Kia Picanto

First generation (2004–2011)

The first generation Picanto was revealed at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was based on a shortened platform of the Hyundai Getz and was 3,495 mm (137.6 in) long, with a five-door hatchback body style. The car was available with a choice of two petrol engines: a 1.0-litre, with 61 hp (45 kW) and 86 N·m (63 lb·ft), or a 1.1-litre, with 65 hp (48 kW) and 97 N·m (72 lb·ft), both with multipoint injection. In Europe, a 1.1-litre three-cylinder diesel engine (based on the Kia Cerato's 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit) was also available, with direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger, the power reaching 75 hp (56 kW) and a torque of 153 N·m (113 lb·ft). The petrol engines had a combined consumption of 5.1 l/100 km (55 mpg_‑imp) and 5.2 l/100 km (54 mpg_‑imp) respectively, while the diesel used 4.4 l/100 km (64 mpg_‑imp). An automatic gearbox (with torque converter) was optional for the petrol units. In some countries, it was sold with a 1.2-litre engine, also used on the newer Hyundai i10.

To increase its appeal in the European market, the Picanto was equipped with such features as CD player with MP3 audio playback, air conditioning, front and patented rear electric windows, remote central locking, and electric mirrors. These features were advertised in a short-lived ad campaign starring Marcus Grönholm.

Safety

Euro NCAP test results for a LHD, 5-door hatchback variant on a 2004 registration:

Facelift

The Picanto received a facelift in late 2007. Among the minor changes were the light clusters (front and rear), a new bumper and front grille. For the UK and Cyprus markets, the indicator stalk was switched to the opposite side. For the Italian market, a new bi-fuel LPG version debuted alongside the 1.0 L and 1.1 L engines. This model also saw a change in power steering configuration from hydraulic to electric.

For the 2010 model year, the Picanto received some minor interior and exterior changes, including a new front fascia that incorporates the "tiger nose" grille.

Second generation (2011–present)

The second generation Picanto made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Designed by Kia's European design team based in Frankfurt, Germany, under the direction of Peter Schreyer, the new model is longer in wheelbase and overall length than its predecessor. The Picanto is offered with a choice of two gasoline engines: a 1.0 liter three-cylinder or a 1.25 liter four-cylinder. The Europe-spec 1.25 liter engine features ecoDynamics, Kia's start-stop system. In addition, there is also a petrol/LPG version of the 1.0 liter engine available. The Brazil version is equipped with a flex fuel version of the 1.0 liter engine that uses both petrol and ethanol.

The Picanto is available worldwide (except North America, Venezuela, China, and Singapore; it was pulled out of Thailand in 2016) as a 5-door hatchback while the European market receives the exclusive 3-door variant. The 3-door version is the same length as the 5-door model, but it sports new windows and doors, different bumpers and a front grille with silver or red trim. In South Korea, the Morning is offered in a Sport Pack, which consists of the 3-door's front and rear bumpers, as well as a digital speedometer.

In some countries, the Picanto name is accompanied by a modifier for marketing reasons. Examples include Picanto Ion for Colombia, Picanto R for Ecuador, Picanto Flex for Brazil, Picanto K1 for Thailand, and Picanto 1250 for New Zealand. In the Indonesian market, the 1.0 liter variant was named Morning 1.0 to distinguish it from the 1.2 liter Picanto; this variant was sold in 2015 only.

Picanto R-Cross

In November 2013, Kia Netherlands released a limited edition model called the Picanto R-Cross. Marketed to compete with the Volkswagen CrossUp, this model features a black body kit that wraps around the wheel wells and is fitted with 14" alloy wheels. Only 500 units of the R-Cross were produced.

Marketing

As part of the marketing campaign for the Picanto, Kia produced a promotional video featuring the world's first nail art animation. Over 900 artificial nails and 1,200 bottles of nail polish were used in a span of 25 days (with each nail taking two hours to paint) to create images of the Picanto in motion.

In the UK, the Picanto is the official sponsor of the ITV dating game show Take Me Out. Kia UK released a series of viral videos on their YouTube channel to promote both the car and the programme. Each video features actress Natasha Barrero, as she drives a black Picanto 3-door before being swooned over by different men.

A Lemon Grass Morning appears as the transforming robot Tobot D in the South Korean animated series Tobot.

Reception

The Picanto was met with positive reviews in the UK. Top Gear magazine gave it a score of seven out of 10, describing it as "a well-made, well-equipped, practical and affordable little thing that’s cheap to run and ought to put the wind up more expensive European cars." What Car? magazine gave it three out of five stars, commenting that it has "a classy cabin and a fine driving position. Most versions are decently equipped and there’s a market-leading seven-year warranty." Auto Express rated it 3.8 out of five stars, calling it "one of the best looking cars in its class, with chunky styling and the firm’s distinctive ‘tiger-nose’ grille – it makes the Hyundai i10 look dull and the Fiat 500 a bit old-fashioned." The magazine also ranked the Picanto sixth among the 10 best city cars. Ben Barry of Car Magazine gave it four out of five stars, calling it "a very accomplished car, one that looks good and is fun to drive whether you’re in town or out on the open road."

Awards

The Picanto won the iF product design award in the "Transportation Design" category in 2011 and the Red Dot award in the "Automobiles, transportation, commercial and water vehicles" category in 2012. Top Gear magazine named the Picanto "Bargain Car of the Year" in 2011. The Association of Scottish Motoring Writers awarded the Picanto as "Best Small Car" in 2011. In South Africa, the Picanto took the Standard Bank People's Wheels Award for "Budget Buys - Affordability First" three years straight from 2011 to 2013. In 2016, J.D. Power and Associates awarded the Picanto on UK Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) in the City Car category.

Safety

Euro NCAP test results for a LHD, 5-door hatchback variant on a 2011 registration:

ASEAN NCAP test results for a RHD, 5-door hatchback variant on a 2013 registration (with and without airbags):

The airbag variant tested was the Malaysian model equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Isofix. The non-airbag variant tested was the Thai version, which is similarly equipped as the Philippine and Indonesian models.

Facelift

For the 2014 model year, the Morning in South Korea uses the European three-door's front and rear bumpers with the headlights incorporating a new LED daytime running light system. The interior features a revised instrument cluster that uses a digital speedometer. The silver trim is replaced with a gloss black trim. A touchscreen multimedia stereo system is offered as an option. The new model is equipped with seven airbags, a Cornering Brake Control system, a handbrake alarm, and height adjustable seat belts. Aside from the standard 1.0 liter gasoline engine, the Picanto is offered with a new "Eco-Plus" engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The international version of the Picanto remains unchanged aside from the new front bumper.

For the 2015 model year, the Picanto receives redesigned front and rear bumpers with new fog lamps. In addition, the car is offered with a turbocharged version of its 1.0 liter Kappa II engine, which increases power output from 69 hp to 106 hp. The refined engine meets Euro 6 standards. The Picanto is also offered with optional 252 mm (9.9 in) front disc brakes (an increase from the stock 241 mm (9.5 in)).

The facelifted Picanto debuted at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March and went on sale across Europe by the end of the month.

Third generation (2017–present)

In October 2014, Kia Motors announced that the third generation Picanto will be launched within the second half of 2015. The new model will be using sheet metal of lighter weight than its predecessor. In January 2016, spy shots of the new model were published online. In December 2016, Kia Motors released sketches of the third generation Picanto online and announced that the new model will make its official debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

The Picanto will be equipped with a choice of three engines: the outgoing model's 1.0 liter Kappa II three cylinder engine in normal and turbocharged versions, and the 1.2 liter Kappa II four cylinder engine. Both 1.0 liter engines will be mated exclusively with a 5-speed manual transmission while the 1.2 liter engine will be offered with an optional automatic transmission.

The car will also feature all-new safety features such as Torque Vectoring Brake Based (TVBB) system, Straight Line Stability (SLS), Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS), and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).

Marketing

Kia Motors in South Korea debuted the Morning in January 2017 with a series of TV commercials featuring actors Shim Eun-kyung, Park Jung-min, and Jin Kyung.

Reliability

In January 2013, the Picanto was named most reliable car in the UK, according to data published by Moneysupermarket.com in conjunction with Warranty Direct. Out of an average Reliability Index (RI) score of 100 (the lower the score, the fewer problems reported by owners), the Picanto achieved a score of 3.00/100.

Motorsport

The Picanto is an official race car in Poland's Kia Lotos Race, a racing organization created by Kia Motors Polska and Grupa Lotos.

Chinese copy controversy

In 2015, Chinese automobile manufacturer Yogomo released the Yogomo 330 electric car, which is a near-exact copy of the second generation Picanto.