The 2024 Kia Picanto city hatch has just had a facelift to keep it fresh in the market and it’s due in local showrooms this month. The updated Picanto sports new exterior styling with Kia’s newest design language, while prices are up by up to $1,950 to from $17,890 plus on-road costs, it’s also been updated with more standard equipment – including more safety kit – across the range. Kia has also simplified the lineup, with the wonderful Picanto GT shelved globally and just the Sport and GT-Line on offer locally.

2024 Kia Picanto GT-Line front 3/4

Kia Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Damien Meredith said, “The latest iteration of Picanto integrates features and styling that bring the baseline of the Kia range in line with our newest models, while still delivering the outstanding value that Picanto has come to be known for”.

“Along with the updated product range, Picanto demonstrates Kia’s ongoing commitment to our customer base in providing a car to suit every lifestyle and stage of life”.

2024 Kia Picanto Sport front 3/4

The naming structure of the 2024 Kia Picanto has changed slightly when compared to the previous model. The entry level is now known as Sport, whereas it used to be S – the upper-spec GT-Line trim remains, but the fun-filled Picanto GT 1.0-litre turbo manual model has very sadly been dropped from the global Picanto lineup.

The entry level 2024 Kia Picanto Sport manual starts at $17,890 plus on road costs (up $1,600 from the previous S manual that it replaces) and choosing the optional automatic transmission ups the price by $1,600 to $19,490 plus on road costs. The manual GT-Line Picanto is priced from $19,690 plus on-road costs and the auto asks $21,290 +ORC. This means that the Picanto is now over $20,000 drive away, unlike the MG 3 Core which can be had from $19,990 drive away.

2024 Kia Picanto GT-Line interior

Kia Australia has added the following new equipment to the 2024 Kia Picanto range:

  • Lane keep assist
  • Lane departure warning
  • Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (both with braking)
  • Safe exit assist
  • Auto high beam
  • Pedestrian and cyclist detection added to the auto emergency braking (AEB) system
  • 14-inch alloy wheels
  • 4.2-inch semi-digital instrument cluster (similar to that on some Seltos and Sportage variants)
  • Synthetic leather steering wheel and gear shifter
  • Power-folding side mirrors
  • LED rear fog lamp
  • LED headlights (GT-Line only)
  • Rear USB-C port (GT-Line only)

This is on top of the existing Kia Picanto Sport features:

  • Manual air conditioning
  • 8.0-inch touchscreen
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Dusk-sensing automatic halogen headlights
  • Cruise control with a speed limiter
  • Six-speaker sound system
  • Reverse parking sensors
  • Reversing camera

GT-Line adds:

  • Synthetic leather upholstery with grey stitching
  • 16-inch alloy wheels
  • Sportier GT-Line exterior styling
  • LED tailights
  • Heated exterior mirrors

Sadly, adaptive cruise control has not made it to the facelifted 2024 Kia Picanto range, as well as speed sign recognition. These are the two features missing from the new Picanto that we would’ve liked to see added. Overseas you can get features on the Picanto like climate control, heated seats, keyless entry with push button start, which are still missing from the Australian lineup.

Colour options for the 2024 Kia Picanto range:

  • Sporty Blue (new for 2024)
  • Adventurous Green (new for 2024)
  • Astro Grey
  • Aurora Black
  • Signal Red
  • Clear White
  • Sparkling Silver

The Sport has black and grey cloth trim, while the GT-Line adds grey and black synethic leather.

2024 Kia Picanto GT-Line wheel

Carried over from the pre facelift model is the 1.25-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, making producing 62kW of power (at 6,000rpm) and 122Nm of torque (at 4,000rpm). Transmission options are the same as well: either a five-speed manual or optional four-speed torque converter automatic for both models.

As for fuel consumption, the manual is rated at 5.4L/100km for combined fuel consumption and the auto 6.0L/100km – that’s curiously 0.4L/100km more for the manual and and 0.2L/100km for the auto more than the pre-facelifted model, despite the same drivetrains.

The new styling elements to the 2024 Kia Picanto mimic the new Kia design language seen on the new EV9 and the facelifted Carnival. They include vertical headlights, a new revised front bumper, new tailights with a rear light bar, a new rear bumper and a wheel designs.

2024 Kia Picanto pricing (plus on-road costs):

  • Kia Picanto Sport Manual: $17,890 (up $1,600 from S manual)
  • Kia Picanto Sport Auto: $19,490 (up $1,600 from S auto)
  • Kia Picanto GT-Line Manual: $19,690 (up $1,950)
  • Kia Picanto GT-Line Auto: $21,290 (up $1,950)
2024 Kia Picanto GT-Line rear 3/4

The 2024 Kia Picanto is due in Australian showrooms imminently. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.

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