29-07-2018:
Report of poor response to accelerator pedal in new Kia Picanto S Line 1.25 at between 3,000-4,000rpm. No problem with cruise control bringing car up to speed, but very sluggish using the pedal. There is probably something wrong with the 'potentiometer' accelerator switch. The car has a 'drive by wire system' that makes an electrical connection between the accelerator pedal and the throttle body.
06-10-2019:
Various complaints about 2017/67 KIA Picanto. Throttle control potentiometer replaced at first service. C lutch judder, worse in wet, cold weather, reversing uphill into a parking slot. Dealer has tested and does not acknowledge. Screen washers blocked. Dealer’s stance was that was owner's way of using the washers and/or wrong additive that was causing blockage. They cleared it, refilled with their “Car Plan Orange”, sold owner a bottle and fitted more generous nozzles.
08-11-2019:
Complaint of clutch judder first thing in the morning in 2018 KIA Picanto X-Line 1.25. Goes away after 5 minutes driving.
01-01-2020:
Rattle in front passenger area of new KIA Picanto 1 found to come from loose unused wiring connection block banging against a body part. Easily fixed by straightening and moving the wiring and block.
06-01-2020:
Another rattle reported behind the dash of a 2019 Hyundai i10, probably for the same reason as the KIA Picanto (above).
08-02-2021:
Kia Picanto reported to have had both front suspension springs replaced under warranty.
April 2017
Kia Picanto goes on sale
The new Kia Picanto goes on sale in the UK with prices as follows.
Picanto ‘1’ 69HP 5-speed manual £9,450
Picanto ‘2’ 69HP 5-speed manual £10,750
Picanto ‘2’ 85HP 5-speed manual £11,250
Picanto ‘2’ 85HP 4-speed torque converter auto £11,900
Picanto ‘GT-Line’ 66HP 5-speed manual £11,950
Picanto ‘GT-Line’ 83HP 5-speed manual £12,450
Picanto ‘3’ 85HP 5-speed manual £12,650
Picanto ‘3’ 85HP 4-speed torque converter auto £13,300
Picanto ‘GT-Line S’ 85HP 5-speed manual £13,950
February 2018
Kia Picanto X-Line goes on sale
Kia Picanto X-Line now in UK with Picanto X-Line 1.25 priced at £12,595 on the road.
The Picanto X-Line is powered by Kia’s three-cylinder 1.0-litre T-GDI engine. Previously only available in the Cee’d model family and Rio, the lightweight, compact new engine is available with a Picanto variant for the first time.
The 1.0-litre T-GDI engine produces 100PS and 172Nm torque. The new 1.0-litre T-GDi engine is also being introduced to the sports-inspired Picanto GT-Line, with identical performance and power and torque outputs.
July 2018
Picanto 1.0 T-GDi launched
The new engine develops 99bhp and 171Nm of torque, making it the most powerful Picanto ever. It can accelerate to 60mph in just 9.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 112mph.
The latest engine to join the Picanto range is available exclusively in ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ grades and further broadens the appeal of Kia’s city car. Larger sports bumpers and red highlights within the upper grille, side air intakes and side sills deliver a sporting edge, with the dynamic look completed by a rear diffuser, twin exhaust tailpipes and 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/45 R16 tyres.
Bi-function projection headlights deliver a racier look, alongside LED daytime running lights at the front and LED lamps at the rear. Inside, the sporty appearance continues with black and red faux leather upholstery, stainless-steel pedals and satin chrome interior door handles.
‘GT-Line S’ models also feature an electric sunroof, heated front seats and steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, a smart key with engine start/stop button and cruise control with speed limiter, while satellite navigation, Kia Connected Services with TomTom and a wireless mobile phone charger are also standard.
Prices start at £13,320 for the ‘GT-Line’ model, with the 'GT-Line S’ version costing £14,720. The new powerplant already exceeds the latest Euro 6d TEMP emissions regulations, with CO 2 emissions of 117g/km and a combined fuel economy figure of 55.4mpg.
The T-GDi engine accelerates the Picanto from standstill to 60mph in 9.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 112mph. The new engine exceeds the latest Euro 6d TEMP emissions regulations, with CO2 emissions of 117g/km and a combined fuel economy figure of 55.4mpg.
January 2019
Picanto Wave special edition revealed
Said to be inspired by sunny beaches and blue skies, a new Picanto special edition is now on sale called the Picanto Wave.
Powered by the 1.0-litre petrol engine, the Picanto Wave is finished in Celestial Blue premium paintwork with blue Denim-style cloth and faux leather upholstery.
Standard equipment includes 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, privacy glass for the rear windows and tailgate, a reversing camera system with dynamic guidelines, a six-speaker audio system with 7.0-inch touchscreen display with RDS and DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice control and a wireless mobile phone charger.
In addition, there are white accents to the lower centre console trim, air vents and door armrest, together with satin chrome interior door handles and a centre console that features a storage box and sliding armrest.
The Picanto Wave costs £11,895.
October 2019
Updates for 2020 Kia Picanto
The Picanto now features Integrated Stop & Go (ISG) on all vehicles equipped with a manual gearbox. At the same time, the Picanto 1.0-litre now features four-seats, in place of the previous five-seat arrangement, and the entry-level model gets a style upgrade with a new design of wheel trims for the ‘1’ grade.
January 2020
Kia Picanto Zest special edition announced
Priced from £12,650 and features bold Lime Light premium metallic paint as standard. Power comes from the entry-level 67PS 1.0-litre petrol engine combined with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Further standard kit includes 15-inch alloy wheels, grey faux-leather seats and a reversing camera. LED daytime running lights and rear lights are also included, as is rear privacy glass. The inside features black high-gloss trim and a seven-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
October 2020
Updated Kia Picanto priced from £10,745
High-end GT-Line and X-Line models get a textured grille and red or black highlights to help them stand out from the range's lower reaches.
Revised rear LEDs complete the look, you can choose from eight paint finishes and alloy wheels 14-16 inches in size.
Inside, ’3’ models and upwards get a larger infotainment screen – up from seven to eight inches – and it can connect wirelessly to two phones, not one as before.
Engines have also been improved. The Picanto's offered with two petrols – a 99PS 1.0-litre with a turbocharger or a 66PS 1.0-litre without. All but basic ‘1’ models have a five-speed manual gearbox that can be swapped for a five-speed automated manual.
Safety has also been boosted with ‘2’ models and upwards coming with an automatic emergency braking system that can detect people as well as cars. All models get seven-airbags including an airbag for your knees.
The new range is priced from £10,745 for a 66PS Picanto ‘1’ rising to £15,795 for a top-of-the-range 99PS GT-Line S model.
December 2021
Kia Picanto Shadow special edition announced
Kia UK has revealed the Kia Picanto Shadow, a special edition model now available to order from Kia dealers and priced from £13,845 on-the-road.
For £895 more than the equivalent ‘2’ model, the Kia Picanto Shadow features 15-inch alloy wheels (up from 14-inch alloys), privacy glass, LED daytime running lights and bi-function projection headlamps, rear LED lights and front fog lamps. The body is also finished in premium Astro Grey metallic paint.
Inside, the Shadow features a six-speaker audio system, 8.0-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a centre console storage box with sliding armrest, and a reversing camera system with dynamic guidelines. Furthermore, the black cloth upholstery from the ‘2’ is replaced with exclusive new black faux leather upholstery with light grey stitching.
The Picanto Shadow is powered by Kia’s popular 1.0-litre DPi (Dual-Port injection) petrol engine, producing 66bhp and paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
May 2024
Facelifted Kia Picanto goes on sale
Kia Picanto given mid-life facelift with prices starting at £15,595 on the road. Available to order with deliveries from July 2024.
Simple, four-tier line-up: ‘2’, ‘GT-Line’, ‘3’ and ‘GT-Line S’
The updated model features new vertical headlights and a lightbar leading into the front air intakes.
Inside, the Picanto offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch touchscreen navigation and multiple USB charging ports, all of which are standard on every variant.
The Kia Picanto comes with a choice of two engines: a three-cylinder 1.0-litre (62bhp) or four-cylinder 1.2-litre (77bhp) petrol engine, both offering efficient and capable motoring with lower emissions than before.
Both engines drive the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission (5MT) as standard. An optional five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT) is also available on all versions: a manual transmission with clutch and gear shift actuators to automate their respective functions.
In the UK, the 1.0-litre engine is available on the ‘2’, ‘GT-Line’ and ‘3’ grade variants. The 1.2-litre engine is available exclusively on ‘GT-Line S’ models.
June 2024
Kia Picanto Shadow special edition announced, priced from £18,045
Kia has announced a Shadow special edition of the Picanto. Shadow models are based on the Picanto 3 model, but add more features, exclusive interior colours and premium paint as standard.
The Kia Picanto celebrates its 20th anniversary in the UK in 2024. The Picanto Shadow costs £500 more than the ‘3’ model upon which it’s based, but gives buyers the choice of Adventurous Green, Astro Grey or Midnight Black paint, and an Adventurous Green interior.
Prices for the Picanto Shadow start at £18,045 for the manual model or £18,745 for the automatic version.