Kia Picanto, restyling for the segment A best sold to individuals

Kia is selling the restyling of its ever-successful A-segment utility, the Kia Picanto. Despite being an update and not a generational change, the novelties that the Asian model incorporates are important and go far beyond aesthetics.

It is now available in the Kia dealer network with three different finishes, three different power engines, different types of gearboxes and seven body colors. Its starting price, including discounts and promotions, is 9,200 euros. Let's thoroughly check what this new Kia Picanto offers us.

Aesthetic details and X-Line finish

The first thing we should mention is that we have cosmetic changes on the exterior with new bumpers, a more stylized grille, more aggressiveness thanks to the larger main air intake and some tweaks carried out on the headlights, fog and pilots.

To this we must add that three different endings are offered. The level of access is the Kia Picanto Concept, which offers a cheaper price but logically a less attractive image than the top two finishes.

And is that the Kia Picanto can be configured with the GT Line and X-Line finishes. The former conveys a sportier image with specific interior and exterior details. Meanwhile, the x-Line variant provides a more crossover style with multiple and marked protections on all four sides, as well as a body with 15 mm more ground clearance.

For its part, inside we now have a new 8-inch central infotainment screen (before it was 7) in the most equipped versions. In addition, for 1,200 euros a package with a navigator, reversing camera, Android Auto and Apple Car Play is included, as well as Kia Live connectivity services. We can also have a small 4.2-inch screen in the instrument cluster.

There is no lack of some changes in the interior upholstery, using red tones for the GT Line versions and gray with green contrasts in the Kia Picanto x-Line. By the way, remember that despite being a car for segment A, the Picanto is approved for 5 occupants.

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More efficient engines

Important changes come in the range of engines, especially in the less powerful. The top of the range is the 1.0 T-GDI with 100 hp, which is a turbocharged three-cylinder. The atmospheric mechanics are now known as 1.0 DPI and 1.2 DPI, yielding 67 and 84 CV respectively. These now have high pressure double injection (up to 350 bar), which allows them to improve their efficiency.

Kia says the recirculation ducts have been improved, the valve timing has been optimized and they now have a more efficient cooling system.

Another highlight is that the two naturally aspirated engines come standard with a 5-speed manual transmission, but optionally they can also be combined with a 5-speed controlled gearbox. These "two pedal" versions are commercially referred to as AMT. They are not automatic gears, but piloted manual transmissions.

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