Kia's updates Picanto hatchback with new look
Changes include a redesigned front end and a new full-width light bar
With rival brands departing from the city car class and affordable superminis like the Ford Fiesta being phased out, Kia anticipates an increased interest in its recently updated Picanto hatchback, which boasts a new look.
The refreshed design appears to have been inspired by Kia's flagship EV9 SUV. Notable updates include redesigned front and rear lights and grille.
The new Picanto distinguishes itself with a full-width light bar at the front and rear, exclusive to the GT-Line trim. Other models feature black trim instead. The red accents from the previous car have also been replaced with black trim pieces.
The interior of the latest Picanto closely resembles the outgoing model, albeit with some additions. New interior colour options - Adventurous Green (matching the new exterior paint) and Rich Brown, will be available.
All new Picanto models come equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Additionally, a standard 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster is included.
Safety features meanwhile include a driver-attention monitoring system, while the Forward Collision System has been updated to assist in avoiding collisions when turning at junctions.
The outgoing model's 66 bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine will carry over, and a 1.2-litre engine will also be available. However, the 1.0-liter T-GDi turbo petrol engine making 99bhp has been dropped for this updated model.
Both engine options will be paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission.
Official pricing details have yet to be announced, but a slight price increase is expected compared to the outgoing 66bhp Picanto 2, which was priced at £14,165.