The new Picanto, with its tough, technical, Sorento-inspired styling, is now open to order, with prices starting from £15,595.
That's a modest £500-or-so increase on the pre-facelift model, and keeps the Kia Picanto in line with its nearest rivals. It's a bit more expensive than the Dacia Sandero and the ageing Fiat Panda, but a little cheaper than the Fiat 500, Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo X.
Four trim levels are available, starting with the '2' model. Even this model offers an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with all-round electric windows, air con, alloy wheels a reversing camera, auto headlights, lane-keep assist and cruise control.
GT-Line adds LED headlights, 16-inch wheels – up from 14 inches on '2' trim – and tinted rear windows, plus a sporty exterior and interior treatment featuring fun red accents, with prices starting from £16,745.
Next up, the £17,545 '3' trim includes climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and wireless phone charging. Top-spec GT-Line S combines the equipment of '3' with the keen looks of GT-Line, and adds blind-spot monitoring. Kia will charge you £18,445 for this version, plus an extra £575 if you choose one of the premium paint finishes on any model.
New Kia Picanto styling
You’ll immediately notice the styling changes at the front, where Y-shaped light clusters see the bulbs arranged vertically. A piece of chrome trim links the two headlights above a blocky-looking grille. The back end is familiar but with a new full-width light bar sitting beneath the rear windscreen. Four of the nine available colours are new for the facelift, and there are new wheel designs ranging from 14-16 inches.
Kia has also included a host of online features that you probably wouldn’t expect to find in a city car. The Kia Connect system includes live traffic information, weather forecasts and even information on local car parks and whether spaces are available. The sat nav guidance can link to your phone when you leave the car, which will be handy if you need to get to your destination on foot. Additionally, software updates can be actioned over-the-air rather than having to go to a dealership.
The engine range is largely the same as before, meaning you have a choice of 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines – although the 1.2-litre engine is now reserved for the GT-Line S trim, disappointingly. While the 1.0 promises to be slightly more economical – and it should be cheaper to insure – the 1.2-litre engine will probably be the better choice for motorway journeys or steep hills. As before, an automated gearbox is available if you'd rather not shift gears yourself – it costs £700.
The interior space, including a class-leading 255-litre boot, also remains the same.
When can I buy the facelifted Kia Picanto from Motorpoint?
With first deliveries of the updated Picanto likely to take place in July, you can expect to see new Picantos starting to appear in Motorpoint showrooms by early 2025. For now, see how much you can save with our used Kia Picantos for sale, check out our in-depth Kia Picanto review or read our guide to the best small cars.
