(JOHANNESBURG), 8 September 2014. The second-generation Kia Picanto has been turning heads since making its global premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and local market introduction in 2011. Completely redesigned, the new model – proudly featuring Kia’s iconic ‘tiger nose’ grille – moved the Picanto from ‘cute’ and ‘friendly’ to ‘mature’ and ‘handsome’, combining sporty styling, a high quality interior, frugal and efficient engines and exceptional levels of standard equipment to create a car that is, quite simply, awesome.
The Picanto was born from a simple idea: an affordable car should make no compromises on styling, features or technology. Three years later, the Picanto remains one of the most striking and comprehensively equipped vehicles in its segment.
However, thanks to a mild exterior update, the all-awesome Picanto now looks even sportier and sexier, confidently showing off the design and features that has garnered it multiple awards in the past four years. And with the latest Picanto, Kia Motors has proven that ‘affordable’ can also be ‘awesome’.
Award-winning credentials
Fresh off the mark following its European market launch in 2011, the Kia Picanto scooped a prestigious red dot design award in the Product Design category, coming out ahead of more than 11 000 other entries from more than 60 countries and marking Kia’s fifth red dot award in less than three years.
A few months later, Kia Motors scooped up an equally covetable iF product design award for the three-door Picanto (available exclusively in Europe) – the company’s fourth in three years. This award recognizes design quality alongside a number of other criteria, including workmanship, level of innovativeness and eco-friendliness.
But it’s not just about awesome styling. Thanks to its low tailpipe emissions and the advanced manufacturing processes used in the production of the Kia Picanto (as well as the Kia Rio and Optima), TÜV Nord, an independent technical inspection organization, certified all three models according to the ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
In South Africa, the Picanto took top honours in the People’s Wheels Awards for three years in a row (2011, 2012 and 2013), has won numerous ‘Best Buy’ awards from multiple major publications, and was elected a finalist in the 2012 WesBank / SAGMJ Car of the Year competition, widely considered the most prestigious competition on the South African motoring calendar.
Styling Level: Awesome
While the two-model Picanto line-up remains unchanged, enhancements to the exterior endows it with a sportier, sexier face thanks to a revised ‘tiger nose’ grille and a restyled front bumper.
The new grille is slightly larger, and features a silver painted bezel surrounded by beveled edges for a more expressive, three-dimensional visage. The ‘tiger nose’ on the range-topping EX model also features red bordering to separate the bezel from the black mesh grille, emphasizing its sporty appearance.
The new bumper incorporates a smaller kidney grille separated from the lower air intake, which is now narrower and positioned lower. The fog lamps are larger, as are the integrated fog lamp housings.
The Picanto’s strongly-sculpted, dynamic side profile and uncluttered rear styling remains unchanged. The 1.0 LX ships with 14-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers, while the 1.2 EX features sporty 14-inch alloys.
Performance meets efficiency
Two of Kia Motor Corporation’s efficient Kappa engines do duty in the all-awesome Picanto, starting with three-cylinder, 998 cc unit producing 51 kW and 94 Nm of torque in the 1.0 LX. A four-cylinder, 1248 cc engine is utilized in the range-topping 1.2 EX, producing 65 kW and 120 Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission, but a four-speed automatic transmission is available as an option.
Both engines feature DOHC, dual CVVT (continuously variable valve timing), a cast alumninium block, off-set crankshaft, maintenance-free long-life timing chain and low friction ‘beehive’ valve springs. This combination of technologies have resulted in significantly reduced exhaust emissions, while allowing the Picanto range fuel excellent economy.
Features and technology: Uncompromised
The Picanto’s high quality interior has reflected the range’s newfound maturity since its debut in 2011, and this remains one of the Picanto’s major selling points. Major controls are arranged in an attractive, easy to use layout, while the thick rimmed, uniquely designed, two-spoke steering wheel and the signature Kia ‘three cylinder’ instrument cluster continues to reflect the consistency with which Kia’s new design philosophy is being used throughout the brand’s product line-up.
Features available on both models include manual air-conditioning, an under-floor trunk storage box, retractable dual cup holders and sun visors with vanity mirrors, as well as AUX/iPod/USB connections for the radio CD player with MP3 compatibility (the EX also sports steering wheel mounted controls and hands-free Bluetooth®.
Apart from a greater percentage of high-strength steel used in the construction of the Picanto’s bodyshell, greater rigidity is achieved through ring-shaped reinforcing loops within the B- and C-pillars, and across the floor pan and roof, plus additional bracing at the front between the cowl and suspension towers.
The 1.0 LX and 1.2 EX boasts driver and passenger airbags. ABS anti-lock braking is standard on the 1.2 EX, as is an ESS (Emergency Stop Signal) system. Sensors detect when the driver is braking suddenly and hard, and then flash the brake lights three times to alert motorists behind you that the car is slowing rapidly. All models ship as standard with ISOFIX child seat anchors.
Value proposition: Amplified
The Picanto 1.0 LX retails for R130 995* (R142 995* for the automatic version), and the range-topping 1.2 EX for R140 995* (R152 995* for the automatic version). All derivatives ship as standard with a five-year/ 100 000km warranty. A two-year/ 45 000km optional service plan is also available. For more information, visit www.kia.co.za.