Kia looks ready to give it a scratch Picanto hatchback another facelift.
Image posted on Autospy revealed the heavily disguised Picanto with a new look inspired by the Niro SUV. It will hit Australia in late 2023 with styling and trim changes, but no major mechanical tweaks.
Up front, the headlights feature new detailing in the LED daytime running lights, and there may be some changes to the lower grille. At the rear, the taillights also appear to have new graphics.
The car gets new alloy wheels, and there might be some changes to the trim as well.
The exhaust pipes coming out from under the rear bumper point to the fact that this is a Picanto and not part of the wide range of EVs that Kia is teasing in 2020.
The current Picanto debuted in 2017, and was locally updated in 2021 with a new look and fresh technology.
Power in Australia comes from a naturally aspirated 1.25-litre four-cylinder engine, or a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine.
The Picanto will play a more important role in the Kia range in the future, as the Rio will not be replaced when the current model is retired.
“While the Rio nameplate will not continue locally, Kia continues to offer the popular Picanto and Cerato range, with new models across various segments currently under review for our market,” a Kia Australia spokesperson said. Car Expert last week.
The Picanto dominates its sales segment in Australia. With 572 delivered in January, it comfortably beats the Mitsubishi Mirage (259) and Fiat 500 (54)
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