The Eco-friendly Urbanite Can Also Drive a Gasoline Car

KIA is becoming a provider of sustainable mobility solutions, with plans to launch 15 electric models by 2027. More affordable and fuel-efficient combustion vehicles like the new Picanto also contribute to this transition and pave the way for a greener mobility future. The growing range of low-emission urban vehicles in cities allows the Picanto to be part of a broad ecosystem, thanks to its easy parking, maneuverability, and urban mobility. With up to 1,010 liters of storage space (with the rear seats folded), its trunk offers one of the largest volumes in the segment, capable of accommodating a folding bike or an electric scooter. The new and prominent lighting signature of the Picanto flows into the elements of the front air intake. Integrated with the new front bumper, the characteristic "tiger nose" grille, fenders, hood, optional LED headlights, and running lights also give the Picanto a spectacular image.

The basic version of the Picanto, with a 1.0-liter engine producing 67 horsepower, has an entry price starting from 16,527 euros and comes standard with 14-inch wheels; optionally, alloy wheels up to 16 inches can be chosen. The presence of the sporty GT-line version with the 1.2-liter engine producing 84 horsepower (starting from 20,510 euros) is reinforced with a front end featuring an enlarged grille to maximize the sporty look. The new Picanto comes standard with vehicle stability management systems, curve braking control, and straight-line stability control, which help drivers maintain control of the car in extreme situations. Additionally, it is equipped with up to six airbags throughout the cabin, as well as ISOFIX anchors for child seats.

The 1.0-liter engine is a good option for customers who value reduced fuel consumption above all else, while the 1.2-liter engine is preferable for those who desire more power, especially for highway driving. Both engines drive the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission or KIA's automated manual transmission. The latter is based on a five-speed manual transmission and uses actuators to automate clutch operation and gear changes, combining the fuel efficiency of a manual with the convenience of an automatic.

Additionally, the longer wheelbase of the new Picanto contributes to a natural improvement in ride quality and stability on all types of roads. A quick rack-and-pinion steering provides immediate responses to driver actions, meaning fewer turns between stops (2.8) than many of its rivals. This makes the Picanto easy to drive at low speeds and in the city. With the front wheels located near the front end of the vehicle, overhang weight is reduced, resulting in more agile handling. New assistance systems help make city driving more comfortable thanks to easy parking and maneuverability. The body length is 3.59 meters, ideal for urban use; despite this model's compact size, it has five homologated seats with a practical trunk capacity of 255 liters. The new generation Picanto includes as standard the industry's leading warranty: seven years or 150,000 kilometers.

The Picanto also incorporates the latest advanced driver assistance systems and several active safety devices to enhance occupant protection. Depending on the version, new features include forward collision avoidance assistance and emergency braking assistance with cyclist and pedestrian recognition. This function includes intersection collision prevention assistance: if there is a risk of collision when turning left at an intersection, it performs automatic emergency braking. Safety systems such as blind-spot assist, lane-following assist, fatigue detection and lane departure warning system, intelligent speed limit recognition assist, and lane-following assist are also available. This last device uses the front camera to detect road markings and control car steering to keep it centered in its lane.

The new Picanto is also equipped with rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist which alerts the driver and stops the vehicle if it detects another vehicle approaching from either side when reversing out of a parking space. The new Picanto comes with emergency brake signaling that automatically activates all four hazard lights if the driver brakes suddenly to alert the car behind. Hill-start assist keeps the car braked until it starts moving smoothly.

The new urban car from KIA comes standard with a floating 8-inch (20 cm) touchscreen navigation system and a high-resolution 4.2-inch (11 cm) digital display in the instrument cluster. The 8-inch (20 cm) touchscreen navigation system includes multiple Bluetooth connections allowing up to two mobile devices to be paired simultaneously: one for hands-free phone use and content playback; the other only for content playback. The system comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Picanto features Kia Connect system which includes services such as real-time traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest, and data on potential parking spots both on-street and off-street. Users can remotely send route directions to their car before a trip, check their vehicle's location, access reports about it, and receive diagnostic notifications.

The Picanto features torque vectoring by braking system as an additional function of electronic stability control (ESC). By using this technology, the Picanto maintains greater agility and stability in curves while helping reduce understeer in tighter corners. A quick rack-and-pinion steering provides immediate responses to driver actions meaning fewer turns between stops making it easy to drive at low speeds and in cities.

Fuel: Gasoline

Displacement: 998 cm3

Cylinders: Inline 3

Power: 67 horsepower

Transmission: Manual 5-speed

Front-wheel drive:

Speed: 160 km/h

0-100: 14 seconds

Consumption: From 4.9 liters

Length: 3.59 m Width: 1.59 m Height: 1.48 m

Trunk: 255 liters

Price: From 16,527 euros