By Otsile Kadiege

Kia’s smallest family member – the Picanto (also known as Morning in other markets) – has been updated yet again with new looks inspired by some of the automaker’s new EVs, new technologies and upgraded safety.

Extensively updated exterior

On the outside, Kia borrowed the design cues from the Picanto’s all-electric stablemates – the new EV9. Up front, the facelifted Picanto sports vertically stacked LED headlights with Y-shaped daytime running lights. The pictured GT-Line derivative features chrome and gloss black accents as well as a redesigned front bumper.

In profile,  the Picanto GT-Line is shod with 16-inch alloy wheels. Other wheel sizes include optional 15-inch and standard 14-inch wheels. The rear sports newly designed LED taillights with an LED light bar on the tailgate and a faux rear diffuser. Kia also added two new colours, namely Adventurers Green and Signal Red.

Subtle interior updates

Inside, the Picanto gets a new 8.0-inch touch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a digitised instrument cluster and a 4.2-inch driver display. Korean Picantos will also feature a remote function.

Upgraded safety

The new Picanto features a variety of Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and a range of active safety systems to enhance occupant safety.  Depending on specification, the Picanto’s new ADAS features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5 (FCA) with vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian detection.

Additionally, the Picanto is available with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning and Leading Vehicle Departure Warning (DAW+), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Straight-line Stability (SLS) system.

The enhanced Picanto can be fitted with up to seven airbags throughout the cabin. It also features ISOFIX child-seat tether and anchor points.

Powertrains

The new Picanto comes with the choice of two engines: a 1.0-litre or a 1.2-litre petrol engine. Both engines drive the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission or via Kia’s Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), which is based around a five-speed manual transmission with clutch and gear shift actuators to automate their respective functions.

Kia South Africa says the updated Picanto will be available in South Africa in due course – no official launch date is available at the time of release, and features or specifications applicable to the South African model will only be confirmed closer to its South African launch date.