The second styling upgrade for Kia’s smallest model has been caught on camera in Sweden ahead of showroom arrivals later this year. The Picanto is due to receive another facelift before the end of 2023 – after the current model launched in 2017, and its first facelift in 2020 – in place of a new generation for the time being, amid declining city-car sales globally.
However, these images show Kia’s updated Picanto is due to receive a makeover inspired by the upcoming Kia EV9 seven-seat electric SUV. There are new headlights with a vertical look similar to the EV9 – as well as upcoming facelifts for the Sorento seven-seat SUV and Carnival people mover – as part of what appears to be a new front bumper.
The machined alloy wheels are also new, and there’s a redesigned rear bumper. The taillights are also revised – but it’s unclear if they will adopt the curved look of the EV9, or if a more conventional design will be adopted, similar to today’s model.
It is unclear if the interior would adopt the latest screens and features from other Hyundai and Kia cars – or if these would be deemed too expensive for the Picanto’s budget role in showrooms.
No updates to the 1.2-litre non-turbo four-cylinder or 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder engines are anticipated, as they already meet the latest European emissions regulations – and any upgrades at this point in the Kia Picanto’s lifecycle would be costly.
As reported previously, based on the typical six-year life cycles of Kia models, the Picanto would customarily be due for replacement by an all-new model in 2023, as the current car went on sale in 2017.
However, Kia is instead prioritizing another facelift – for the time being – as sales of city cars decline globally, and strict 2025 emissions rules in the Picanto’s main market, Europe, threaten the future of affordable, petrol-powered small cars.
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