Picanto range safer than ever

SUCCESSFUL: ‘ONE OF THE BEST ENTRY-LEVEL A-SEGMENT CARS ON MARKET’ - SALES DIRECTOR

Emphasis placed on connectivity and infotainment in Kia’s updated line-up.

Entering its third year of production this year, Kia has introduced a number of specification upgrades to the Picanto range, including the removal of some models.

“The current Kia Picanto has been a great success for the Kia brand ever since it launched locally in 2017,” says Stephen Crosse, sales director, Kia Motors South Africa. “A consistent achiever in the sales charts, it’s also been recognised by industry experts and members of the press as one of the best cars you can buy in the entry-level A-segment. We are very excited about the revisions made to the line-up for the 2020 model year.”

Starting the upgrades off, the entry-level Start now comes as standard with a passenger’s airbags and anti-lock braking system, while the next step-up, Street, receives rear electric windows, heated and electric mirrors, the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a newly designed plastic cover for the 14-inch steel wheel.

The mid-range Style is next and benefits from 14-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel and gear knob plus folding electric mirrors with integrated indicators.

At the sharp end, the Smart’s revisions have gone the other way, with the removal of the rear parking sensors and reverse camera, both now optional, and inclusion of a sunroof that previously featured on the options list.

According to Kia, customer feedback put more emphasis on connectivity and infotainment.

Up front, the automaker has kept the existing engine line-up unchanged, but with the Street no longer offering the 1.2-litre petrol engine and the Smart doing without the smaller 1.0-litre engine.

Both engines’ outputs are kept as is with the three-pot producing 49kW/95Nm and the four-cylinder 61kW/122Nm.

A five-speed manual gearbox is standard across the line-up with a four-speed automatic optional.

“Various safety tests have proven that the Picanto’s expertly engineered safety shell makes it one of the safest cars you can buy in its segment,” says Crosse. “With the addition of a second airbag and

ABS brakes in the Start models, the entire Picanto range is now up to date on safety specification.

“The Picanto Smart has always punched above its weight with its high levels of standard features. Customers who have purchased the Smart absolutely adore their cars, but have also given us insightful feedback on what is really needed, and what is not.

“In tough economic times where the pressure on affordability is not letting up, the revision of the Picanto range for 2020 brings a significant value offering to the market,” says Crosse. 1.0 Start ..... ......................................... R167 995 1.0 Start AT .......................................... R181 995 1.0 Street ............................................. R179 995 1.0 Street AT ........................................ R193 995 1.2 Street ............................................. R188 995 1.2 Street AT ....................................... R202 995 1.0 Style ............................................... R189 995 1.0 Style AT ......................................... R203 995 1.2 Style ................................................ R198 995 1.2 Style AT .......................................... R212 995 1.2 Smart .............................................. R219 995 1.2 Smart AT ........................................ R233 995 All Picanto models come standard with an unlimited kilometre, five-year warranty inclusive of roadside assistance, plus a twoyear/30 000km service plan.