Australia’s best-selling micro car is unchanged for 2022, but for new badging.
The 2022 Kia Picanto wears Kia’s new logos but doesn’t offer a raft of new features now available on its Korean-market equivalent, known there as the Morning.
UPDATE, 07/02/2022 – Recommended retail prices have been increased by $300 to $500, depending on the trim level, and national drive-away pricing have been increased by $500 to $1000, also depending on the trim level.
Kia attributes the price increase to external factors such as exchange rates and business costs, and the Picanto is among several Kia model lines so affected.
There have been no spec changes beyond the new badges.
There, it’s available with luxuries like heated and ventilated front seats, as well as active safety technology like blind-spot assist and rear cross-traffic assist which apply the brakes if they detect you’re able to veer or reverse into another vehicle.
All Australian-market Picantos do come with standard autonomous emergency braking, however, something which can’t be found on every Rio.
The Picanto narrowly misses the title of Australia’s cheapest car, with the base S manual starting at $17,990 drive-away – that’s currently $500 more than drive-away pricing for the Mitsubishi Mirage ES manual.
The Kia nevertheless outsells the Mitsubishi by a sizeable margin. To the end of September 2021, Kia has sold 5132 Picantos against 695 Mirages.
While the field may be cleared somewhat as Mitsubishi weighs discontinuing the current Mirage due to new side-impact regulations, the Picanto has a greater threat.
The larger MG 3 is currently being offered from $17,990 drive-away and it’s outselling the Picanto at a rate of two-to-one, with 10,276 examples sold to the end of September.
Overseas model shown
Pricing
- 2022 Kia Picanto S manual: $15,990 (+$300)
- 2022 Kia Picanto S auto: $17,590 (+$300)
- 2022 Kia Picanto GT-Line manual: $17,440 (+$300)
- 2022 Kia Picanto GT-Line auto: $19,040 (+$300)
- 2022 Kia Picanto GT manual: $20,490 (+$500)
All prices are before on-road costs.
Engines
The 2022 Kia Picanto range comes with a choice of two engines.
S and GT-Line models have a naturally-aspirated 1.25-litre four-cylinder engine with 62kW of power and 122Nm of torque, mated to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.
The range-topping Picanto GT has a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 74kW and 172Nm. It’s mated exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission.
Fuel Economy
The 2022 Kia Picanto sips 5.0L/100km on the ADR combined city and highway cycle when equipped with the five-speed manual transmission and 5.8L/100km with the automatic.
The GT uses 5.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
All models run on 91RON regular unleaded fuel and have a 35L fuel tank.
Dimensions
The 2022 Kia Picanto measures 3595mm long, 1485mm tall and 1595mm wide with a 2400mm wheelbase.
The Kia Picanto’s total luggage space is 255L, expanding to 1010L with the rear seats folded.
Servicing and Warranty
All 2022 Kia Picanto models require servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, except for the Picanto GT which requires servicing every 12 months or 10,000km.
In addition to a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, Kia offers seven years of capped-price servicing.
Service prices are as follows:
| Picanto S and GT-Line | Picanto GT | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $280 | $283 |
| Year 2 | $461 | $464 |
| Year 3 | $335 | $361 |
| Year 4 | $504 | $508 |
| Year 5 | $315 | $319 |
| Year 6 | $577 | $606 |
| Year 7 | $334 | $586 |
Safety
When the Kia Picanto was tested by ANCAP in 2017, it received a rating of four stars.
That rating was based on an adult occupant protection score of 87 per cent, child occupant protection of 64 per cent, pedestrian protection of 54 per cent and safety assist of 47 per cent.
All 2022 Kia Picanto models come standard with autonomous emergency braking with forward-collision warning, as well as front, front-side and curtain airbags and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors.
Picanto S
Standard Equipment
The base Picanto S comes with the following standard features:
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 4.2-inch instrument cluster display screen
- Automatic headlights
- Cruise control
- Power windows
- Remote central locking
- Air-conditioning
- 14-inch steel wheels
Picanto GT
The GT-Line brings:
- GT-Line exterior package with contrasting body accents, dual exhaust tips and body kit
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Electric folding mirrors with indicators
- LED daytime running lights
- Alloy sports pedals
- ‘Premium’ seats with red accents
- Leatherette-wrapped shifter and steering wheel
- Sliding, soft-touch front centre armrest
The range-topping GT gains:
- Turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine
- Sports-tuned suspension and steering
- GT exterior package with contrasting body accents, dual exhaust tips and body kit
- Contrasting body accents
Colours
Clear White is standard across the range, with all other finishes a $520 option.
The S is available in the following colours:
- Sparkling Silver
- Astro Grey
- Aurora Black Pearl
- Signal Red
- Pop Orange
- Honey Bee Yellow
The GT-Line and GT have a more limited palette, consisting of:
- Astro Grey
- Aurora Black Pearl
- Signal Red
MORE: Everything Kia Picanto
