Kia Picanto

On the inside, the Kia Picanto takes its premium appeal at a whole new level, thanks to the impeccable build quality and the long list of features it comes blessed with.

The rounded theme for the steering wheel with buttons for audio and Bluetooth on them look cute, however, the instrument console behind the steering wheel has a boring layout and fonts. The centre console looks quite unique due to the long thin strip of silver garnish running above the horizontal AC vents at the centre, which ends up just above the glove box. The floating type touchscreen infotainment system packs in all the modern features, including Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The Picanto also offers features like electrically adjustable and foldable rear view mirrors, height adjustable driver’s seat, tilt adjustable steering, and keyless entry. However, considering the short wheelbase of the Picanto, the rear seat space is quite low with limited legroom on offer.

The Picanto blends in the aggressive design language of Kia’s other bigger vehicles effortlessly with a charming theme, which sure is meant to impress the younger set of buyers in the crowd.

At the front, the Kia Picanto gets the brands traditional “tiger nose” grille, in a sleek and horizontally stretched manner. The large headlamps come with projector units and daytime running LEDs within them, which along with projector fog lamps at the front make the Picanto look premium when viewed head-on.

The side profile of the Kia Picanto lacks any kind of visual drama and is designed quite in a simple manner. The multi-spoke alloy wheels have an impressive and extrovert design, though. The rear of the Kia Picanto looks minimalist, thanks to a simple rear hatch with C-shaped LED tail lamps on the outer edges of the hatch. The rounded trapezoidal housing, as well as vertical shape for reflectors and reverse lamps in the rear bumper, make it look trendy.

Just like any other urban hatchback, the Kia Picanto sits on a monocoque frame and gets MacPherson Struts with Stabilizer with Gas Type Shock Absorber and Coil Spring at the front and Coupled Torsion Beam Axle with Gas Type Shock Absorber and Coil Spring at the rear. Given its prime usage in city conditions, the steering, as well as suspension setup, are on a softer side for effortless drivability. While the GT line variant gets 15-inch alloy wheels, the lower variants ride on smaller wheels.

On the powertrain front, the Kia Picanto is being offered with two engine options, both of which are petrol powered. The smaller 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine produces 67 PS of power and 97 Nm of torque and is coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox. On the other hand, the bigger 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine pumps out more punch with 84 PS of power and 124 Nm of torque and is coupled to a 4-speed automatic gearbox only.

For a car of this size and price point, the Kia Picanto is impressively equipped with premium safety features like front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, and reverse parking sensors.

The Kia Picanto might be small in size, but it is high on aspirational value, considering the fact that it is quite loaded with premium comfort, convenience, and safety features. It also displays a sturdy build quality. The engine performance and ride and handling are decent enough to make it a great choice for first-time car buyers.