The facelifted Kia Picanto has
now shown itself in European clothing. The city car brings a refreshed design
for all models, including the GT-Line and X-Line variants, new interior color
customization options, two new Smartstream engines, and updated infotainment
and safety tech.
On the styling front, the facelifted Kia
Picanto features noticeable updates to the exterior, particularly for sporty
GT-Line and SUV-inspired X-Line models. They now feature a ‘tiger-nose’ grille
with a new textured surround and open-link appearance, a lower chrome trim that
extends into the redesigned headlights, red highlights on GT-Line and black
trim on X-Line, as well as four-bulb LED DRLs integrated into the headlamps.
At the back, the 2021 Picanto features a
new LED signature for the taillights and a slimmer fog light design.
Additionally, both the Picanto GT-Line and X-Line feature refreshed,
model-specific front and rear bumper designs with sharper creases. Customers
will be able to choose between 10 paint finishes and two new aluminum alloy
wheel designs: 14-inch in a 16-spoke look or a two-tone diamond-cut 16-inch
wheel.
When it comes to the interior, the 2021
Kia Picanto adds improved infotainment screens and new customization options. A
larger 8.0-inch touchscreen display with satellite navigation is now paired
with a high-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the instrument cluster. The
infotainment system offers standard Bluetooth multi-connection, Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto, as well as UVO Connect ‘Phase II’ telematics.
Depending on the trim level and market,
the cabin is offered with black cloth or synthetic leather seats, with upgrades
including new upholstery textures as well as black, silver or gloss black trim.
Buyers can choose between new optional interior color packs such as the Lime
Pack, Orange Pack, Red Pack and Green Pack.
As far as the powertrains go, the Korean
city car gets two new Smartstream three-cylinder petrol engines: a naturally aspirated
1.0-liter rated at 67 PS and a 1.0-liter T-GDi turbo making 100 PS. The units are said to be more economical and cleaner than their
predecessors thanks to a new Integrated Thermal Management System (ITMS) and an
optional Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) based on a five-speed manual
transmission.
The 2021 Picanto benefits from an upgraded
safety package as well, including new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
(ADAS), and a range of new active safety systems. Depending on specification,
the new ADAS range includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with vehicle and
pedestrian detection, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping
Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and Lane Following Assist.
The latter uses the front-facing camera
and sensors to monitor road markings and steer the Picanto to keep it in the
center of its lane. The Picanto also offers Rear Cross-Traffic
Collision-Avoidance Assist, Emergency Stop Signal and Hill-start Assist
Control. Kia will start sales of the 2021 Picanto in Europe during the third
quarter of 2020 and in the UK in the fourth quarter.
