two trim levels. The base model is the Sport, and the upper grade is called the GT-Line. Both have revised styling and more gear compared to their predecessors, and pricing starts at AU$17,890 (equal to US$12,093) and AU$19,690 (US$13,310). The automatic transmission is an AU$1,600 (US$1,082) option on each grade.
Some onboard gear includes artificial leather for the steering wheel and gear shifter, regardless of whether it's a manual or an automatic car. The GT-Line adds a flat-bottom steering wheel, and both get a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster instead of the old model's analog gauges, sitting alongside the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The upper spec also brings a rear USB-C charging port.
The ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) package comprises the Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist. Kia also states the latest iteration Picanto has gained a new exterior color called Adventurous Green. Other hues are Clear White, Sparkling Silver, Signal Red, Aurora Black Pearl, Sporty Blue, and Astro Gray.
Photo: Kia
Telling it apart from its predecessor can be tricky unless you are familiar with the design. There are, however, some key upgrades in this department, too, like the new headlamp graphic and fresh signature for the taillights. The Korean automaker's design team has also given it an expanded radiator grille and redesigned bumpers at both ends. The wheels were also refreshed, and the Sport rides on 14-inch alloys, whereas the GT-Line has 16-inch ones.
Power-wise, nothing has changed over the previous iteration, as both trim levels pack the same four-cylinder 1.2-liter MPI gasoline engine. The output is rated at 62 kW (84 ps/83 hp), developing 122 Nm (90 lb-ft) of torque. As for the available transmissions, these are the standard five-speed manual and the optional four-speed automatic. In other markets, the 2024 Picanto is also available with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder unit. As for the 74 kW (100 ps/99 hp) 1.0L turbo, it was discontinued.
Kia isn't selling the Picanto in the United States, where its most affordable model is the Rio. It starts at $16,750 (AU$), $460 more than America's cheapest new car, the Nissan Versa. At $17,690, excluding destination, the five-door version of the Rio is a bit more expensive, and the Forte has a $19,790 MSRP. The Soul, Seltos, and Sportage kick off at $19,990, $24,390, and $27,090, respectively. The Stinger sports sedan is going away, and the brand's most expensive product is the Telluride flagship crossover, priced from $35,990.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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