Some people want to buy cars with a lot of road presence and massive engines, but there are also a lot of people that want cheap and efficient cars to whiz around the city without having to worry about scratches or dents. The Picanto has been one of the best-selling small city cars in the World, despite being one of the least powerful cars on the market, and the current model managed to offer a fun driving experience and a better than average interior without costing more than $10,000 for a base car. However, because it had been released back in 2011, a new model has been rumored to be delivered with the 2017 Kia Picanto for some time now.
UPDATE 03/10/2017
Geneva International Motor Show – 2017 Kia Picanto
Although not so big on the outside, the next-generation 2017 Kia Picanto is spacious inside the cabin and will be a worthy opponent to the VW up!, Peugeot 108, Citroen C1, Citigo, and Mii trio. One of the advantages that this model has over its competitors is that it offers best-in-class trunk capacity of 255 liters and the automaker is confident that no A-segment vehicle can compete with them in that field.
The list of new features and improvements starts with a different youthful exterior which can be best witnessed by taking a look at the range-topping GT Line version presented in Geneva and on the podium right now. Wanting to ensure a more pleasurable ride, the 2017 model gets an improvement when it comes to noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) reduction. This result was achieved by using 100% more high-strength steel than the outgoing model did. The South Korean automaker claims that the 2017 Picanto is the quietest vehicle in its class with 39 dB of noise.
Also, the company proudly revealed that this car is the first one in its class to feature an autonomous emergency braking system. The system serves as a safety component, and in the case of collision, the vehicle will automatically apply the brakes preventing further damage.
Inside the cabin, the central stage takes the infotainment system with the new seven-inch touchscreen along with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto options. The length of the wheelbase was increased by 15 mm (0.6 inches), so there is more space inside the cabin, although the overall length of the vehicle remained unchanged. The engineers at Kia placed the wheels further in the corners and shortened the front overhang to make it roomier than before.
When it comes to engine options, the 2017 Picanto will have the same naturally aspirated 1.0- and 1.25-litre gasoline units that its predecessor featured. Also, towards the end of the year, the Picanto will be offered with a turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-liter engine that is good for 100 hp (74 kW) and 172 Nm (127 lb-ft) of torque. The vehicle will have FWD and a five-speed manual transmission, although the 1.25-liter will also be offered with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
The 2017 Kia Picanto will be available to buyers in the second quarter of 2017.
Update 01/09/2016
Kia published the 2017 Picanto photos
If you have been wondering what the new Picanto will look like, look no further. Kia has decided to show us the photographs before the vehicle’s official unveiling at the Geneva motor show which is scheduled for March 2017.
The new car will be available in GT-Line trim level which is something Kia has never done before with this model. The Picanto will hit the showrooms during the spring of 2017, but not before its Geneva debut.
The current Picanto is available both as a three- and five-door model. However, due to three-door versions low selling rate, the 2018 vehicle will feature five doors as an only option, just like Kia Rio.
We still do not have any information regarding the powertrain, but it will probably be the same one its predecessor features with slight improvements in efficiency and emissions. Kia might decide to use the same engines the new Rio features, the 99 bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder and 1.25-litre petrol engine. Will a diesel variant be available? We do not know, but if Kia decides to launch it, it will be the first Picanto to run on diesel in the UK.
The 2017 Kia Picanto will feature a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs than the previous vehicle, as the company suggested. The target group for the new version is younger population, and that is why this car will have a sportier look along with higher levels of available personalization options. Contrasting color trim inside and outside the cabin is also available.
When it comes to the things we noticed inside the cabin, the central stage is taken by the touchscreen infotainment system which is positioned high on the dashboard that has fewer buttons than before. The 2017 Picanto will also be equipped with an abundance of new technology and safety features.
It is expected that the entry-level model is marked with 1, whereas the best and most expensive variant gets the number 5 since other Kia vehicles follow this pattern. We do not know the specifications of those trim levels, but we do know that there will be a GT-Line.
When it comes to price, the GT-Line will cost more or less the same as the Picanto 5. The starting price for the new model will be around £9,000 which is a bit more expensive than the outgoing vehicle.
2017 Kia Picanto – Offers a Fun Driving
While so far we didn’t know too much about the new iteration, a few months ago a vehicle has been spied testing while being heavily camouflaged. Even though Kia hasn’t said a word so far, it is clear that the spied car is, in fact, the upcoming 2017 Kia Picanto. From the looks of it, the new version will be just as large as the current generation, but the design is likely going to change dramatically.
The base price of under $10,000 will still be the same but this time around expect a lot more options regarding customization and interior features, all of which are going to bring the price up.
There are quite a few changes available in various markets for the small Picanto but most of them are available in Europe with a tiny 1.0-liter naturally aspirated mill with 68 horsepower or a slightly larger 1.25-liter unit with 84 horsepower.
Rumors say that the new model of the car will only get a single engine choice which will be available in naturally aspirated form with around 75 horsepower or in turbocharged form with as much as 98 horsepower. Both of them will use a similar amount of fuel, and both of them should be mated to an improved six-speed manual or a new automatic.
Even though we can’t say too much about the exterior or interior of the 2017 Kia Picanto as it hasn’t been officially unveiled just yet, we can easily say that the new model will be borrowing heavily from the US market cars with their new sportier grille and the more muscular lines. This move allows Kia to offer elegant and more refined small vehicle and to bring it closer to other models in its lineup.
The cabin of the new car is also expected to be roomier thanks to a new platform. We could hear that it will have a different floor and that it should also come with much better materials even on the base version. Don’t expect it to be a competitor to more established brands; but still, the price will give it better chances with potential buyers.
