It’s hard to believe that 4 years have passed since the second-generation, Peter Schreyer designed Picanto was unveiled in Geneva.
Time certainly flies when you have a bona fide global sales success on your hands.
The enhanced version of the 2016 Kia Picanto was once again shown off in Geneva in March, and it has now made its way to the European market.
The idea behind the Picanto is straight-forward: deliver a vehicle that is small and affordable but which still offers impressive styling and technology.
That was delivered in spades when the second generation Picanto was revealed in 2011, and it’s an idea that continues to resonate with customers to this day.
2016 Kia Picanto design changes
The refreshed Kia Picanto is a mixture of sporty, yet refined styling, a high quality interior, and engines that are frugal and efficient.
Throw in a laundry list of standard equipment and you get a city car that is stylish and well ahead of the pack.
A few small changes have been made to the current model to give it a more premium sense of style, which only makes you feel as though you are getting more for the money.
Starting with the exterior, you will now find a sharper face, a newly designed front bumper, and some changes to the now familiar tiger nose grille.
The aforementioned bumper is flatter and squarer.
The large central air intake is now a single unit that has a pair pf large, square fog lamps on either side, both of which have been recessed into the bumper corners.
Daytime running lights are now found in a more central location in the housing, and they turn on the moment you turn the key to start the engine.
The Picanto now has a sportier look up front, thanks in part to the changes to the bumper and the lengthening of the chrome tiger nose grille.
The side profile and uncluttered rear portion of the vehicle remain pretty much the same.
The one small change is the addition of a matte black lower edge to the rear bumper that rises up to flank the slightly changed rear fog lamps.
Facelifted 2016 Kia Picanto interior
The previous model already had an upmarket feel in the cabin, but changes have been made to the fascia around the audio system to further enhance that.
Both models come with standard features that include connections for AUX/iPod/USB to deliver MP3 compatibility, AC, retractable dual cup holders, and sun visors with vanity mirrors.
The EX adds hand-free Bluetooth and steering wheel mounted controls that add to the sporty feel.
Both models come with airbags on the passenger and drivers side. The 1.2 EX comes standard with ant-lock braking and an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) system that use sensors to detect when the brakes are being pressed hard and fast.
The brake lights will then flash 3 times to alert drivers in surrounding vehicles that the car is being brought to a sudden halt. Both models also come equipped with ISOFIX child seat anchors.
The existing engine line-up – Kia’s efficient Kappa engines – remains in place for this 2016 Picanto update.
