Kia Picanto, the new series arrives in Italy: how the city car changes: more hi-tech and updated styling

It retains small dimensions, but becomes an ambitious city car. In fact, the new series of the small Kia Picanto gets into the game with a restyling that takes inspiration from the brand's larger and more recent models, including the oversized Ev9 electric SUV. The Picanto's update that advances the renewal of the Kia range involves not only aesthetics rather than enriching technologies, but also behaviour to optimise driveability and dynamism both in the city and on non-urban routes.

With a length of 3.60 metres, a width of 1.60 metres, a height of 1.48 metres and a wheelbase of 2.40 metres like its predecessor, the new Picanto still ranks among the most functional city cars thanks to its five-door body. Despite its size, the 2024 edition Picanto has a more authoritative line than its predecessor, from which it inherits only the presentation of the sides. Otherwise, the outfit defined by the brand's current stylistic course is all new. The front features the family style of all the latest generation Kia cars, with a robust bumper shield that encloses the large air intakes, the large grille and the vertical headlights, full LEDs from the second trim level onwards, which are joined at the top by a satin-finished profile, replaced by a band of LEDs on the top of the range version. At the rear, the update brings with it a new bumper shield, which on the top of the range version incorporates an aerodynamic diffuser, and headlamps linked by a strip of LEDs running along the tailgate.

The cabin of the new Picanto reconfirms the standard five-seat configuration with which the first series debuted twenty years ago, which was a rarity at the time but, of course, where two people travel comfortably in the rear. The interior is furnished like that of the previous Picano, but new upholstery and eye-catching colour combinations make the ambience more welcoming. Regardless of trim and engine, all standard Picantos adopt a 10.25-inch cluster that can be configured in the 4.2-inch centre area and the 8-inch central infotainment touchscreen display with navigation, which uses real-time traffic data and cloud-based historical data to suggest the best routes. In addition, the system offers Ota updates, free Kia Connect features for seven years that include various services, online voice recognition with which to get different types of information. On the higher trim versions there is also wireless charging for smartphones. The Picanto has a boot capacity that is at the top of the city car segment, ranging from 255 to 1,010 litres.

The 2024 Picanto collection offers new engines, all of which are also suitable for novice drivers. At the base of the offer is still the 1-litre, 12-valve three-cylinder engine updated to meet the latest anti-pollution standards, which now delivers 63 horsepower and 93 Nm of torque, promises average mileage of 20 kilometres to the gallon and pushes the car to 145 km/h and 100 km/h in 15"6. At the top of the range there is now a 1.2-litre four-cylinder with 79 horsepower and 113 Nm of torque credited with a range close to 18 kilometres to the gallon, with which this Picanto will reach 159 mph and 60 mph in 13.1 seconds. Both are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, but there is also an optional five-speed robotised gearbox that avoids the use of a clutch. These gearboxes will also be available for a great classic in the Picanto family: the bifuel LPG 1.0 version that will be marketed in a few months. The new baby-Kia also adopts more direct steering and the torque vectoring function integrated in the stability management. The driver assistance systems chapter has been enhanced to comply with the regulations that will come into force in July and, by adding new devices to those already present on the previous Picanto, makes the line-up very complete to include, for example, cruise control with speed limiter and lane keeping.

Dynamically, the new Picanto with the smallest and least powerful engine in the range delivers what the evolution of the species promises. The revamped three-cylinder obviously does not have an exuberant temperament, but it satisfies with its smoothness of delivery and quietness, which only during decisive acceleration reveals the typical tonality of this type of engine. In city use, which is of course the most in keeping with the car's personality, there is appreciable suppleness, and driveability is aided by the Picanto's size and the readiness of the steering, which allow you to sneak through traffic without fretting. Comfort is good, thanks in part to the 16-inch rims on the 20th Anniversary trim and above, which help the suspension to take on slight bumps in the road with good gradualness. Outside the city, the Picanto 1.0 is always reliable and manoeuvrable.